At what point did you decide to have your rectocele repaired?
Posted , 6 users are following.
A few weeks ago I asked if it was best to use a gynaecologist or colorectal surgeon to repair a rectocele. Everyone seemed to think a gynaecologist was best & I agree.
My next question is - how long did you wait before making the decision to have it done? I don't know when mine first appeared but I was told I had a small rectocele 3 years ago. Having the bulge there isn't great but I could live with that if necessary, it's causing me problems going to the toilet now. I rarely feel empty (sorry!) & I am getting quite obsessed with it now.
I don't go out as much as I would like & cannot sleep sometimes as it gives me low back ache & I find it difficult to relax.
It's not a small operation & I know recovery can take quite a few months but I am so worried that my bowel problems might continue after the op. I'm so anxious about it all that it's taken over my life! I'm sorry if this sounds a bit dramatic but I'm not dealing with it very well at the moment.
You are all so helpful to one another it's good to know you are out there. Thank you for listening.
0 likes, 15 replies
Jan999 Imnotadoctor
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Imnotadoctor Jan999
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Jan999 Imnotadoctor
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Imnotadoctor Jan999
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Jan999 Imnotadoctor
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jan05416 Jan999
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Alybee Imnotadoctor
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I went on for 10 years, up and down, til it became unbearable. Had all 3 prolapses by then. I didn't want to go out, everything was an issue etc so I felt no quality of life and was resigned which made the decision easy. Had it done in November..and fantastic, no loo issues or bulge! It sounds as if you are at that stage, you become obsessed as the symptoms take over.
I would say go for it but first find a good surgeon and talk. Good luck.
Imnotadoctor Alybee
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gwen04451 Imnotadoctor
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Imnotadoctor gwen04451
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I hope your biopsy goes well & thank you again for getting in touch. X
claire63612 Imnotadoctor
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I was interested to hear what you said about having the bladder repair done and then feeling like the rectocele got worse and just took the place of the cystocele.
I'm 4 week post VH and Ant Repair and my surgeon told me I didn't do the posterior repair (despite being diagnosed with a grade 2/3 rectocele at my first consultation).
It's early days yet but I am wondering if I would have been better off getting it all done at once. It's only going to get worse with age I presume???
I do feel like the rectocele is still there. However I'm 10 times better than I was before the op.
Going to ask the surgeon what the thought process was at my 6 week appointment.
Imnotadoctor claire63612
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He is well qualified & I trusted his opinion. I had no idea I had a rectocele (never even heard of it before) but it has definitely got worse since the op. I saw a colorectal consultant too as I had a sigmoidoscopy, MRI, etc to check my bowel. When I told him my problems had got worse since the anterior repair & VH he nodded & said he had heard that so many times! I wasn't told before the op that this could happen especially as they found a small rectocele, I do feel we should be given a bit more information.
When you have your 6 week check ask about pelvic floor exercises as although they will not make a prolapse disappear they will strengthen the other muscles & may prevent it getting worse.
Get as much rest as possible, let me know how you get on. X
Alybee Imnotadoctor
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I find it really confusing and worrying really that these specialists are not saying the same thing. ..unless they aren't eurogynaecologists ..some of them.
I had no idea I had a rectocele either! But when I saw the consultant he said we'll do it all at once. I had no idea that they ever separated the repairs until reading it on this forum .However I was shocked at how many interventions I needed so asked my GP if could I be referred to someone else and I ended up in London with one of the top Urogynaecologists in the country . They said exactly the same thing so I had it all done .. 3 repairs plus hysterectomy , no problems fantastic result and no tightness so I really don't understand it. Such a lottery it seems.
Imnotadoctor Alybee
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Matron checked out my consultant & although I only knew him as a gynaecologist he is a urogynaecologist too & is very well qualified (thank goodness!). Although I did some research before my op I had no idea about these forums etc if I had I would have been better informed & would have asked more questions!
I thought after 6 weeks I would be skipping around like a teenager - how wrong I was! I just ended up swapping one problem for another.
Jan999 Imnotadoctor
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