1. Community
  2. Women's health
  3. Genitourinary Prolapse

After Cystocele repair concerns

Posted , 5 users are following.

Guest
Guest

I’m 59 and have a 41 year history of prolapses . Had my latest cystocele repair 3 and 1/2 weeks ago . I’ve been told by a nurse at my pre admission app that I can drive after the 4 week mark .. but then the specialist said 5-6 weeks is normal .then I read on the net it’s okay to drive after 2 weeks !  Of course Id love to take the nurses advice !  But have been taking a bus locally in my town to get up the street to the chemist ect .

The question is , that the bus is so jerky stopping and starting going around corners sharply that I feel it is more difficult on my pelvic floor and suture areas then driving would. But I have to get out of the house because being cooped up is driving me bonkers and I have no one else around to help me out to get a few things that I need . 

What do other ladies ( or any medics ) think about all this ? I’m a bit worrythat all the jerking on the bus has upset my stitches.  I’ve come up with an idea though ...to tighten my pelvic floor is when all the to-ing  and fro-ing is going on instead of having to just brace everything with my feet and arms . 😉Hope this is a good idea 

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

  • phyl_40063
    phyl_40063 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Rose, 

          If driving earlier than 6 weeks post op your insurance may not cover you and the main problem would be that you could do damage to your repair if you had to do an emergency stop.

         Can't you get things delivered to your home just now, you can get out for some regular short walks and them up.

                 Good luck and hope everything works out for you x💕

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063

      Posted

      Sorry meant build your walks up over time x

            

    • Guest
      Guest phyl_40063

      Posted

      Thanks so much Phyl for your kind reply.  Yeah ... I can understand re the car insurance issues ... it’s always a difficult thing to handle when your on your own that’s for sure  . 

      For some reason as well ..I’m finding it hard to walk any sort of distance because of the fullness that Im feeling all the time in my lower abdomen since the op .

      It’s way too  far to walk into town anyway unfortunately. 

      Our stupid Safeway   ( here in country Victoria Australia ) doesn’t deliver groceries ... but yeah the Chemist will deliver occasionally.. so thanks for that suggestion. 

      I appreciate your reply , Rose 🌹🤗

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Rose,

            I started my walks around 2 weeks post op just a 5 min walk then 2 x5 walks and built it up to 2x 20 min walks by 6 weeks post op, by the time I got to 12 weeks post op I was doing 2 x 35-45 min walks and still found I was getting that sagging pressure and a dull ache in my pelvic floor but I had both back and front repairs. 

                       I am now over 2 half years post op and still finding it difficult to walk any distance can't get by that 45mins without having to rest for long period of time. I am 58 so think that it much more difficult to recover fully from after the menopause as ligaments are weakened by the change, just do what you can and listen to your body, will soon tell you if you have done too much. X

    • Guest
      Guest phyl_40063

      Posted

      Great advice Phyl. Thanks again . 

      It was good to hear that the fullness I’m having this time with the op is experienced by others as well and isn’t a bad and wrong symptom.  

      Yes I totally agree re after the menopause thing .. more difficultly in healing . When I was in my 30’s and had the prolapse ops it didn’t seem as arduous in the healing process . 

      Yep I certainly make sure I have that avo rest 😉🤗

  • joel71189
    joel71189 Guest

    Posted

    I am in US. Had cystocele, rectocele, vag vault surgery 7 weeks ago. No real painkillers. Drove second day home
    • Guest
      Guest joel71189

      Posted

      Wowee!! That’s incredible! I’m so glad you you had no probs in doing that . I certainly understand...it’s unvoidable in some circumstances. 
    • ethelynne20993
      ethelynne20993 joel71189

      Posted

      Hi Joel,

      Are you doing some exercises after the surgery? 

      I have been just to strengthen the area. I had my operation December 1, 2017 and everything was fine, didn't feel any discomfort until about 1.5 months later. The discomfort is not as bad as prior to the surgery but it has not disappear completely. Is your surgery a complete success?

