8 week physio therapy appointment
Posted , 5 users are following.
Dear friends,
I have a physiotheraphy appointment in 2 weeks, which will be 8 weeks from my surgery.
My question is whether it is likely that I will be examined internally? I used up my one permitted post op appointment with the surgeon on another matter so I never had an internal to tell me if all is just as it should be. ( other than a quick feel). I am desperate for a medic to actually look inside and tell me if it is as it should be, because it doesn't feel like it is on the right side. I have such a bearing down feeling on the right of my vagina and have had it since surgery (rectocele, entercoele and saprosinious fixation) I had no such feeling before the op- even though my womb was actually outside my body - in my mind I am imagining that something has dropped down. I've had this abscess but that's now drained- so I don't get what this feeling is. Surely it should feel the opposite? I am so hoping the physio will take a look. Or is that really just an appointment about exercises etc - thank you ! Caz 😇
0 likes, 20 replies
Imnotadoctor Cazinbed
Posted
Hi,
The physiotherapist I saw following my op 3 years ago wasn't that great even though it was at a private hospital. She left and it took me ages to find another one as there is a shortage of specialist female physiotherapists in my area. I paid to see another not connected to the hospital & she was probably the most helpful person I spoke to. Yes she did examine me internally but this was well over a year after my surgery.
I am now probably going to have more surgery later in the year as I have another prolapse (have had problems ever since the first op). I may well contact her again once I have seen my urogynaecologist just to get her opinion before surgery.
Maybe you could phone them & ask what they plan to do & explain that you would like to be examined? Good luck.
Cazinbed Imnotadoctor
Posted
Thank you for the reply !
Caz 😇
Ellie1943 Cazinbed
Posted
Hi Caz. I'm still getting that sort of pain on the left side. I'm thinking it's maybe because that's where the stitches are and not yet healed or dissolved! I had a sacrospinous fixation too plus a rectocele repair which he did on left side of vag as a previous one was in the centre of posterior wall. The sacro stitch is long lasting, could be permanent, it depends which materials were used I think. I'm now 7.5 weeks post op and won't ba having a post appt until August or thereabouts. He said 3 months after. Can't help you about the physio, sorry. X
Cazinbed Ellie1943
Posted
Thanks for the reply Pollyanna
I'm feeling so much better this week. Still concerned if it's all worked though. My sacro stitch is the permanent type but my doctor said it could still fall down!
Caz 😇
carole62889 Cazinbed
Posted
Hi Caz,
i had had an internal 3 months post op. Glad it wasn't 6 weeks as I was still sore! She confirmed the stitches that were still there.
Not long after this I had an appointment with the physio from the Urogynae Department. Yes, she did an internal mostly to feel my 'squeeze' response inside. She asked me to squeeze twice whilst she ascertained a number out of 5. The tested my front squeeze and back squeeze. She was also able to confirm all was well and that it felt fine inside. I had an anterior/posterior repair Vagina and hysterectomy.
This was all on the NHS.
Cazinbed carole62889
Posted
Oh that's good to know - thank you ! Hopefully I'll get a similar level of service! I had my op on the NHS but because of waiting list time it had to be done in a private hospital. The physio is at that hodpital.
Caz 😇
sheila89754 Cazinbed
Posted
Hi Caz. I'm not sure if I've asked you where you are? My surgery was on the NHS but in a private hospital too. I haven't had any contact with a physio, other than in hospital, a quick chat and a very generic leaflet. I'd love to see a physio, I so want to do all I can to ensure my surgery will have been successful but need some guidance.
carole62889 sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila,
I had to telephone the secretary of my surgeon to arrange for a physio. I also mentioned it to my GP who sent through an immediate letter to Northampton Hospital Urogynae requesting that I see a physio. Seems sometimes you have to request it yourself.
Hope this helps. 😊
sheila89754 carole62889
Posted
I'm in Northampton too! Who did your surgery? I had Ami Shukla, my surgery was at Woodland Hospital, was yours at the Three Shires?
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Hi ... when I was discharged I was asked if I wanted a physio appointment. I will. Ever again go to a private hospital through the NHS. You don't get the service. I didn't even have a post op 6 weeks inspection as I used up my appointment at 3 weeks when I saw him following terrible pain. I wasn't told I'd be discharged. If I was you I'd phone the hospital and ask whether you should have been offered a physio appointment.
Tonight I'm devastated. I'm pretty sure my womb has prolapsed. I had stomach cramps and felt something in the way and had a look - it looks like before my surgery. I've worried all evening. I will be round the doctors tomorrow. If it's failed so soon I will be mortified. I'll let you know what happens.
Caz.
sheila89754 Cazinbed
Posted
Oh gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that, you've had a rough time post op. ??
Where are you, there was a reply from carole62889, but that's not you is it?
Although I was in a private hospital I don't think there's a limit to follow ups, you say you will 'Ever again go to a private hospital', a typo?
I've not had a post op 6 week check, my surgery was on May 4th and my first follow up is August 12th. I've been advised
that at 6 weeks you may be physiologically healed (although I've still got loads of stitches at nearly 9), but it'll be at least three months before it's possible to tell whether the repairs have worked.
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Hi , no I'm a different Caz - I'm in Medway in Kent. Yes, that was a typo- meant to say I will 'never' go private on NHS again.
