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Hello! I'm a 39 y/o gal (obvioulsly haha) with older kids. I had rectocele surgery exactly two weeks ago. Dr. used dissolvable stitches and no mesh. Here's my question: Dr. said I'd be great in 1-2 weeks and be able to return to work no problem. (I am a barber working 10 hour shifts standing) I figured I'd take two weeks off. I am feeling rectal pressure when standing for an hour, and soreness/ pressure in vagina. I did one friends' haircut yesterday and had to go home and put an ice pack on my bum and lay down. I am taking Advil, milk of magnesia once daily and 2 colace pills a day. I am going #2, but have developed hemorriods. I'm wondering if I should take another week off? Is there something wrong with me that I'm not feeling 100% yet? Thanks for reading!
1 like, 52 replies
lynn17227 rene1234
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rene1234 lynn17227
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Mossup rene1234
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rene1234 Mossup
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The urogyno said 1-2 weeks! Maybe because I'm 39? The nurse said at least 4 weeks.
Mossup rene1234
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The nurse is much more accurate IMO Rene. I am 44 so not much older than you and my job is largely desk based. I am 12 days post op and there is no way I would be up for work next week.
Is taking time off going to be possible from a work/insurance point of view for you? I imagine that this must so stressful for you.
I would be really worried about the long term implications of returning to work so soon and essentially undoing the repair. I think I have read that up to 30% of repairs fail or need revision at some point. I plan to do nothing to jeopardise my repair, I never want to go through it ever again
rene1234 Mossup
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Financially is it not good. There's not much I can do about it though...I don't have any benefits for time off, but at least the people I work for are understanding and just want me to feel better. I would have waited and saved more! I don't want to jeopardize my health though and have to take more time off later. I'm just cannot get over how nonchalant he was about my surgery!
Jan999 Mossup
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Any woman standing for such a long time needs more time off work than a woman in a desk job. In the U.K. driving isn't recommended for 6 weeks because it is too painful to perform an emergency stop.
Jan999 Mossup
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Mossup the recommendation to return to work after 6 weeks may be the advice in some parts of Europe but it isn't in the U.K. Every woman is assessed individually and the correct advice is not to return to work until after the post op check and then the urogynaecologist should advise. My post op was at 10 weeks and I was advised to take more time off work and I wasn't ward based at the time. If there's no post op check then it's the GP who should assess. 6 weeks is classed as too early particularly after a rectocele repair, a cystocele repair is less invasive and the advice is slightly different.
rene1234 Jan999
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Jan999 rene1234
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rene1234 Jan999
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Mossup Jan999
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I think maybe it depend on other factors I guess such as general health and age? The system is definitely different here, I have my first check up of many on Friday.
from what I have read on different hospital leaflets (I do a lot googling) that even in the uk the recommendations seems to vary, Guys and St Thomas have a Recotcele repair patient information sheet that describe recover and and being able resume normal activities at 4-6 weeks!?
I think ink there is definitely room for a more uniform approach that promotes greater clarity and realistic advice would be a real improvement.
Jan999 rene1234
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I am in the U.K. as a lot if ladies are on this forum are so I'm not too familiar with Obamacare however best practice would be for all the information pre and post surgery should always be given to the patient and not just verbally but written. There are some good examples online of the information particularly on hospital websites. It is major surgery so to give you an example of what I mean, a hysterectomy is no longer classed as major because it is more commonly keyhole surgery. Even when it is combined with an oopherectomy (removal of ovaries) it's still minor surgery. A rectocele repair is more complicated because it involved the bowel where there's muscles and a vast amount of nerves. The bowel is a large organ so when the prolapse is repaired initially it's in a precarious position, it's heavy and a delicate pelvic floor has to protect it until everything is completely healed which takes weeks. That's why for the first 2 weeks you shouldn't do anything at all apart from short walks around the house. If you overdo things you put the repair at risk but you weren't to know that but if course you do now, look at the response you have had! Feel free to ask anything, there's some very knowledgeable ladies on this forum with vast experience who love to help xx
rene1234 Jan999
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Wow! I really had no idea it was that major. I don't think I've hurt anything but I'll make sure I'm more careful now! I started light grocery shopping a week later and house chores. My 14 year old son does the heavier lifting. I try not to lift anything too heavy.
For me it's just the pressure i feel standing for a hour, and I am still pretty tired throughout the day! Driving is uncomfortable as is sitting, but not unbearable. Oh, I am off of any painkillers. Just Advil mostly.
Anyone else still tired after 2 weeks? I'm going to get a pillow to sit on!
Jan999 Mossup
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We've are working hard to get the up to date uniformed information completed. Hopefully by April x
Jan999 rene1234
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I would think everyone would feel tired after only 2 weeks rene. You are doing remarkably well though, not taking pain relief. Try and leave the shopping and driving for another few weeks if you can. In the U.K. we recommend contacting your insurance company regarding driving. Some say 6 weeks others will say if the consultant says it's ok then it's ok with them. It is the emergency stop issue that's the concern. There is a test you can do to see if you can safely do an emergency stop but please don't try it yet. If you can stamp your feet (one at a time) on a hard surface and it doesn't hurt, then you should safely be able to drive.
rene1234 Jan999
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gaynor45570 rene1234
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rene1234 gaynor45570
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I just took one! Today I'm feeling so exhausted.
Jan999 rene1234
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Just another piece of advice rene. Try not to get to the stage where you feel exhausted. As soon as you feel tired stop straight away, don't feel guilty. It's important not to overdo things, this is important following any major surgery really. Tiredness will only hinder your recovery, then you will feel anxious, this can then lead you to suffer pain. Pain then hinders recovery because it tenses muscles. So what I'm trying to say is relax, rest and if you do have pain don't suffer take pain relief. If you take anti inflammatory meds (I think you mentioned Advil) take it with food. It is ok to take Paracetamol with anti inflammatories as well.
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