nine months on and rectocele/cystocele worse than ever!!!!

Your story is very much encouraging and I am pleased to hear you are doing well one day at a time.  I am a little worried about the morphine and pain relief but will have to deal with that as and when.

They are going to keep me in the hosp for 2-3 days to check on me given my complex medical history.  Fingers finrly crossed this will go some way to make things better.

I hope your continued recovery goes well

They don't always give Morphine for pain relief. Nowadays there are so many drugs they can give to relieve pain. I know I wasn't given Morphine. This can be discussed when you have a pre op assessment or when you are admitted.

oh great that is good news.  I will definitely discuss with them at the hospital as would rather not have morphine as it made me very sick after the tumour was removed from my head as I recall.

Morphine makes a lot of people sick unfortunately because it is very good at controlling pain but remember it's your body and you have choices. They will find something just as good for you. Take care and I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

thank you kindly   xx

Oh yes, I forgot to say I had my uterus removed at the same time!! Morphine / spinal was just an option they gave me to reduce the pain right after the surgery. I could not either tolerate it or maybe it wa the anesthesia. However today I'm better, and I even went out to do a little hours shopping yesterday. I have a wonderful, caring doctor who specializes in these woman's areas , so I'm blessed there as well.

Pray yours will be fine!!

Spinal' are being used a lot more these days. A friend of mine had her prolapse repaired under a spinal anaesthetic because she can't tolerate anaesthetic very well. She found it a much more pleasant experience 

So sorry to hear about all your pain!! I sincerely hope that the doctors can help you get through this. I'm 3 weeks today post-op from my bladder prolapse and removal of uterus. I've had my ups and downs but I'm thankful for one day at a time. I can say that I'm progressing well and looking forward to a full recovery in time. I'm sure other woman will be replying soon to your post. Once again sorry to hear of your pain!!

Sarah, so sorry to hear what a time you've had!  I can't fathom this out - it sounds as though you need a urogynecologist - if you've got a vagina you're got gynie bits!  Right, a prolapse is the same as a cystocele and they are the same as a bulging front wall of the vagina (into the vagina).  I've just seen a urogynocologist after a prolapse I had done last year failed (because I have a connective tissue disease) and had a pessary fitted that supports the prolapse.  I wonder if you've also got vaginal atrophy, but you need to be referred to a gynie/urogynie to get help.  I'm puzzled why a general surgeon should be the point of referral rather than a specialist.  I think you need to ask that question.  I hope you can get some answers and get this sorted out.  I really can't see why they've mentioned muscle stuck in the scar - that gave no problem until years later???????   The first thing I'd suggest is organic coconut oil, around the vulva (underneath the vagina) and in the vagina.  That might relieve some of the pain and it's the quickest easiest thing to get hold of.  Use it every time you go to the loo for a couple of days.  It comes in a jar and just sort of get a dollop out at a time.  But this isn't the full answer - you do need to be referred.  The coconut oil is just a suggestion for the moment to help.

Hello thankyou for your replys, I will defo give the cocunut oil a try. I just think that i have been messed about and maybe it is a small cystocele but its so painful with pain in my legs and feet. Looking back this most probably started in 2012 when I had bronchitis for 6 weeks I havent been right since.My mum used to work in the gyne clinic and she said the first thing they should do is sort out a pessary, I just feel that no one is listening to me, im also very teary. I have an appointment on monday with a specialist for bottoms  and will see if he will refere me to urogyne, there are good consultants at my local hospital its just getting to see one. i dont even mind paying private to see one. I have had all the tests done that he has asked so perhaps he will do something. I have no life, cant do anything cause I feel so crappy and ill. My husband works away and is only home at weekends,he feels like he cant do anything to help. If i get no joy on monday I think its time to complain lol xx thanks also for your reply diann34970 xx

 