My surgeon booked me a post op check at 6 weeks but cancelled it after I used up an appointment when I went back when in dreadful pain. Now I am discharged so I've got no other scheduled appointments. My surgeon was dismissive throughout and on the last appointment said I could only ask 3 questions. I had a long list.
If what I can see is my womb prolapsed again it will be because of the vague info I was given how to be post op. I've had to rely on this forum and it seems we are all given different information . I've researched it all on the internet and even advice from different health authorities can be contradictory. It's just not detailed enough. There needs to be a detailed list agreed by experts of dos and fonts for the first 4 months at least. It's just not good enough to say "no heavy lifting". "Take it easy" " get plenty of rest" " do light house chores" etc.. it's far too subjective and open to all sorts of interpretations. Another example: I was told on leaving hospital to start pelvic floor exercises immediately. Other women on here have said they were told to wait 6 weeks.
I've had period pains all night and it's nothing to do with periods - I've not had one for 20 years. I'm so hoping that it's all ok when I see my doctor.
carole62889 sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila yes I had Ami Skukla...she had good recommendations. Three Shires looked so nice but no I had the op at Northampton Hospital..... I went for a spinal and had an amazing anesthetist! he was brilliant. No complaints except there was no shower in our actual ward and only one loo. Shower was around the corner. Staff were very nice. How was your hospital? 😊
sheila89754 carole62889
Posted
Woodland was lovely, I felt so safe and well cared for. I had my own room with an ensuite! I was so lucky, especially on the day when I had to have every pee measured and a bladder scan to check how much was left.
You are a few weeks ahead of me, but it sounds like we had similar surgery. Did you have a sacrospinous fixation as well as the vaginal hysterectomy and anterior and posterior repair?
I am nearly nine weeks post op and still nervous about whether it's all worked. I have managed to arrange an appointment with Miss Shukla this Friday, I wasn't due to see her until August 12th, surgery was on May 4th. I just want some reassurance about stitches, I still have very short sharp ones on the posterior repair and long wiry ones from the hysterectomy! I also want to know what I can and can't do.
When was your surgery?
I will definitely ask about physio. 😃
carole62889 sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila I am now 9 months and had all of the above that you mention. Yes every wee had to be measured daily and a scan until they were satisfied and even then Ms Shukla said I was too borderline on my last day and kept me in a day longer. I didn't mind. I started off in a room of my own and an en suite but second day they moved me. I became friends with a lovely girl so it was nicer all round Being moved.Regarding stitches Ms Shukla phoned me and said they will dissolve around 16 weeks or so (I was concerned about them still being in at around 12 weeks) she gave me such assurance that I felt so much better. I think it was past 16 weeks that I felt deep inside (when I walked) that they'd gone. However I didn't worry anymore after I'd heard from her. Don't strain to go to the toilet ever! Don't do heavy lifting .... not too much bending and still have plenty of resting up. Your underneath area 😊 will soon tell you if you've done too much as it will ache and feel heavy. Lower pelvic region inside vagina will ache too. all you need to do is feet up! 🤗
sheila89754 carole62889
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply, you are a long way ahead of me then. I'm reassured already with regards to the stitches, they're not uncomfortable I just get the odd prick! I was advised to take the Movecol for six weeks and initially I was concerned by the unpredictability of my bowels ?? I've been so conscious of not straining and over the last week feel things are settling. One of my main reasons for eventually opting for the surgery was leaking, I do quite a bit of activity, well did, and it was getting worse. The last straw was horse riding, not good.
I am walking everyday, around Abington Park, occasionally I do get a 'oops' moment but hope physio and pelvic floor exercises may help this. I have a very dear friend who's a physio, she's been a wonderful support and advised me that for now it's healing time, the muscles can be worked on later.
I am really looking forward to seeing Ms Shukla, but you've put my mind ar ease already; thank you. 😃
carole62889 sheila89754
Posted
So pleased I could help. 😊 She assured me that she only uses dissolvable stitches and I was told in the hospital by her assistant that I had VERY good stitches inside (strong).I'm so glad I had the op .....I had no leakage but the prolapse was causing endless UTIs and pain around the lower pelvic region. It's all gone now.
sheila89754 carole62889
Posted
Hi Carole. I saw Miss Shukla yesterday and she did put my my mind at rest, she did an internal examination and released some of the stitches, exactly like you she said about 16 weeks before they'll have dissolved!
She said all looked fine and I'm healing well. She told me that my bladder prolapse and the rectocele and uterine prolapse were all really bad, I'd not appreciated how bad. As for the leaking, I will need to wait about four months, I'm seeing her again at the end of September, before she'll know how my bladder has responded. The anterior repair has to be done first, wait for complete healing, before seeing if I need further investigations.
A long recovery, but as mentioned I need to be patient, she is so lovely, I do have total faith in her!
She also gave me much more detailed advice on what I can and can't do. 😃
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila
I'm so pleased that all is as it should be for you. Now it's a case of adjusting our lives that we must focus on. Although I've found this experience the most harrowing thing in my life so far ( and some pretty awful things have happened at times) I am thankful that I haven't suffered some other more sinister or life threatening illness. In that respect I do feel most lucky.
Best wishes for the months ahead.
Caz x