child birth and intussusception

Hello Fiona

I have never been told I have pelvic floor problems, maybe I have.

I am 53 now. You say you had a rectopexy for bowel prolapse in your fifties.

Just googled rectopexy,

"Rectal prolapse surgery can be done through the abdomen (rectopexy) — either with a large incision (open surgery) or laparoscopic methods — or through the region around the anus (perineum)." Was yours laparoscopic? Did you have general anesthesia, put you to sleep or a spinal block?

I had a spinal block with Amy my first child, she was transverse across me and they had to get her out.

Did they put in a mesh sling? did you have any of your colon removed?

they said "mild degree of rectoanal intussuseprion" on my colonoscopy report but I have terrible trouble with bloating, constipation and have to help with my finger as feel that all does not come out, well it does not, so have to use finger as its so uncomfortable just having it there and my body wont push some bits out.

Did you spend a long time in hospital after the surgery and did it take long to go to the toilet again?

You said your baby was quite large. Amy was 5lbs 12 oz, two weeks early but transverse across me so big forceps, spinal block, delivery went on ages until they decided to do this, and they rotated her with the big forceps and pulled her out.

Ashley was 7lb 1oz and he was ventouse cap, pulled him out of me, he was partially transverse. Put on a drip too at one stage as well into labour, contractions, hrs worth and my contractions died off. Ashley was induced too, took two days worth of inducement to start off contractions.

Charles was 7lbs 4oz, he was in the wrong position and they used forceps to pull him out.

All labours were very long, and all got stuck and all pulled out of me.

Urge to push babies out - well with Amy I did what I was told, first baby, I thought I was doing well and then I thought I cant get this baby out but they were still telling me to push. I had on notes I had two femoral hernias, like half eggs, on either side of my groin. I did not know I had any weakness but when I got pregnant after a while noticed these. Saw the surgeon whilst pregnant and he said we wont operate until the baby is born unless we have too. After Amy was born had surgeon appointment but they had gone back, he was amazed. With each pregnancy the hernias came back out and then went back in. I sometimes get an ache in my groin, and sometimes think they are still there but not sticking right out, as never had a repair operation.

So back to Amys birth, on my notes it had not to push too much as might need forceps due to hernias. Anyway could not get her out, they call in the doctor, he did not come, so called in the top doctor, the junior doctor came just ten mins or so before top dog doctor. Top doctor said have you examined this lady to the other doctor and he said no. Top doctor put his hands inside me, in so much pain did not feel that, as at this stage and for ages had no pain relief and the pain was in waves all the time. Top doctor said this baby is transverse. Picked me up took me into another room and difficult as contractions all the time, but eventually got a spinal block in. Into operating theatre, and got Amy out with the big forceps that can go inside you, rotated Amy and pulled her out, but missed her the first time and had to reposition the forceps, as junior doctor did it, rather than the top doctor.

I dont know now if I had the urge to push dont think I even had it before the spinal block, not sure, but definitely can say not with the other two children. I think I did not even have it with the first child, as can remember thinking, I am doing what they tell me to do, push when they tell me to push, but I cant remember any strong urges to push even with the first child.

I have asked myself why a lot of the time, why no urge to push? do you know why?

Do hope we can both get sorted and able to not have such toilet problems and not get pains and bloating in our tummys, which is really out bowels isnt it.

Something else a friend said to me recently is that for a few years when I say I have a bad stomach, thats when I cant go to the toilet and bloated etc, then my breath smells, like someone has belched, that sort of smell, I dont like this as never knew, I cant smell it myself, have you heard of this too?

Better go late.

Night night

 

Hello Fiona

did the constipation  start before you had your first child?

Terrible they did not say you had anything wrong and then had to keep pushing and find out more yourself and then find a consultant to do an op for a bowel prolapse.

So pelvic floor problems - I keep having to wee more, no one has ever investigated pelvic floor problems, is that done now that they have found that I have the mild rectoanal intussuseprion?

Maybe I should say I would like my pelvic floor checked out too?

Also what other tests should I have, I have only had the colonoscopy and barium xray.

I would like to check my bowel problems further and also stop weeing so much.

You sound like you have suffered a lot.

Funny once 50 you got worse again, do you think an age thing and the your body starts to fail again get weaker?

Hello michele

I think I was born with a very slow transit because I have suffered with constipation all my life but I know how to control the problem with diet, it's only since the rectopexy that things are not working like it did. I am thinking now that with all the surgery and scare tissue has messed up the musles inside. I did have a transit study done and it was proved right. Also tried speeding up my food transit more fibre but dose not help, fibre as we are all told helps constipation but only if you drink gallons of water to help it through. My bowel prolapse was grade 3/4 think 5 is the highest. 

My friend had a bladder prolapse and was told it was not bad enough for surgery and was given a course of pelvic floor exercises to do for ever.

If you are in doubt then a gynaecologist will examine you and let you know whether you need treatment. 

I think my pelvic problems got worse when I hit the menopause as the tissue inside becomes weaker. Soon after I feel rested enough I am off to Pilates and yoga again to hopefully help me.

I know that there are so many woman out there with these problems but getting the right help is a struggle. Fiona.

Hello Fiona

Thanks for chatting again.

I am in the menopause, been in the menopause for a few years now.

Just googled transit study -

A colon transit study is an examination that determines the length of time you body takes to process food. In other

words, how long it takes for food to travel from your stomach to exiting your body as a bowel motion. This is done

by swallowing a series of small, differently-shaped plastic markers at the same time over a three-day period and then

having a plain x-ray of the abdomen on the fourth day. If there are any plastic markers left in the colon on the fourth day,

they will be visible on the x-ray. The radiologist can then determine the time it takes for food to move through the colon.

This examination is often done in conjunction with a Defaecating Proctogram.

I used to eat lots of vegetables and fruit each day, still eat more than most I know but my life style changed, I left my husband and moved out with our youngest child in Dec 13. I had a lot of stress trying to cope and still do, and had to work an awful lot to keep us going, what with feeling sad and emotional over leaving home, and then so much work to keep us going, I had different eating habbits as out all day and then in evening sometimes not eat vegetables each night as too tired to cook.

I do eat more as I said than most still but not to the same quantity as before and even now feel down and tired with all that is still going on in my life.

Anyway thank you for chatting, shall have to see what the hosp doctors say when they next have me back in.

Thank you

Michele

 

Hi again, Well with all that emotional stress you are going through I know for sure that it effects your stomach, anxiety is an awful thing and causes all sorts of problems, the only thing is to distract yourself in someway. 

It's been nice chatting to you bye for now Fiona.

Hello Fiona thanks for chatting. Sometimes I am ok with stress and anxiety and other days my problems, the things I have to sort out in my life due to moving out, leaving my husband, thrown into a world I am not used to, being on my own with my son, well its a big change. I have nearly been married 30 years, and the divorce is a difficult one, but I hope to end it soon, but need to take my husband to Court to do this. I shall have to represent myself as I cant afford the lawyer now, so have filled in the forms that I need too, and just see if they need me in Court.