Is this a rectocele?
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi ladies, I've been experiencing an intermittent lump and feeling of fullness in my vagina that disappears after a bowel movement. Sorry to sound crude but sometimes it can be quite a lump and I have to insert my fingers in there to push it out when I'm on the loo! It's got worse over the past year but I can still live with it. It just becomes a problem sometimes when I'm exercising. Does this sound like a rectocele? Any advice appreciated. I'm 45 with 2 children.
0 likes, 48 replies
Jan999 cheryl1970
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phyl_40063 cheryl1970
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3 years ago before my hysterectomy and anterior repair, the advanced prolapse of front vag... wall was causing bladder problems sometimes having to sit with legs up in air then running for toilet, sometimes having to insert fingers to try push bladder wall forward to allow it to empty properly. Also doing lift and squeeze pelvic floor exersuses to empty properly. I
eventually had my hysterectomy along with an anterior repair.
When discharged not given anything to help BM, so was very worried first few days as muscle at end did not seem to work and felt I really needed yet pushing against back vag wall.
Had not been told what to expect or given any advise. However like you, discovered that if I inserted 2 fingers in vag and pushed the back lumpy wall that was protruding back in place then my muscle worked allowing BM. It did seem to sore itself over net few days so put it down to anesthetic.
3 years on and having difficulty wiping clean at back end, small pocket developed (same as above) prolapse of back vag... wall. Not emptying bowel properly ( you do a bit then seemed to be empty yet still felt full) , as soon as start moving around immediately need again, and so on rest of day.
Can be a real problem when st work out and about. GP agreed was a prolapse, but both front and back ( back only slight) ; amazed that only a slight prolapse can cause such a problem. Referred to consultant and (running late so only saw assistant consultant, she was really nervous and agitated being under pressure). She said prolapse at front causing pressure at the back, and only needed front repaired again.
In the end different consultant, done my op and said she would know once in there what she would need to do. So in the end had both front and back repair done this time.
Hope this helps you, if your are prolapsed and it is very mild they can send you for physiotherapy which can sort things, or if needed can offer pessary (a ring) to help hold wall up in place. They only usually offer surgery if prolapse advanced beyond this kind of help.
Phyl x💖
Gillian22766 cheryl1970
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good luck and take care x
Imnotadoctor cheryl1970
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It sounds very much like a rectocele. See your GP & get referred to a specialist. I have one too and it seems to be getting worse even though I have been really careful about not getting constipated etc. Surgery does seem to be the answer for most women but we are all different so get it checked out. Good luck.
Kegel8Stephanie cheryl1970
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Yes it does sound like a rectocele, get a proper diagnosis so that you can decide what you want to do, and more importantly how to manage your prolapse. In the meantime a toilet stool might help take the pressure off your pelvic floor by raising your knees. There is also someting called a Femmeze Vagina Trainer which was developed by an NHS nurse. You use it vaginally instead of your fingers to lever the bowel back into position for defactaion.
Make sure you strengthen up your pelvic floor with targeted exercises - this will help to stop the prolpase from getting worse, and if you are exercising make sure you google 'safe exercises for prolpase'. There is an Aussie Physio called Michelle Kenway who has done a number of free films on You Tube to help you understand what is safe and whats not (applies for all women with prolpase not just rectocele). You need to avoing high impact exercise, but get strong as much as possible.
Hope this helps.
S
Hijadeonagro cheryl1970
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DorryC cheryl1970
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If if you think yours is mild enough that you don't want surgery, I think you should still see a urogyn. Pessaries and pelvic floor physical therapy are both things that can help a a mild rectocele without surgery.
Good luck to you!
Jan999 DorryC
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cheryl1970
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Hijadeonagro cheryl1970
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phyl_40063 Hijadeonagro
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Your English is excellent. I only ever did French and Latin and while I was great at written French I was never very good at spoken French and never having used it have forgotten most of it.
I should learn some basic Spanish as we nearly always go on holiday to Spain, quite scandalous that I haven't as yet!!!
Phyl x☺☺☺
Jan999 Hijadeonagro
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Hijadeonagro phyl_40063
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French is a very beautiful language also, I love both English and French but I have to say that French has been more difficult for me...
