hysteropexy, posterior repair, Enterocele, rectocele

Useful to have other's experience and getting concerned as not had a bm since before op on Tuesday and now mid Friday. Been up and down stairs few times today and to end road and back with husband. Thought bit more movement and lactulose may help. Not feeling too bad after catheter out yesterday morning.

Really hope this has worked as cervix was protruding but bases on other responses I won't even check for a month or so. Consultant said yesterday I should have has hysterectomy too but you can still prolapse after that and I don't want menopause now.

Hope you all continue to heal well

H

If you have a hysterectomy helen you wouldn't start the menopause unless you have a oopherectomy as well.

I got told to stop overthinking everything, worry less & rest more. I think it's hard when you can't see what's been done if that makes sense. Stitches have been removed from my tummy but my left side hurts to touch. To be honest I feel pretty good though. I'm going to my Drs later this afternoon to have stitches removed from my perineal as they're really tight & she has now spoken to the hospital to see if it's ok to remove them which it is. Wishing you a successful recovery ??

Hi Helen, I was in terrible pain after my operation due to constipation even though I was eating plenty of fruit and taking Lactulose. I too have to eventually have a hysterectomy but my consultant didn't want to do it yet because of my age and reoccurrence of prolapse. Apparently I have a large womb... wishing you a successful recovery ??

Thanks I looked that up. I saw a gynae Physio before was convinced to have op and she was against hysterectomy said body doesn't like cavities and can make prolapse worse. Don't want any more surgery after this! I had no idea on length of recovery considering putting a complaint in as I specifically asked the consultant's secretary and she came back to me with what I thought was definitive advice. Want to give it the best chance so will stay off work but see if I can work short days from home in a few weeks.

Thanks Anita, sounds like your surgery was more extensive. I don't have to see anyone for 10 weeks which seems ages. Been told not to strain for bw and hope will be ok with lots water and lactulose. Guess anaesthetic takes it out of you and haven't eaten much recently

Bless you, thinking of you. Wish I'd taken more time to realise how long recovery was. its very frustrating not being able to do things especially drive as having to rely on others for my little one getting to school etc.

Wish I'd got the chance to see a gynaecologist physio, I got a leaflet. I cant really slate the hospital though as the consultant was lovely as were her team. I just wish people were better prepared for discharge.

One more thing I'm also taking peppermint capsules as have suffered with trapped gas & side effects of lactulose

Good idea will get some peppermint tea. Thankfully went to loo this morning and is easier now. Wish they had advised to take lactulose from day of op (or even before) to make things easier.

Trying to rest but probably overdoing it. Had walk round block and not laid down since 9 this morning. My hips are really sore, guess from position in op and lying on them.

Glad you've had some relief. No one told me to take before my operation but thankfully it was written in one of the leaflets they gave me. It said to start taking lactulose three days before my operation, which I did. Still had a slight bleep after my operation but think it was due to all the laying in bed and medication in hospital. Just thought I'd warn you about lactulose as it makes you very gassy. My hips hurt afterwards too, so I guess it is the moving around of you during your operation.

I'm really surprised you weren't prescribed Lactulose immediately following your operation. It's basic aftercare helen.

No one said anything about taking it I used by initiative and had some in. Was difficult to go earlier was v constipated. Also had mixed messages as to how long need to wear support stockings for latest is 6 weeks which seems excessive

Helen did you not get given DVT injections to do yourself at home? I had 12 days worth I think. Also I 've been told I have to take lactulose for three months. The doctors did tell me that before I was discharged however they never gave me a discharge letter. I was desperate to get home and never gave it a thought.

Good job you realised you needed to take it. Patients are usually discharged from hospital with some. I agree with you about the support stockings. They can be removed when you are discharged unless there's a history of thrombosis.

Why did you need the injections Anita, have you a history of thrombosis? 

No none whatsoever, I was told it's standard practice after an operation like mine. Is that not the case? I had my gallbladder removed just over a year ago but only had the stockings after that operation.

It's obviously the procedure in your hospital Anita, it's not something we do. I had gallbladder surgery some years ago and like you only wore those stockings until discharge same as with my prolapse repair.

I will wear the stockings until I walk more. Another short walk today but back to bed now for a bit. I need to find out how much lactulose to have as thought would be few days. The bottle I have I'd missing half label! I seem to recall liquorice tea is good for stomach. Only had one lot of paracetamol and ibuprofen today. Feels more crampy but don't want to bung up due to Ibuprofen. Anita are you in the UK? I had two injections but none to self administer

Hi Helen, I am in the U.K. I had my operation in mk general. I have 15ml of lactulose twice daily but as I say I had a rectocele as well as other things x

How are things going Anita for you?

