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Has the surgery worked?

Posted , 10 users are following.

Mel0102
Mel0102

Hi there, I'm 38 and had an anterior and posterior repair plus a perineum repair just over 4 weeks ago. I have been taking it very easy, no driving and just pottering around the house. I have 2 small children but have luckily had lots of help so haven't had to look after them on my own. I've tried to walk each day and can walk for 20 mins now but my main issue is that I feel like the prolapse is back sad I first had the awful dragging feeling as if your insides are coming out plus the feeling of needing to wee all the time after a forceps delivery of my second child 3 years ago but I had a ring pessary fitted after 3 months so the past few years felt somewhat easier. Now I feel as bad as before I got the ring pessary! I ache down below and get that dragging feeling after minimal activity. Things look ok down there so is this just part of the healing do you think? I did have a uti and a wound infection a week after the surgery and took antibiotics. I feel so disheartened and wonder if this feeling is part of the recovery? I had no idea the recovery would be so hard and all-consuming sad I'm so grateful for this forum! Thanks.

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Jan999
    Jan999 Mel0102

    Posted

    Mel to be totally honest with you I think you've just been doing a bit too much. The dragging feeling you describe is very common and perfectly normal at this stage. Walking for 20 minutes may just have been too much and now your body is telling you to rest. So for the next few days do nothing at all if possible 
    • Mel0102
      Mel0102 Jan999

      Posted

      Thanks Matron for your kind and reassuring words. I'm back in bed now! I wish I'd been more prepared in what to expect for the recovery....I don't think I'll be anywhere near ready for work in 2 weeks.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 Mel0102

      Posted

      I'm pleased you're in bed but please don't even think about work in 2 weeks time. I was off for 13 weeks and returned on graduated return for the first 4 weeks. I know you mentioned you hadn't been driving yet. Well most insurance companies won't cover you in the UK until 6 weeks post op following any pelvic floor surgery. Your GP will give you another sick note I'm sure 
  • sherrie34679
    sherrie34679 Mel0102

    Posted

    Miss Mel

    If I were you I would call your doctor and schedule visit. Better safe than sorry. I

  • dee46183
    dee46183 Mel0102

    Posted

    Hi,I had same op nearly 14 weeks ago and you have described what I felt also. Definitely take it easier and rest more. I have been back at work now for only 2 weeks so it will be far far to early for you to return to work.I just listens to my body and waited until I saw my consultant before returning to work. Hope this helps,take care
    • Mel0102
      Mel0102 dee46183

      Posted

      Thanks Dee. How are you feeling now, 14 weeks on? I'd love to fast forward to a few months' time! I have my follow up appointment at 9 weeks post op so maybe I should wait til then....
    • dee46183
      dee46183 Mel0102

      Posted

      Hi,I feel really good I was going to go back to work after 10 weeks but the extra two weeks helped as I still felt a bit tender at times so waited until I saw consultant for all clear.I would notrush back until you feel comfortable. Good Luck
  • Resting123
    Resting123 Mel0102

    Posted

    Hi Mel,

    I'm in exactly the same position. 37, 2 children and had the same op. I had the support mesh put it as well. I'll be 4 weeks on Thursday. It's exactly the same for me. I'm walking for roughly 15-20 mins a day, today I also did the washing up after dinner and now laying on the sofa as I couldn't stand up anymore without that awful dragging/ prolapse feeling and the ache return in my bum. I'm finding its only really in the evening when I've perhaps pushed myself a bit more in the day so I've just put it down to over exertion.

    I too never realised just how long it would take to recover from this! I just thought hey, I'm young(ish), fit, no other health problems, I'll be back to normal after a few weeks... How wrong was I!

    Rest assured... I'm feeling exactly the same so I guess it's all normal and part of the recovery.

