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At what point did you decide to have your rectocele repaired?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Imnotadoctor
Imnotadoctor

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

15 Replies

  • Jan999
    Jan999 Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    It was a Urogynaecologist we recommended Imnotadoctor rather than a gynaecologist or a colorectal surgeon. I made a decision very quickly but had a couple of appointments to talk things over. I was referred in March and had my repair in the July almost 6 years ago. You perhaps need to talk to a Urogynaecologist and discuss your options. Are you in the UK? Sorry I forget.
    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor Jan999

      Posted

      Yes I am & I Googled urogynaecologist and couldn't find one in my area. There is a female gynaecologist who specialises in this sort of thing at my nearest BMI clinic but "urogynaecologist" does seem quite a new thing.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      The title of Urogynaecologist is becoming more common as more gynaecologists undertake the extra training. If you aren't sure about a consultants qualification or need any help send me a personal message with details and the area you live and I'll make some enquiries. I've done it before for ladies x
    • jan05416
      jan05416 Jan999

      Posted

      Hi matron I'm seeing a new consultant on Monday and was wondering if u had heard of him , I can't remember how to pm u. Kind regards jan. X
  • Alybee
    Alybee Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Hi, definitely  get referred to a urogynaecologist and discuss it all.

     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
      Imnotadoctor Alybee

      Posted

      Thank you Alybee. I'm having trouble locating a urogynaecologist there don't seem to be many of them about. Obviously I would want the best qualified person I could get but I don't want to travel too far. I remember the 40 minute journey home after my anterior very well! 😕
    • gwen04451
      gwen04451 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      I had a rectocele and peremium repair last October and my recovery has been trouble free.I developed the rectocele following the birth of my eldest daughter 24 years ago and my peremium wasn't stitched properly following the birth. Things got worse after the birth of my second child. I managed quite well with the prolapse but it was getting worse with age and menopause . I then started having a few bowel accidents. The gaping peremium didn't help the prolapse either! I finished work last year so went and got it sorted. The operation was done my a gynaeocologist at my local Hospital. I hadn't heard of a urogynaecologist and just accepted the Consulatant I saw as got on well with him. He reasured me and I had no reason to worry. . Everything has been great since the op (even sex!) but I had a post menopause bleed last month and had a scan and biopsy yesterday. Trying not to be too worried.
    • Imnotadoctor
      Imnotadoctor gwen04451

      Posted

      Good to hear from you. I had 2 difficult births (over 20 years ago) & had to go to theatre afterwards for repair. I didn't have any problems until 4 years ago when things just felt odd. It was a prolapsed bladder which I had repaired 3 years ago. He said at the time "your back wall will need doing at some point too" but wouldn't do it at the same time. Well, since that op things have gone from bad to worse & I think the rectocele has fallen into the space where the bladder was. I don't expect to be 18 again but I don't think I can carry on like this as it's not fair on me or my husband (who is amazing but doesn't really understand how horrible it all is).

      I hope your biopsy goes well & thank you again for getting in touch. X

  • claire63612
    claire63612 Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    HI Imnotadoctor 

    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
      Imnotadoctor claire63612

      Posted

      I know lots of ladies on here have had anterior & posterior repairs done at the same time & are doing very well but my consultant said he never did both at the same time as it might "make things too tight down there".

      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
    Alybee Imnotadoctor

    Posted

    Hi again,

     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
      Imnotadoctor Alybee

      Posted

      Hi,

      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
      Jan999 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      You have to dig deep sometimes because gynaecologists trained in urogynaecology still prefer the title gynaecologist. If they are members of certain medical bodies such as the British Society of Urogynaecologists then obviously they are specially trained because that's a condition of them being members. As for you skipping around like a teenager that's a few weeks away yet 😘
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