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Enemas as a long term management plan

Posted , 6 users are following.

Mossup
Mossup

A week ago I had surgery for what I thought was for rectocele and enterocele. In the event the surgeon only repaired the enterocele and part of the rectocele that was very close.

I know it is still very early but essentially I still have the problem of my stool filling the rectocele, incomplete emptying and discomfort.

As I post in my previous thread I have now discussed this with the surgeon and he has said he thinks my pelvic floor is very strong and in his opinion he doesn't think surgery will be the best option.

Towards the end of the conversation after saying he could refer me to colorectal but said he personally wouldn't take up the current surgical options (talked about poor outcomes and development of new/further problems) he mentioned using enemas to manage bowel issues.

Is this a thing?  Does anyone else do this?

I have been so fixed on being able to poo normally and I am wondering would this give me the kind of long term control and improve comfort?

My surgeon has arranged for me to be seen by the chief artz to be reviewed regarding one surgical option that he himself is not a specialist in.  But now wondering if I should be "cutting my losses"...

Thanks for reading smile

1 like, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • Jan999
    Jan999 Mossup

    Posted

    Did he draw you a diagram of what he had done, where he had made the cut and what part of the prolapse is left? I can't understand why he didn't repair all your rectocele even though you you a strong pelvic floor. I haven't heard anything like it. Was your consultant a urogynaecologist? I think you need a 2nd opinion with a urogynaecologist first because it will be very difficult for anyone on the forum to give advice in a case like this.

    • Mossup
      Mossup Jan999

      Posted

      Hi Matron, than you for coming back to me so quickly. I know I can't really get maybe the medical advice from here. Really just venting and sounding out my thoughts and trying to get a picture of whether this is something that can happen.

      He is not a urogynaecologist but I think the chief artz holds this specialisation.  

      Both I and he have drawn pictures and I am very clear that the incision is very high and is definitely at the site of the enterocele. He says from here he did repair a higher part of the rectocele that he saw in theatre.

      I just wish I had fully understood his thinking as I would probably not bothered with surgery for the enterocele alone at this point as it really does hugely impact my life the way that the rectocele does.

      I Know I need to be patient and wait for my review with the chief.  Just feel so gahhhh...really felt so yakka following the drug reaction and bladder inflammation.

    • Jan999
      Jan999 Mossup

      Posted

      I don't understand his thinking either to be honest. See this other consultant and see what he says. I'm wondering if your surgery was more complicated and he felt out if his depth a bit. I think if you had known all the facts you may not have gone through with it but prolapse surgery can be complicated and it's only when a patient is under the anaesthetic that the true extent of the prolapse is evident. Seeing a colorectal surgeon is probably the best bet. Start thinking about everything you want to know and write it down straight away. It doesn't matter how long your list is take it to your appointment and get answers. I've known ladies hand the questions to the consultant and let him/her answer them one by one. I do that when I got to my 6 monthly rheumatology appointments and I already have a list and my next appointment isn't until May! A good doctor will be happy for you to do this. Ask about long term problems etc. It's such a shame you have had such an awful time post op but from what you describe your problem can be dealt with. xx

    • Mossup
      Mossup Jan999

      Posted

      Thanks matron, 

      i also wonder about about this as when I first saw him he called the chief (head of department) to review me when at the  pre-op appt.

      I don't feel distressed or low about it even with the post op bit I know this can happen to anyone after what is a fairly big op.  

      Funny that you mention lists I have my list and my diagrams at the ready lol! My only consolation is I will be seen very quickly and will at least have my answers whether I like them or not sooner and this will at least help me to come to terms with things quicker.

      I may see the colorectal dr, I know that one of the things that used to cross my mind was whether I have some kind of intussusception/prolapse?  But generally I don't feel that problem is obstruction other than when is 'pools' in the rectocele.

      really hoping I can go home soon. I feel very physically fragile, need a nap after every meal and walking to the nurse station and back leaves me exhausted. If I don't listen to my body and stop I end up fainting 😳 (I have amazing low bp, mostly my friend but occasionally not so much)...

      thank you for your words of wisdom Matron, finding this site so reassuring, really wish I had found it sooner.

