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Help!

Posted , 6 users are following.

caroline51202
caroline51202

Hi just gone back to work after a failed a@p repair in May. I work in a school nursery which involves a lot of lifting etc. Went to my gp last week who examined me thoroughly and told me I have a polyp as well as a prolapse now. She gave me vagifem which is a form of hrt pessary. I'm feeling quite uncomfortable and sore. Don't know whether to go back to consultant for further op. I'm worried it may fail again and I'll end up in a worse mess.

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • steph16921
    steph16921 caroline51202

    Posted

    How do you know it failed? Did something happen? If you are still having difficult symptoms, why not go back for repair? Maybe with a different more experienced urogynecogist?
    • caroline51202
      caroline51202 steph16921

      Posted

      I saw gynaecologist in June, it failed after 2.5 weeks which was confirmed by consultant. You can clearly see it like a golf ball at the entrance to my vagina. I also have hanging scar tissue and a polyp now too!
    • steph16921
      steph16921 caroline51202

      Posted

      Please see a urogynecogist instead. They at experts in pelvic floor repair
  • phyl_40063
    phyl_40063 caroline51202

    Posted

    Hi Caroline,

    So sorry to hear that your repair has failed; it is do difficult knowing what to do!

    I think that once we have had a pelvic floor repair we really need to avoid any down pressure on the pelvic floor and unfortunately it is almost impossible to avoid down pressure at work. Ideally we should change our jobs but that is not always possible as their is not always anything suitable available.

    I don't really know what the answer is so unless we are lucky enough to have a hubby or partner who is willing or able to financially support us of we have a good pension and can retire early then we just have to soldier on and hope for the best!

    Ideal we should be able to take early retirement pension or incapacity pension on grounds of health as working with a repair in long run is only going to lead to needing it redone as the nature of work is exactly 'work' and does not mean long term special circumstances.

    I am getting really worried myself with the constant down pressure from even light weight bearing and being on my feet, afraid that gravity us winning the battle and my muscles are subject week now that I can no-longer strengthen them at the gym.

    If You are able to take early retirement I would go for that before getting repair redone, that way you have the best chance of long term success.

    Phyl x

    • caroline51202
      caroline51202 phyl_40063

      Posted

      Don't think there's any chance of retirement I'm only 44! Will leave it a couple of weeks to see if my body will adjust xx

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063 caroline51202

      Posted

      Caroline, you really have to avoid the down pressure caused by heavy weight bearing as it will only worsen things. If you really can't avoid some of the lighter weight bearing you need to pull your pelvic floor up and hold in place while weight bearing to help protect your repair/prolapse.

      Have you seen a physio since your op? They may be able to help!

      I still had a slight prolapse after front repair and hysterectomy. I returned to work around 8/9 months post op; I was doing about 4 shifts a week but all sitting at checkout. The prolapse was only mild and didn't cause any bother until they moved me onto selfscan and I was on my feet as was most of the overtime too, and then the prolapse gradually got worse. So had the front rerepaired after 3 years along with a posterior repair too!

      I hope you get something sorted soon!

      Phyl x

  • Imnotadoctor
    Imnotadoctor caroline51202

    Posted

    I'm so sorry this has happened, I would suggest seeing a urogynaecologist to get their professional opinion.

    My AR failed even though I only work part-time in an easy office job. I now need that repaired again along with a rectoenterocele and perineorrhapy repair.

    I'm still deciding what to do. I'm in my early 50's so feel quite young too! If you have a weak pelvic floor there does seem to be a high chance of failure, 30% I was told. You may need to think about a change of career if there is no way of reducing the lifting. Also see a specialist women's physiotherapist, if you can find one, they can be very supportive.

    Good luck.

    • caroline51202
      caroline51202 Imnotadoctor

      Posted

      Thank you for your advice. Had some sessions with a physio pre op which I found v helpful and still keep my exercises up (most of the time).

      X

    • Fi-45
      Fi-45 caroline51202

      Posted

      Caroline I completely get where you're coming from regarding work. I also work in a school but for special needs children. Lots of challenging behaviour and changing of nappies in my class. I went back in sept and after a week I was in lots of pain. Went to gp who thinks it's scar tissue pulling but I'm not convinced. He gave me a fit note for lighter duties but my head wouldn't accept the lighter duties. Told me if I wasn't able to do my duties I should be on sick. I was so upset. But after she spoke to HR she agreed the 4wks fit note and I don't change or lifting or bending to pick any toys up. But now coming to end of 2 wk of lighter role and I'm still having pain. Some days are good others are really bad. I spend every night on sofa with a hot water bottle. Housework totally abandoned and feel so unsettled as after the 4 wks she expects me to be back to full duties or I have to go sick.

      It's such a frustrating recovery as we look ok but internally we aren't.

      I worry of doing damage to my repair.

      Try and take it easy. Can they offer you a lighter role at all just whilst you're still recovering. Don't think anyone will ever understand how major the surgeries can be unless they experience it. Take care. Xx

    • caroline51202
      caroline51202 Fi-45

      Posted

      It's an absolute nightmare isn't it? That's the trouble with working in a school, bending and lifting can't be avoided no matter how good are heads/teachers are.

      So worried about having another op but think it's inevitable.

      Take care.

      Xx

    • phyl_40063
      phyl_40063 caroline51202

      Posted

      Hi Caroline/Fi,

      I will never understand why Health boards insist that recovery is 6-12 weeks for pelvic floor repair. It is so unrealistic! So little info too on dos and don't for recovery period.

      It seems to me that it takes a minimum of 6 months and the need to be careful up to a year or more and very little info for employers with result that working women nearly always end up with further prolapse and another repair in the future.

      Employers and sometimes occupational health people have no idea of what is involved in recovery process.

      We need structures with far better support for working women with pelvic repairs

      Anyway please try and be very careful and do your best to protect your repairs it is your long term health too. I have heard women who have had a few repairs being told they cannot have any more because of too much scar tissue. So it's not something that you want to have done too often.

      Take care x Phyl

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