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11 Weeks Stitches Finally Gone!

Posted , 6 users are following.

Imnotadoctor
Imnotadoctor

Hello all,

I’m almost 11 weeks post op for rectoenterocele repair & SSF.  I know/hope my SSF stitches are still there as I was told they would last 12 - 16 weeks but I was starting to worry that the other stitches were taking too long to dissolve.  As I had my perineum repaired as well I think she used quite a few stitches and the last ones (just inside) were starting to feel uncomfortable. They have finally disappeared today.

I’m still getting a lot of back ache which I was hoping this op would improve. The consultant did say she doubted that the prolapse was causing the ache. I think it’s all down to “IBS” but that’s another story!

I don’t regret the surgery at all, it has been much easier than I expected but some bowel problems continue. I will always have to avoid heavy lifting & no strenuous exercises (thank goodness! 😉wink

Back to normal with most things eg work, driving etc. just get help with heavy jobs like putting bins out. 

5 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • donna87222
    donna87222 Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Glad you are healing well, that's very good news just take it easy! Can I ask what prolapses you had? I only ask as I had a posterior repair, I was diagnosed as a grade 2/3 rectocele during examination before surgery but it was found to be a grade 3 rectoenterocele so on the letter it said I had an enterocele repair also, and it said I had a grade 1 uterine prolapse that nothing was done for. I wished I'd asked more questions at my post op when I was discharged because I never felt the benefits of the surgery and believe I still have a prolapse of some sort, haven't been back to urogynae, just wondered what was told to you as you don't hear rectoenterocele mentioned very often. Good luck with your continuing recovery.

    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor donna87222

      Posted

      I had an anterior repair & hysterectomy in 2013. I was told at that time I also had a rectocele but he would not repair both at the same time.  Eventually I decided to go ahead with the second op & my new urogynaecologist (previous one was no longer at my hospital) said it was actually a rectoenterocele & all 3 compartments had prolapsed which I was delighted about as you can imagine! She would only repair two so did the posterior repair & sacrospinous fixation which she hoped would also pull up the front wall. I’m not sure that has worked but it’s early days yet and there may still be some swelling. You’re right rectoenterocele does not get mentioned much but my doctor said it wasn’t too much more work than the usual posterior repair. Some women do seem to have A & P done at same time but I was told it can leave you too tight. 

      When did you have your op?  You could ask for a post op appointment if you haven’t already had one. 

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      Hi thank you for your reply, you've had quite a journey with your surgeries I really hope you feel much better soon x Yes I had my post op, I had my surgery 12 months ago now, I had post op at six weeks she examined me and said the stitches were still in place and said I had no prolapse even though I told her it felt the same only slightly different in place and she referred me to a pelvic floor physio and discharged me. I saw the physio two weeks later and she said I should be feeling better, went to see gp for a private referral to a colorectal surgeon just to ask his opinion (never seen one before and surgery was done by urogynae) and he done a rectal exam at I think it was ten weeks and said I have a rectocele! I was defeated and have no gone back or even had a pelvic exam since then, I have had other problems really bad pain in spine and left hip and have been told I have got nerve damage in spine after Mri just waiting at the moment to see specialist in a bigger hospital, also seeing rheumatologist but I know I need to go back and find out what's wrong, sorry for the long post but thank you for your reply. Please take it easy for your second recovery x

    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor donna87222

      Posted

      I hope you get some answers Donna.  I also saw a colorectal surgeon as I wanted to make sure I was having the correct procedure. Unfortunately the two departments don’t seem to work together! He couldn’t find anything wrong other than the rectocele which he offered to repair but I went down the gynae route.  

      You could get a second opinion but I understand if you have other health problems you may not feel up to that at the moment. Thank you for your kind words. Xx 

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply and kind words also, I will seek further opinion in the future but yes at the moment I've got to find out about my spine and possible connective tissue issues as I know this can cause many problems but when I have got some answers/help with that I will gain the strength. Good luck with your health x

  • phyl_40063
    phyl_40063 Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Good to hear you are on track and doing well, starting to think though, that lower back pelvic floor ache is something that never goes away once we have had prolapse problems. For me is now always there unless I have been resting for example when I had flu with high fever and had to rest completely in bed for a couple of days that ache completely disappeared and when I overdo things the ache is unbearable. Otherwise I always have discomfort which I can just about live with.

    Hope you continue to do well and have successful repair.

    Phyl x💕

  • janet01834
    janet01834 Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Hi I had a anterior and prosterior repair in sept and I suffer with back pain as well that I have never had . If I lift things or are on my feel too much it hurts . I have also noticed it’s stiff when I wake up . Has everyone been told they cannot run again as my consultant said tho is not the case . 
    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor janet01834

      Posted

      Hi Janet,

      Mine is more of a burning feeling, I think it’s more bowel related but I might be wrong.

      I was told not to run (which I didn’t do before anyway) or do sit ups. Need to be very careful not to put pressure on pelvic floor.

  • paddiwhack
    paddiwhack Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Hi again! Sounds like you’re doing really well. I am 11 weeks now and just lost last stitch last week! 

    I am doing light stuff and working in the office (self employed) preparing and cooking meals daily unless really tired - sometimes I retreat to bed at 7 or 8 but have ME too 🙄

    I still get abdo discomfort standing too long and still lay on the sofa when I can rather than sit.

    Do you think it’s safe for me to iron now. I will avoid the king sized duvet covers .

    My hubby still makes the bed up. I’m not sure at what point I can start these things? I haven’t attempted hoovering either?

    I have to carry large loads of laundry ( part of the business) but I’m looking at buying a trolley of some kind so I can wheel it out to the washing line (it’s quite a distance from the house).

    Well done keep improving 💜

    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor paddiwhack

      Posted

      Hi,

      I must admit that I have been ironing for weeks. We needed a new iron so I got a light weight one, I leave the ironing board up in the corner & just do a bit now and again. Nothing too heavy, quilt covers just get smoothed out with my hands! You need to be careful with heavy wet washing though just move a bit at a time.  I don’t carry the hoover upstairs but I do push it around now. No wonder you are still tired if you have ME, don’t do too much and rest as much as you can. Xx

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