       

    • steph16921
      steph16921 Mossup

      Posted

      Please try and find a urogynecogist. It just might be that this is out of his area of expertise
  • donna87222
    donna87222 Mossup

    Posted

    Hi Mossup

    I hope you are recovering as well as you can after your op. You say you had a rectocele and enterocele I am 7 weeks post op, I was having a posterior repair for rectocele but when at home I received a copy of the consultants letter to gp saying '*undertook a posterior repair and repair of enterocele under general anaesthesia today. The findings were a uterine prolapse grade 1 and a rectoenterocele grade 3'. I really don't know what I've had done and what I feel is right for the procedure I've had done. Matron and others have been extremely helpful and supportive but stupidly when I went for my post op last week I wished I'd of asked more questions! Matron did say it's slightly different but what do you know/have been Told? I am discharged by urogynae now but will see the physio attached to urogynae care in just over a week. Any advice would appreciated, thanks

    • Jan999
      Jan999 donna87222

      Posted

      donna have I read it correctly? The uterine prolapse wasn't repaired? I think you have mentioned that before but I can't find the post. Your physio will be able to confirm everything because she'll have access to your notes and hopefully she can answer any questions you didn't ask at your post op. 

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Jan999

      Posted

      Hi Matron yes you did reply to me on another post as I am worried about my recovery not being successful. I assume my uterine prolapse hasn't been repaired she didn't mention anything about what procedures she had done we spoke more of me going to gp and getting antibiotics for a uti which you had advised (thank you again) I wish I would of asked questions but for some reason I just assumed I would see her again after this post op and then she said she would get me to see the pf physio and I would only see her again if they referred me back. Is that not normal for the posterior repair for rectoenterocele and leave grade 1 uterine prolapse? I didnt even know what was found until I got this letter. Yes I will ask more when I got to the physio, I just am so angry at myself for not asking what I should have and got her to explain more. The words I put before were what was on the letter.

    • Jan999
      Jan999 donna87222

      Posted

      I think most of us regret not asking more questions at hospital appointments, me included and I consider myself quite confident when faced with consultant appointments. I personally would have thought it would have been so easy to repair your uterine prolapse, it wouldn't have taken much time or effort and at least you and your consultant would have been fairly confident that you weren't going to have another prolapse. Having said that the prolapse may not cause you any problems and perhaps your urogynaecologist thought the surrounding muscles would protect it. I remember your post now. I've read so many lately and I'm also working on something for my NHS Trust so I'm distracted! I just wish consultant's would be more communicative and explain everything fully when dealing with patients. I honestly don't think they realise just how much anxiety they cause.

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Jan999

      Posted

      Thank you Matron. I understand how busy you are, you do a fantastic job helping me and others here smile I just assumed as it said it was grade1 that it wasn't needed the thought of having another surgery to repair another prolapse is a daunting thought I've already got an inguinal hernia that needs surgery as well that I got at the same time as the prolapse which I'm told isn't linked but I doubt that as I got them the same time! Have you heard of that? I will promise to ask more questions at this physio appointment! Thank you again

    • Mossup
      Mossup donna87222

      Posted

      Donna I can totally sympathise with how you are feeling, I just feel nonplussed at how this has happened.  Matron is right that the pt will know what you have done as this will influence there plan for therapy.  

      I felt pretty clear on what was going to be done and know now exactly what he has done. It is just the two don't match...

      friends from work came to see me today and both have said that maybe it is better that he didn't try and do something that he wasn't sure off and that I should sit tight and insist on being seen by the the chief artz on Monday.

      In any case my dr never came today and so will definitely be here for another day rolleyes 

       

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Mossup

      Posted

      Hi Mossop thank you for your reply. Yes you do need to speak with the higher surgeon on Monday, good luck! I will go to my physio with more questions, I just feel so weak because of the way I have been treated by medical people the last three years that I have no confidence but thanks to replies on here I will be stronger! Let us know on here how things are going and how Monday goes x Take care x
    • Jan999
      Jan999 donna87222

      Posted

      A grade 1 on it's own without another prolapse would probably be left alone unless the lady found it interfered with her day to day life particularly her sex life. However if a consultant is repairing another prolapse I would have thought he/she would just go ahead an repair a minor prolapse. I haven't heard of an inguinal hernia occurring at the same time but I'm sure it has happened at some point.

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Jan999

      Posted

      Hi Matron, I'm hoping that the grade 1 prolapse won't affect too much not that I've tried anything yet (still too much pain/discomfort) I'm giving it much longer to heal but I'm sure it will be much better than before after the op for the grade 3 rectoentercele! I've spent the last three years in pain so my sex life has suffered I've been diagnosed with the hernia, endometriosis, degenerative disc disease, spondyloletheselis and prolapse! All started beginning of 2014 presenting to the gp with low back pain and headaches! Hopefully 2017 will be the year of feeling better smile

    • Jan999
      Jan999 donna87222

      Posted

      Oh donna you have had more than your fair share of problems. There's no reason why the prolapse will affect you. 

    • donna87222
      donna87222 Jan999

      Posted

      They say life begins at 40 I turned 40 a few years back it seems to have fallen apart smile but I'm just hoping things will improve, thanks x

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