BMI and Rectocele Repair

Posted , 9 users are following.

Hi all

I am due to have a rectocele repair sometime next year. My consultant will only do it once my BMI is 35 or under so I have got to loose at least 2 stone. Apparently if it is done and you are to much overweight its less likely to be successful. 

He says its guidelines across England and Scotland like BMI to be 30 or under.

Is this the case for all of you ?

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    I have read that being overweight can be part of the reason a prolapse develops (I guess it's pressure on the pelvis) so I can understand them saying that.  I think also, the fitter you are, the easier the recovery and the more likely the op will work long term.  I wish you well:-)
    • Posted

      Thank u

      I had a difficult childbirth 22 years ago and have had an anterior repair 10 years ago which is still holding up well. I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago and had a slight posterial prolapse which over the years has got gradually worse.

      I really don't want to have a repair that fails so will do what I have to do

  • Posted

    what??? really?

    im having mine done in 2 weeks and my bmi high and not once was my weight brought up or told i need to loose weight to have it!

    • Posted

      Apparently it's more successful and less lightly to need secondary repairs if not overweight . I was 2 stone lighter when I had an anterior repair 10 years ago and it's still holding well .
  • Posted

    Hi, I am slim and had a posterior and anterior repair 3 weeks ago and touch wood I am doing very well. I had an appointment yesterday with a physiotherapist who had been working with prolapse patients for 32 years and so she had a wealth of information. She stressed the need for rest after the operation and said that most of her patients did not return to work for 4 months. After 6 weeks you really begin to feel better apparently but I must say I am feeling OK. I asked her about the chances of the prolapse failing and she was very positive but said that being overweight was an issue. So perhaps it would be a good idea to lose weight before your operation as it would help with your recovery and also lesson the chance of it reacurring. I wish you well and hope this helps.
  • Posted

    What size are you I am a 20 in clothes and have just had both back and front full pelvic floor repair but I think different surgeons have different ideas all you can do is try and lose what he's asking for and take it from me I know that's hard I'm a serial dieter but don't worry too much I have seen bigger ladies than me have it but anything now where surgery is concerned they ask you to get your bmi down best of luck honey 
    • Posted

      Thank u .

      I was 2 stone lighter when I had my anterior repair and 10 years on its still holding well.

      My surgeon won't budge as he says he really doesn't want to have to do a secondary repair in the future. He is an expert in repairs so will go with what he says.

      All the best with your recovery x

  • Posted

    I have to be honest as far as I'm aware there are no guidelines across England and Wales regarding BMI. I think it's more likely your consultants, anaesthetist or hospital guidelines. Due to the shortage of funds a lot if hospitals are looking at ways to save money and put some operations off until the next financial year and this could be one of them. I'm not saying it is but you are more at risk if you're overweight of deep vein thrombosis and chest infections also the operation is less likely to be a success as well.
    • Posted

      I have a very good consultant and happy to take his advise. He has explained the risks regarding anaestetic also and says the repair is less lightly to be unsuccessful as so overweight . And could mean it would need to be done in the future

  • Posted

    I think this is probably based on clinical outcomes stuff.  Higher your BMI more chance of complications during what is really quite major surgery an more chance of hernia recurring.  They want you up and about as soon as they can after you wake up and generally higher BMI puts you at higher risk during aneasthetic and stuff.   My recotcele repair was about 10 weeks ago and they keep telling me not to strain in any way.  I guess exceess weight naturally puts more stress on your posterior and the last thing you want to be doing is have this operation twice. Has your consultant or GP referred you to weight management support in your area?   Your GP can "prescribe" things like weightwatchers and slimming world to help you out with weight loss.  It is so much easier when you have the support of others and can be  lonely without it.  I have a few friends who have taken off a lot of weight and kept it off as well through weightwatchers as making load of new friends by going to local group.  I think key thing is if they think you would benefit from surgery but losing some weight would help overall then ask them for help in getting to that point.  Hope goes well. 
  • Posted

    Hi. My Bmi is about 40. I had a rectocele repair in

    Sept 2015....... No mention of my weight. In carLisle

  • Posted

    Some consultants and I don't just mean gynaecologists/Urogynaecologists are obsessed by weight and it is becoming more common. I was a size 12 when I had my surgery but I do know in my local hospital they won't operate on overweight patients (unless it's life threatening) until they have lost some Wight and I know as a nurse just how important that is.
    • Posted

      I completely agree and would hate to have surgery that could fail. My gynae has been with me since I had my son 22 years ago so I totally trust his advise x

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