Sarah, I went privately to see a urogynie lady in the Lincoln BMI and she was absolutely wonderful.  I got the appointment within the week, so if you're happy to do this google who is available in a hospital close to you and find someone who specialises in urogynie work - this is YOUR choice of who you want to be sent to.  Then ask for a letter from your doctor (some specialists will require this or some will be able to use the hospital history you have if they have access to it - but I THINK you'll probably need the letter from your GP) and you should get seen quickly.  Even if a prolapse is smallish it can mean constant discomfort, especially as you sit (I described mine as like sitting on a lemon) or bend over as it rubs against the vagina.  You'll hopefully find that the coconut oil will give some lubrication to it so it won't rub as much as you bend or sit and that will ease the situation until you can get seen.  Be prepared for a few fittings of a supporting pessary before the right one is found - my first pessary years back was right the first time, but this time, because of surgery etc. it was the third attempt that got the right one.  If you get a heavy discharge then it may be because of what the pessary is made of so mention this to the person who fitted it and see if they can offer something different, that might sort that problem out.  I LOVE my pessary - it's made all the difference to my life.  I wasn't suitable for more surgery, and to me a supporting pessary is definitely the next best thing.  I think they can stop prolapses getting worse too, so stabilise things - it's not just that uncomfortable feeling but it's the concern about bowel and bladder being seriously affected if it's ignored.

Hello I am glad you are progressing in your recovery and wish you well. I would love to be in recovery lol xx I think that once i can get the ball rolling I will be ok xx I hope you have a speedy recovery , although I hear that it is slow, and that time heals xx beat regards

Hi I am going to ask on monday to be referred to a urogynecologist and ask for a private consultation. I feel that the nhs has failed me. I have been investigating the 18 week rule on referrel to treatment which means that from when my gp referred me to the hospital i should have been diagnosed and treatment started. In 2013 i visited my gp and asked about my hrt as I am on elestee solo 40 patches, I found a website/forum called A womans guide to surgical menopause, and i had all the symptoms of not enough for my needs. My gp asked me what I wanted to do and I increased it. My problems most probably started then as what you say in vaginal atrophy!! I know that it can cause problems with the strength of the pelvic floor. I have ordered a kegel8 pelvic floor exerciser and hope that it helps. I had to see a continence nurse on monday and my pelvic floor is 3/4 and it should be 10. I am not incontinent but have burning urges and wake in the night to go to the loo. Thsnkyou for all you support and the imformation, i was actually looking  at the BMI yesterday as the nearest one to me is Kings Lynn. Did you have your op done privately? MY loclal hospital the James Paget has consultants that do private consultations as well as work in the hospital on the NHS. I will keep you updated and once again thankyou xx

Hello sarah I hope you don't mind me answering your post. When you're looking for a Urogynaecologist do a search on his name and also look on the General Medical Councils (GMC) website. On the GMC website you can type in a doctors name and it will tell you if there have been any problems with him/her. Just because they do private practice doesn't mean they are squeaky clean. Hope that helps.

Sarah, I didn't have my hysterectomy and repair done privately because I'd got endometrial (womb) cancer.  My GP had given me vagifem for 16 months at three times the recommended dose (and vagifem do have warnings about the risk of estrogen if there is an intact uterus, all over their site) and then found I'd got endometrial cancer, so I had that done via the NHS - by the time I found out about it it was quicker to do that.   Actually, if you look at most pessary sites, it seems to be generally recommended that women who have pessaries for prolpase  are given estrogen but I truly don't feel that the estrogen helped me at all, but caused a lot of irritation, and I'd suggest that anyone who is having a pessary fitted where the doctor suggests using estrogen alongside questions this, because as vagifem say, this should be used for as short a time as possible, so what do they suggest in the longer term with the pessary and why can't that be tried instead, initially.   I went privately for the pessary because I didn't want to wait until February (this was in September that I was told I could be passed on to the urogynie specialist but didn't find out until after that that I'd have to wait until February) so saw the same lady privately to find the right pessary for me, and I'll keep my NHS appointment when it comes through so I can just see her there, where she'll take it out, check it all and replace it, roughly every 4 - 6 months.  What complicates it is that I still go for cancer checks, so they're going to have to take it out and replace it, but I know I"m very low risk and they'd be happy for me to stop the checks if I want to because after you've had a hysterectomy for endometrial cancer the first sign is usually bleeding from the scar tissue, so I'd be the first to know anyway, and could just make a fast appointment to get anything checked then, so after my next cancer check, I think I'll stop those.  My grade was one, and stage was one, so at least that leaves me of less chance of recurrence, but it's a horrible thing to be told you've got cancer and even though you're at low risk of recurrence, it does tend to hang over you sometimes - the slightest thing anywhere in your body and the first thought is 'is it the cancer back'.  Having said that, for the most part I've put it behind me and don't dwell on it.