I saw Gp yesterday who was happy to reduce my sign off so I go back

to work the Monday 2 and a half weeks after surgery last Wednesday.

I have a desk job and 25 minute drive there and back. Have stairs

At home and work so no different there. Plan to start shorter drives next

Wednesday.

Wonder if it's worth it though as yesterday had a feel and I can feel my cervix

just inside, so basically where it was as per op. I was only having op due to

problems this has caused if he had told me it wouldn't help without hysterectomy

(Which he said I new after op,) I would have had both done. I had a tiny bit of bladder

weakness before but manageable/

I know is soon but have gone from positive to upset, dispondent etc. This is before any

lifting or exercise I can also feel a stitch near/ cervix

Oh Helen I feel for you, did your gp not take a look. I don't know what to say or how to be positive for you. I too am feeling very down in the dumps today & have been for a few days now. It seems I have an infection so I'm now on antibiotics. Went to my gp as it became do painful I couldn't sit down. My little girl has been waking most mornings at ridiculous times between 1am & 4am & is being particularly difficult sadly. To top it all off I now have the most horrendous back pain I can barely move & I'm praying it's nothing to do with my operation. I hope your situation gets better Helen thinking if you x

Thanks for your kindness. No we had waited 45 minutes to go in and it

wasn't until later that evening I felt it. I have just got my period and for

me my uterus is lower during that. I wanted to not be aware of it and with

time get back to being fitter and running regularly. Been with oh 7 years

known bit longer, and getting me down that I am less fit/tonnes than we.

He tells me to stop if I say anything and he loves my body.

Sorry to hear about night visits it is unsettling for little ones. Our daughter usually

wakes once a week or two but usually we can plonk her back (not e

ATM) and she stays. At least you don't have to work so can catch up in day?

Does your little one accept you can't lift them or be climbed on? Dd is 5 April

and is better than I thought and wants to tell others!

Do you think your period may be on way and causing pain? Or being g

Less mobile?

My daughter has just turned 6. Thankfully I work for my husband from home since having our daughter so that's not a problem. However sadly my husband works long hours so isn't around to help out much at home. Sadly he doesn't cook or anything like that as he's never had too. I've already had my period so it's not that. Although like you my cervix gets very low. Surgeon from. Memory said something about when she lifted my uterus my cervix went with it luckily. I need to ask questions at my appointment on Tuesday. As for the catching up on sleep in the day I could but don't, once I'm awake I'm awake sadly.

Hi Anita, I've just been reading your post and replies - hope you're feeling better, I am six weeks post op for rectoenterocele with similar symptoms as you, still in pain/discomfort and still feel I have prolapse but I am just hoping fingers crossed after reading posts on this forum it's swelling and all part of the recovery which seems to get worse as the weeks go on! I have had antibiotics for bladder irritation/infection last week also - I see that you said you had your surgery at MK, was your urogynaecologist Maryam? Just wondered as she was mine. Take care for your continued recovery x

Hi Donna,

I find it frustrating & I guess I worry as I can't see what's been done if you know what I mean. I've unfortunately read a few horror stories. I had Ms Pezeshki if I'm honest I can't remember her first name. Is that who you had? It's been so helpful getting advice from ladies who have also had similar surgery. I guess you also had your surgery in the treatment centre? The hospital have been great but the aftercare not so much so. Ive had to go to my doctors various times sadly. Not much information given about after operation. Wishing you all the best for your recovery. I have a check up at the hospital on Tuesday morning so fingers crossed x

Good luck with your check up on Tuesday x Yes that's her name, I had my post op check on Monday she said my stitches were still ok, they just don't tell you anything about them such as dissolvable etc. She said on Monday had I seen the physios before I was discharged I said no so she said she'll notify them - I will probably have to chase that up! I was lucky enough to have the op private after getting messed around with gp's etc in Bedford for nearly three years, but whether the op/aftercare is private on nhs the lack of info seems pretty much the same - I'm so glad I found this forum as I've been incredibly down during the recovery thinking everything has failed etc and scared of all the symptoms etc the only thing that has kept me going is the fact that others are/have been through those similar symptoms! !! Let's hope we all have a positive light at the end of the tunnel and things are better for us than how we were feeling before - take care x