    • Jan999
      Jan999 Resting123

      Posted

      You're absolutely right it is normal and Mother Nature is very good at letting us know when we are doing too much. I am constantly surprised at just how little information is given to patients when they are discharged from hospital. This is major surgery which is something we sometimes forget so convalescence will take a long time. If you don't rest and take things easy there's always a chance this surgery will fail.
    • Resting123
      Resting123 Jan999

      Posted

      Tbh, it's this forum which has been invaluable in terms of recovery after the surgery. I'd be going out of my mind with worry if I hadn't stumbled across this forum. I have found that the info before surgery and what to expect whilst in hospital is great but afterwards you seem to be pretty much on your own and the post surgery consultation is 12 weeks away!

      Like you say, I think just listening to your body and taking tiny steps at a time is all you can do but I am so surprised at still feeling like this after nearly 4 weeks!

    • Jan999
      Jan999 Resting123

      Posted

      I think it's the slow recovery that surprises a lot of ladies me including and I worked in gynaecology!! Some days it feels as though there is no end to the tiredness and the niggling aches and pains but there is and I'm testament to that. It just takes time.
    • Mel0102
      Mel0102 Resting123

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply Resting... It's reassuring to know I'm not alone. I agree that I thought I'd be fine soon after. I thought, I've been though enough with this prolapse, once I have the surgery I'll be fine! And once I got past a few weeks recovery, I've think I've found it even harder, probably because now is the time I thought I'd feel great. I'm having to learn real patience, which is hard with little ones isn't it? You're right as well about the lack of info about the recovery period. Let's hope in a few months we'll be like the ladies on here who have made a great recovery!
  • ellie10895
    ellie10895 Mel0102

    Posted

    Hi Mel - I'm the same as you 4 weeks nearly 5 post a&p and perineum repair. I'm back to week early jan and can't imagine feeling comfortable enough to start commuting again.

    How have you found your perineum repair? Mine seems to be taking forever to heal and is still so sore to touch. Plus I've got a really odd rash now...

    Hope we all feel better soon x

    • Jan999
      Jan999 ellie10895

      Posted

      ellie you're going back to work far too early!
    • ellie10895
      ellie10895 Jan999

      Posted

      The consultant told me I needed 6 weeks off. By the time I've had my post op check and assuming that is fine I would be going back after 7 weeks. 

      Is is it too early because it will do me damage and delay healing or just because it will be very tiring? I work 4 days and 3 hours a day is commuting in London.

      Under what if any circumstances would the consultant not advise returning straight away? Visible undissolved sutures for example?

      thanks for your wisdom as always!

    • Jan999
      Jan999 ellie10895

      Posted

      It depends on your job. If you're standing for most of the time then it's too early because you get "dragging" on your pelvic area. Sitting in one position for a long period is also uncomfortable. A lot of ladies sutures haven't all completely dissolved even at 8 weeks. You shouldn't lift anything heavy until 6 months post op. The main problem is the tiredness and it's a good idea asking if you can go back on a graduated return basis although the commuting 3 hours a day is going to tire you. Really think about it ellie and talk to your GP because I really think you will find it difficult.
    • ellie10895
      ellie10895 Jan999

      Posted

      Thanks Matron.

      It is a desk job so sitting down all day aside from the travelling. I have a problem with my tailbone too which makes sitting down a problem anyway but it's been bad since surgery so I'm unsure how much of a problem that will be.

      They would let me work from home as I have been for the past few weeks but I would feel bad to ask and I had told them to expect me back. I guess I will have to see how I feel in a few weeks. I certainly couldn't imagine sitting down all day at the moment x

    • Mel0102
      Mel0102 ellie10895

      Posted

      Hi Ellie, I found it hard to sit down for the first two weeks with the perineum repair -it was agony but this is not as bad now as long as I'm on a cushion! I still can't sit in one position for long though e.g. in the car as a passenger. Mine is a little sore but the worst thing for me is the dragging achy feeling I think.... I hope things improve for us all soon. I too am wondering how I'd get through a day at work at the moment....
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