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Is there any hope of a full recovery?

Posted , 10 users are following.

sharon380
sharon380

When I found out I had a prolapse I felt relieved there was a reason for the stress incontinence which after relentless pelvic floor exercises has got no better. I currently live an active life with the miserable inconvenience of wearing Tenna pads. When I found out about the prolapse I thought that something could be done to help but now after reading so many post Op threads it doesn't look as simple as that. Has anyone had surgery which has left them fully fit and active? I've read so many stories now about not being able to ever lift children again, limited activities, is there any hope of a full recovery?

0 likes, 31 replies

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  • Jan999
    Jan999 sharon380

    Posted

    Hello sharon. There are hundreds of women on this forum who have had surgery and fully recovered. Who is the scaremongerer who says you'll never be able to lift children again? Rubbish! Of course you can't for about 8 weeks or so as with a lot of surgery. Surgery is preferential choice and you would obviously discuss this with your consultant. Some women have intensive physiotherapy with specialist physiotherapists. Of course something can be done. It's your choice as to what you decide.
    • sharon380
      sharon380 Jan999

      Posted

      Thank you for your comments Matron but as you can see from the following comment by Debi, there is many of the opinion that lifting and impact sports are a no no post Op. The only reason I want something done is so that I can run, jump and lift with stress incontinence, if an Op means you can't do these things what's the point of surgery?? I don't understand!
    • Jan999
      Jan999 sharon380

      Posted

      Sharon you can't do these things at first but see my reply to debi.
    • gail68093
      gail68093 Jan999

      Posted

      I agree.  immediately after surgery you need to take it easy for a while, weeks but little by little you will be able to do the things you normally did  I play beach volleyball and im 3 weeks post op. I know i'll be up and ready for it, im healing little by little each day but it does take time, remember the area of surgery is not one to heal easy, especially since you still move bms and urine pass this area.  I sometimes feel like im undoing what was done but then wake up the next morning feeling a little bit better, its a long recovery but gonna be soo worth it, I just know it.

       

    • Jan999
      Jan999 gail68093

      Posted

      Hello gail. It's all about listening to your body. Every woman is different but instinctively you know what you should be doing and how soon.
  • debi53024
    debi53024 sharon380

    Posted

    Hi Sharon,

    I too suffered from terrible stress incontinence so I had a TVT repair together with pelvic floor repair last February which has cured the incontinence but unfortunately I now have a bladder and bowel prolapse.

    I am not sure if you are aware but you can't lift any heavier than 5 kilos ever and you cannot do any impact sport i.e running, zumba etc.  I wasn't told this before the op and I started this again after 12 weeks which I do think contributed to the prolapse.  I am glad the incontinence is cured but the reasons for me getting the op do not apply anymore as I can no longer run or go to zumba etc where I was having to wear tenna ladies.  I would never have any surgery again and I am only 42!! 

    • Jan999
      Jan999 debi53024

      Posted

      debi I don't know who did your surgery but mine was performed by a urogynaecologist. I ensured this was the case not by going privately but by using the Choose and Book system so I could choose where I had the surgery and who would perform it. I had the operation a few years ago. I do Zumba, run and lift things over 5 kilograms ie my grandchildren and have had no ill effects. In fact after my 2nd follow up appointment I was told it was ok to do so. I would go back to your GP and ask for a referral to a urogynaecologist who will have done extra training to earn that title.
    • sharon380
      sharon380 debi53024

      Posted

      If you weren't told that you couldn't do impact sports or lift post Op, who has since given you this information?
    • sharon380
      sharon380 Jan999

      Posted

      I'm still waiting for first appointment with hospital and haven't got my head round whose who and what's what, is there a choice between who you are treated by, what's a urogynaecologist?
    • Jan999
      Jan999 sharon380

      Posted

      You do have a choice when it comes to your treatment and I think that's so important especially with delicate surgery as this. I suppose as a nurse with friends who are also nurses I ensured I got the right advice. A urogynaecologist is a consultant gynaecologist who has undertaken extra training prior to becoming a consultant. This training is up to an extra 6 years working alongside other urogynaecologists operating on ladies who need bowel, bladder and uterine repairs. It's a complicated type of surgery because of all the pelvic floor muscles and it's so important to ensure these are properly supported. I would not have been happy if a gynaecologist had done my operation. It's ok for hysterectomies etc but not repairs. Hope this helps. If you know who you are seeing Google his/her name or look on the hospital website.
    • sharon380
      sharon380 Jan999

      Posted

      OK thanks, I've just had my first appointment cancelled and waiting to receive information about booking a new appointment, very frustrated. Nice to hear these is hope of a full recovery, worth going along to see what they say at least!
    • Jan999
      Jan999 sharon380

      Posted

      Absolutely. Listen to the options. The urogynaecologist who performs operation has 2 physiotherapists working alongside him. They see women who don't opt for surgery or women who may not be suitable for the operation. They are specialist physios who help women to improve their bladder control. My friend is having her operation in 2 weeks time. She opted for the consultant who performed my operation because of the excellent results I've had. She's also a nurse and has been very impressed with his knowledge etc. Remember sharon it's your body and your choice. Don't cut corners with an operation like this one. Insist on the best!
    • debi53024
      debi53024 sharon380

      Posted

      I still attend my gynae consultant due to the problems I have had since my op plus I too have a ladies physio thru the hospital. We do not have a choice as far as I'm aware about who does our surgery so we cannot pick and choose as far as I'm aware.
    • debi53024
      debi53024 Jan999

      Posted

      I am so glad that your surgery worked for you. Everyone is different and different women encounter different problems. I was fine for the first six months. It was just one of those things. It might have happened anyway had I not had the surgery. I'll never know. For now I just have to get on with things as they are.
    • moira34394
      moira34394 Jan999

      Posted

      Thanks Matron, it's good to have the explanation of the various specialisms. I think when surgery is first suggested, it comes as a shock, and it's worth bearing in mind that surgeons are well qualified, well-trained and considered expert in what they do. I'm not saying that things will always go perfectly, but to my mind the problem is not the surgery but the lack of information on how to protect the repair afterwards.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 moira34394

      Posted

      A good consultant will spend as much time as you need discussing all your options and what the surgery entails. My consultant did, he drew diagrams and sent me a whole raft of printed information through the post within a few days. I had his telephone numbers to contact him if I had any further questions. That's the sort of consultant you need to be looking for.
    • debi53024
      debi53024 Jan999

      Posted

      Hi matron,

      You were very lucky with your consultant.  I felt as though mines was always in a hurry and that things were never explained thoroughly.

      can I ask were you based in the UK?

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