Anterior cystocele repair 3weeks ago
Posted , 9 users are following.
I'm 3 weeks post anterior cystocele repair.
I'm so bothered that the prolapse has returned. Things feel different down there and I daren't look myself.
Is swelling normal down there? I don't know whether it is the stitches and the healing process that I can feel or my worst fear.
it would be good to hear from anyone out there who has had this procedure done who might be able to let me know what I should expect
thank you
1 like, 24 replies
sheila89754 sallymaine1312
Posted
Hi Sally. I'm now four weeks post op and I have to say I'm still nervous about whether the posterior and anterior repair have worked. I also had a vaginal hysterectomy so quite a bit!
I have taken a look and can still see a bulge, but Im hoping everything is still swollen, I still have loads of internal stitches. Only being a week ahead of you I think we are still in the very early days phase, Im having to make myself rest and not do too much, which is so frustrating, and am so hoping the surgery will have worked, I can't face it again; the wait and recovery is by far the worst bit.
I hope you get some more replies from those further down the line.
Stay strong, chin up. 😃
sallymaine1312 sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila, thanks so much for your reply. You find yourself becoming paranoid, don't you? You can't do much physically so you just find yourself overcome with your own thoughts. I'm going to try to be a little more positive. When are you scheduled for your post op check up?
Cazinbed sallymaine1312
Posted
Dear Sally ... I had the back wall repairs and sacropinious fixation - not bladder and it was 2 weeks ago. I'm replying as I posted a similar post to yours a few days back. I had a look with s mirror and got upset because I could see bobbly bits of skin almost outside of me and stitches. I was also burning inside. I can also feel a bearing down feeling that I didn't have before the surgery. It is like a ball dropping down as I go to the toilet. Someone replied that it's just the swelling and it will go. I think that it is terrible that considering these are such barbaric and painful surgeries that we are not informed of exactly what to expect afterwards. I've had so many fears, but the 'I don't think it's worked' one is my worst. I wish I'd been told how my body would feel afterwards. I've experienced dreadful buttock pain and coping with that had been my main concern. Having these additional anxieties I am sure doesn't help the healing process. I have kept a video diary that I will probably post on YouTube when I am well to increase understanding of the post op period. I'm not sure how helpful my response has been as I had a slightly different procedure to you but I think it is probably normal to feel pressure etc in the vagina as the wounds are healing. What our minds are telling us it is is probably not the reality. I hope you get some more specific answers but take some comfort from the fact that I too am panicking whether the procedure has worked. Keep well - Caz
sallymaine1312 Cazinbed
Posted
Thank you Caz for replying. Whilst we've not had exactly the same procedure you're absolutely right that the 'I don't think it's worked' or the 'it's failed already' thoughts can become overwhelming if we let them. We're in it together and knowing that others are sitting at her me with exactly the same thoughts as me are in themselves comforting. At least I'm not going crazy! Take care
Sally
sheila89754 Cazinbed
Posted
Hi Caz. I had the sacrospinous fixation and vaginal hysterectomy, the fixation is what is giving you the buttock pain. I'm now four wakes since surgery and the pain has gone. I googled sacrospinous fixation, looking at images, rather than a video of the procedure, helped me understand why I had the pain; I found that helpful. I also had the anterior and posterior repair and like you my main fear is 'has it worked'. This was my main reason for the operation, the cystocele and rectocele were uncomfortable and both caused problems. The hysterectomy was not on my mind, I don't think I'd realised that my uterus was prolapsed too. What a wreck I was!
It's early days for us, but with too much time and so many limitations on what I can do, my mind is working overtime.
Good luck with your recovery, I'm hoping that in six months I will be the reassuring voice to the ladies who've just had surgery.
😃
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Hi Sheila, it's good to hear that the pain went by end of week 4. Since I've had naproxen it's been better. I can't believe that I survived the first 10 days on paracetamol and ibuprofen. It's a long recovery period I can see that but I think success rates are quite good. Good luck with your own recovery - Caz x
sheila89754 Cazinbed
Posted
I've not been taking any pain killers for about two weeks, I was sent home with paracetamol, codeine and diclofenac but when they ran out I was able to have the odd paracetamol. I think I've been very lucky with the pain. I do have crampy feelings inside and the stitches are uncomfortable but not painful.
I think it's hard to appreciate that we've had major surgery when there's nothing to see, a couple of friends had hysterectomies at the same time, one laparoscopically, the other with abdominal cuts; they're in pain from these, but didn't have the repairs. We're all different, but wow, what our bodies have been through!
Hope your recovery progresses well, thank you for sharing your story.
scortes sallymaine1312
Posted
Hi. I completely understand how you are feeling. I am now nearly 9 weeks post cystocele and rectocele. I was very worried around the 3/4 week mark. I had the sensation that something was bulging, and I had a dragging pain too. I was in contact with my urogynae regularly and she said that all the symptoms were normal. When I went for my 6 week check-up, she was very pleased with the results and said that there was absolutely no sign of a prolapse. Things certainly don't feel 100% normal yet, but I feel confident now that the sensations are all part of the healing process. I've been told not to lift anything more than 3kg until I have my 3 month check-up, and then nothing over 5kg after that. So with that, and pelvic floor/core muscle exercises, I'm hoping that will keep a reoccurence at bay. Best of luck for your recovery!
sallymaine1312 scortes
Posted
Mum2girls scortes
Posted
scortes Mum2girls
Posted
That was exactly what I asked the gynae! She said for life - which does seem unrealistic! Luckily my kids are grown up, but for anyone with small kids, this would be impossible. That's why it's so important to get the core muscles and pelvic floor as strong as possible. I'm not sure I'll be able to stick to the 5 kilos, but I won't be hoiking 20kg suitcases around, that's for sure!
sheila89754 scortes
Posted
Wow, 5kg that's not very heavy! My children are grown up too but we now have a granddaughter, she's fifteen months old and definitely weighs more than 5kg. I can't imagine not being able to lift her up. ?? I was told I couldn't do pelvic floor exercises for the first six weeks so am desperate to get going on those. I was reasonably fit doing quite a range of sports, badminton, horse riding, running and cycling, all I'm doing now is walking. I certainly hope I can resume these, loads of trampolining in the past, plus biggish babies wrecked my pelvic floor!
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Cazinbed sheila89754
Posted
Just checked online - google ' pelvic floor repair operation - recovering well leaflet- RCOG' ... it says to start then when catheter is removed.
sheila89754 Cazinbed
Posted
I questioned the advice too, I was given a leaflet from the physio including pelvic floor exercises, but she said my consultant had told her she didn't want me doing them for six weeks. I spoke to the consultant before I went home as well and she confirmed this. Is odd but I feel I must stick to her advice, I did have four procedures and think I was a mess beforehand. Not long now .......
scortes sheila89754
Posted
I know exactly what you mean. I'm missing the exercise I used to do. My consultant said that I could do pelvic floor exercises as soon after the op. as I felt comfortable, although she did say that it might take up to 6 weeks before I could do them effectively.