Yes, a strong pelvic floor is important.  My pelvic floor isn't weak but my problem is a connective tissue thing because of a disease I have, and that just makes everything vulnerable go 'going south' LOL!  My gynie lady actually told me that keep doing pelvic floor exercises wasn't going to help me at all because of the connective tissue problem, but in the past if I've noticed any slight weakness in holding urine, then I've done them and it's worked, so I think we get to the point of knowing our own bodies and what works for us.

I do hope you get sorted now, because I know these issues can affect life so badly.  We just all want normality, or as close to normality as is possible to have.  I know some health issues, like arthritis etc. you have to learn to live with but there are some issues that it just feels as though the right solution hasn't been come up with and is there, to be found!

I'm really interested in this Matron:-)  But I went on the site and couldn't fathom out how to do it.  Sorry if I'm being thick, but what bit should you type the doctors name in?

Chris if you go on the GMC website on the top right hand side it says Check a Doctors Registration. Click on the button an type in the doctors name. You only need a surname but a Christian name is useful. When you see his name click on the GMC number. If you click on Print View (don't worry it won't print) it gives you the most information so if there's been a complaint it will tell you. You can then search another way to see what he has been investigated for. That's very easy and you can do it through the same website.

OH DEAR im so sorry to hear what you have been through but so glad that you are all clear now!! yes I just want my life back and to be able to go back  to work, I do actually enjoy my job it involves skincare and makeup in a high street chemist best not to name them though. But at the moment I dont know if I can do it, my sick note runs out weds but I am going to see what happens on monday and I am now trying 8 painkillers a day to see if they get into my system and provide reliefxxx  I am going to try for pessary and maybe a pelvic floor scan to see whats going on and take it from therexx I will have to keep my fingers crossed!!! take care and thankyou xx

Thankyou I will do that now xx

Thank you Matron:-))))  I'd tried that before but all I got was a blank page but I think that must have been to do with bt - been having computer problems.  It was actually very interesting because my GP who had been telling me to take the overdose of vagifem for 16 months had also told me she'd specialised in gynie for 20 years, but looking her up, it said no specialities!  Thank you again!

mine dont even come up !!!

not at all xx

Not sure what to say to that LOL!

What isn't coming up, the doctors name?

Hi my gp name comes up but not the consultant x

All registered doctors should come up. If it doesn't he's not registered so that's a bit concerning. If you want to send me a pm with his name I'll check for you.

Hello ladies hope  you are all ok and doing well. I had my visit with the consultant on monday and as expected all tests on my bowels are clear. he said he couldnt referre me to urogyne i would have to go back to gp, even though even if my prolapse was small it still needs checking. I phoned the hospital private bit up and tomorrow I have an appointment with the man that I wanted to see, I didnt need to have  a referrel. fingers crossed i will have some answers.  I will keep you all posted xx

sarah that is good news and seeing the consultant you want to see is fantastic. It's amazing how things can move so quickly when you ask for a private appointment. Good luck.

That's good.  I found when I wanted to see my gynie lady privately they could access the NHS records where I'm waiting for an appointment with her in January/February so I didn't need a referral.  It's nice when the system works, isn't it:-)))  Hope it goes well for you tomorrow:-)))  Keep us updated:-)))

Thankyou yes I think money talks xx

Thankyou Chris yes I will keep you updated xx

Hello Chris went to see the lovely consultant today and he said i was a grade 1, and that to use my kegel8 everyday and that it could cure it if I used it without fail. He also said that they were a good investment. My other consultant has given me a date for a laparoscopy on dec 4, this lovely consultant today said that he would also have sent me for one as he is almost certain that I have adhesions. All in all a good day and it has put my mind at rest, I hope all you ladies are ok xx

That is BRILLIANT news Sarah.  I have read that kegels can help sort a mild prolapse.  It's wonderful that it's been caught at this stage where something like that can help!  Very good indeed:-)

Wonderful!!!

What is the website GMC? What does that stand for? I need to get on it because I am supposed to have surgery in next few weeks and feel like I need to know more about the doctor. Thanks for any info