    • Guest
      Guest joel71189

      Posted

      Ps ..Did you have any difficulty pushing your foot  down on the brake every time you had to ... I suppose that’s what I’m a bit concerned about .. and the acelerator pedal ..but I suppose it couldn’t be worse than all the bracing that I had to do on the bus every 10 seconds ! 
  • Kym04
    Kym04 Guest

    Posted

    Hi Rose

    I agree all the jerking in the bus can't be good and would be painful. I drove myself into our local town after 2 weeks it's only 6kms and I took it slowly. I was walking for 45mins after 4 weeks albeit slower than normal. I'm 50 and had rectocele cystocele repair.

    If it's too much stop or don't do it. Listen 2 ur own body. And legs up rest in the afternoon is a must 💜

    • Guest
      Guest Kym04

      Posted

      You know Kym  , I think that is great advice . 👍

      I’ve had a few prolapse ops 20 years ago which have failed because of having to heavy lift and I’ve  have a constant cough for many years ... just getting tired of the whole thing I spose . I don’t think I can take that awful bus jerking my pelvic floor around any more actually. 😧

      Yeah the centre of town is only about 3 kms so might just start driving at the4 week mark ( in a couple of days ) 

      Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences... 🤗it really helps when your here on your own with all your own thoughts! 

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Rose,

            Matron who worked in Urogynocology always advised that if you can stamp your feet without pain you are ready to drive. 

                   X

    • Guest
      Guest phyl_40063

      Posted

      Oh Thats interesting to know Phyl .

      Thanks for that 😃

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      ps I actually gave the driving ago yesterday because this morning I have to go to see my GP and I couldn’t face the bus. it went okay and I went slowly and use my brakes carefully. I think the problem is any other silly people that come out at you and you have to suddenly stop so thankfully that didn’t happen to me yesterday.

      I wondered if I can tell you all something as well. When I stand up and press over the skin where I had my operation on the vulva area... on the right side it seems to be still a bit of a bulge. It only happens when I stand up though so I’m going to tell the GP today. I’m a little scared that something may have drop-down or something. The trouble is they also like to check you laying down and these things happen worse when you stand up don’t they. I had one good gynaecologist years ago( a lady) who would examined me standing up and that was really helpful. I don’t really know though if want the GP looking around inside though because it still a bit early for that I think . i’m hoping he can just feel on the outside of it when I’m standing up. Hoping that nothing has gone wrong . I’m sure it wasn’t the driving though just worried about the bus rides that I had before !

  • joel71189
    joel71189 Guest

    Posted

    Since done vaginally I put a pillow on seat of my truck. Had no problem with brake or accelerator. Started walking immediately and 2 miles by second week but have to sometimes stop because of knee (3 knee surgeries). By 3rd week went back doing 1 hr on recumbent bike using pillow on seat. I am 70, was walking out to feed my horses by 3rd day after surgery. I have no help so I could not lay around feeling sorry for myself. Worse part was trying to engineer how I was going to pick up stuff and boredom. Dr said I can ride horses now. Feel much better than before!
    • Guest
      Guest joel71189

      Posted

      hi again Joel, You are definitely an amazingly strong and brave person!!

      I know how it is when you’re on your own recovering with these types of operations. But you certainly have a lot of responsibilities by the sound of it with animals and feeding etc. I think you’re amazing especially at 70.

      I hope that you can look after yourself and give yourself a treat now and then. You deserve it! xx

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      The pillow sounds like a great idea. I too have had both knee surgerys a couple of years ago. 2 knee joint replacements actually. So I can understand how you feel recovering with any issue as well

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      supposed to say , knee issues ... not any issues . silly speaking text on my phone !

    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      just a bit of an update , I went to my GP this morning. He didn’t examined me internally of course because it was too early but he did have a bit of a check and asked me to cough while I was lying down while he was looking there. He said everything seems to be okay so I was pleased about that. He said the stitches are quite strong when they are done so I shouldn’t fear them coming un done. Unless they physically pulled apart everything should be fine still 😃

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063 Guest

      Posted

      Glad to hear everything going well and your doctor is looking after you x

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.