By the way, I'm very happy to hear that you love Spain as a place for holidays... ❤️
Hijadeonagro Jan999
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pearl174 cheryl1970
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Hijadeonagro pearl174
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Jan999 pearl174
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pearl174 Hijadeonagro
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pearl174 Jan999
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Jan999 pearl174
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Yes , thanks for asking. 1st day back 8am-1pm shift. Managed fairly good. On my feet at self scan till around 11am, (that included my 15 min break at almost 9.30am, so glad to get that break was enough to recuperate but think I could not have lasted much longer ).
On till at checkout from 11am. Managed to avoid lifting anything heavy, actually surprised at how well I managed, think I must have been struggling with prolapse for a lot longer than I realized and forgot how it should be to be almost normal.
Definitely sure this repair is much more successful than last time which I believe is down to having the support of this forum. Glad that is by now and that's me till next Sunday, 2×5 hour shifts next week, and no overtime for a while.
So grateful the girls at work are being supportive, hope it last for a little while.
Been dozing off all afternoon on couch, feel like I've ran a marathon, but no nippy throbbing or lower back pain, so we'll pleased.
Phyl x☺☺☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Phyl x ☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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X☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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Hijadeonagro pearl174
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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It's worth the wait during recovery, and hopefully as long as I avoid the usual: lifting toddlers, heavy gardening, heavy shopping, any heavy manual work and being on feet too long repair should last for many years, maybe even till retirement! X ☺☺☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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You get up in the morning feeling great and as soon as you try to do anything, you end up feeling like you've overdone it yet hardly done anything. It seems to take forever; my sister kept saying it's only a few weeks compared to the rest of your life!
Phyl x☺☺☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Phyl x
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Phyl x ☺
Jan999 phyl_40063
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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I love my job and don't want to have to change it.
Left school and went into office as junior for summer, done a pre-nursing course for a year then joined telecom board as clerical assistant (owned by government at that time) .
After taking time out for 1st three kids, couldn't get back into office work; had lots of various part-time work usually on my feet.
Went back to college then university part-time; had a job offer bookkeeping (my own office too) within publishing company, some of the accounting practises were dodgy and wasn't happy so left.
Have never managed to get that illusive job where I would not be on my feet all day.
At least on checkouts I do get to sit some of the time, couldn't afford to retire yet anyway, and don't reckon my chances of office work at this late stage would be any better!
Phyl x☺
pearl174 Hijadeonagro
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Jan999 phyl_40063
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I went to pre-nursing college as well phyl and I think they should bring it back again.
Jan999 pearl174
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phyl_40063 Jan999
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Wanted to go back and do at higher level, so as to go on and do registered nursing, but by then had job offer in telecom board, parents went on about being civil servant can't pass up that and said I could always go back and do nursing later if still wanted too.
Anyhow ended up doing a social science degree much later, and would have loved to teach it but never managed to get my higher English ( tried twice), was always better at maths, got a distinction in my bookkeeping was registered bookkeeper for a while.
Always too involved prioritising family; I think back then men were still main breadwinners and their jobs were always prioritised. My hubby couldn't cope with first three kids, but as he got older he was very good with the younger three, and needed me to help pay mortgage so his whole attitude changed and was happy to be more involved with kids.
Anyhow might end up working for hubby, before retiring (would hate that).
Phyl x☺
phyl_40063 pearl174
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That's good that you have a great consultant who still takes time with his patients, and giving you some great advice too!
Good luck with your recovery, and plenty rest.
Phyl x☺
DorryC pearl174
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I was on stool softeners and a mild laxative post op (now @3 weeks, stool softener only) but using the glycerin suppository really helped when I thought I might have to go but I wasn't sure. It gave me a clear urge to go and let everything come out easily with no straining at all.
pearl174 DorryC
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Jan999 pearl174
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DorryC pearl174
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It's normal for anasthesia to slow down your bowels, even if the op is nowhere near your bowels. Also, opiates cause constipation so it's normal for things to be slow and for you to need a little help. Nothing to be embarassed about. I hope you are comfortable again soon.