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Post anterior cystocele repair and now BV

Posted , 6 users are following.

may73695
may73695

Hi, I am 6 weeks tomorrow post anterior cystocele repair which was done vaginally. I had hysterectomy and removal of ovaries aged 36 and am now 69. I have just tested positive for bacterial vaginitis which I have had once before about 6 months ago, and have to start treatment tonight. Has anyone else had this after surgery? I have looked it up and it seems anything that changes the normal ph of the vaginal area makes BV more likely and it is quite common after surgery. As I am going to be using a gel that is inserted vaginally I am worried about putting anything in there!! Anyone else had this problem who can hopefully put my mind at rest? Many thanks.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Carolmaria
    Carolmaria may73695

    Posted

    Hi May. I'm so sorry to hear you have a set back. Could you not have had oral antibiotics instead of the gel? I can't imagine inserting anything "down there" yet! Good luck. Carol x

    • may73695
      may73695 Carolmaria

      Posted

      Hi Carolmaria, thank you once again for replying to me. I had bv once before and gp gave me Zidoval and I had a bad reaction to it, so don't want to go through that again. Feeling really low I think and it is all getting me down at the moment but will start treatment tonight and hopefully feel better soon. Hope all ok with you and you are resting up a lot. Thanks again May

    • Carolmaria
      Carolmaria may73695

      Posted

      We should've gone on holiday in our motorhome today for 2 weeks, so I too am feeling a bit low. There's no way I feel ready for anything away from home yet, still not even been out in the car! Still so tired all the time even though it's 3 weeks now. Really hope you can cope with the gel & that it gives you some relief May, it really is bad luck to get that after all you've been through. Do take care & hope you soon feel much better. Best wishes Carol x

    • may73695
      may73695 Carolmaria

      Posted

      Thank you so much Carol, I really appreciate your help. Let's hope we are going to be fine soon and so glad we had this surgery. Had several cushions for car ride, but found it very tiring even as a passenger. Look after yourself, May

  • cybelle91107
    cybelle91107 may73695

    Posted

    I didnt have to use it post surgery but I am diabetic and have had many infections, the gel is the only thing that works for me. Oral antibiotics just aren't as effective and its quicker. I had my follow up at 6 weeks and was terrified to have the surgeon go near me with a speculum and put his fingers inside me and it was relatively painless. That small applicator shouldn't hurt. I was cleared for sex at 6 weeks, doctor didn't think that would hurt.....given that he is a man I wasn't so sure I agreed with him so my husband had to be patient a bit longer! 😉 I think you will find it to be painless and give you quick relief from your symptoms. All the best!

    • may73695
      may73695 cybelle91107

      Posted

      Hi cybel, thank you so much for taking the time to reply and reassure me. I think I am over anxious about things at the moment and what you say makes complete sense, thanks again. May
  • DorryC
    DorryC may73695

    Posted

    I had BV 2 weeks post op.  I don't think it was severe but it was enough to need  treatment. I was given vaginal suppositories with a plastic applicator.  I was kind of horrified but it wasn't very wide and didnt damage anything.  I was as gentle as I could be, of course. Blood is good food for bacteria so I guess it isn't a surprising time to get it.  I had BV one other time in my life, during pregnancy.  Both times I used the vaginal suppositories and then it got better.  I hope it is a simple fix for you, too smile

    • may73695
      may73695 DorryC

      Posted

      Dorryc thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I'm very grateful to you. As you say the applicator is slim so I think it is probably more me getting anxious about putting anything in there!! May

  • angela36386
    angela36386 may73695

    Posted

    I am in a very similar situation but a lot further down the line to recovery. I had rectocele repair and top of uterine vault stitched up to buttock last November. Afterwards it felt like I had bladder infections and bladder not emptying properly but tests kept coming back that white cells were up which is apparently quite common after surgery. The surgeon gave me cream to be inserted vaginally which has a hormone in to keep skin from getting infections and it has worked really well but I know what you mean about inserting it!!!!! There was an applicator in box but I don't use that-far too scary and surgeon even suggested better to just apply yourself. When I first got it I had to do it every day but now only about twice a week. It has made a big difference so I hope it will help you too. I am also 69 and had a hysterectomy at age 27 and many adhesion ops since then.

     

    • may73695
      may73695 angela36386

      Posted

      Hi Angela, thank you for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it very much.

      I have used the gel as the treatment is enclosed in an applicator, have managed ok to very carefully insert. It is only about 1/2" max diameter, so not too bad!! The things we have to go through! I think I was really panicking at the time and just frightened of putting anything in there. Treatment has made me less sore, I have used 2 now and it is a week's course. Hope all ok with you now. May

  • Carolmaria
    Carolmaria may73695

    Posted

    Hi May. Just wondered how you were & if the gel is making things easier for you?  Hope it's not too awful to insert.  Have you driven yet? I ventured out in the car yesterday for the first time - a whole mile to my doctor!! Put my back out on Tuesday which I can really do without on top of everything else! Things are slowly getting easier from the op but it really is a long, tedious recovery. I still have weepy days but not quite so many. Take care & don't overdo things. Best wishes Carol x 

    • may73695
      may73695 Carolmaria

      Posted

      Hi Carolmaria, how kind of you to think of me. Glad you have been out in the car. No, I haven't driven yet. Spent yesterday in tears as as well as bv which the gel appears to be helping, I now have a urine infection and am on antibiotics which my body never really tolerates. My urogynae nurse phoned me yesterday and has spoken to my surgeon. They want me examined internally on Monday by gp, and if she has any concerns then they will fit me in for appt to see surgeon at hospital. I am so low with all of this, my anxiety levels are sky high, just hoping nothing has gone wrong. I have followed all their advice post surgery and now find I am becoming obsessed with the weight of everything! Hubby even weighed my handbag the other day which was 2lbs and I refused to carry it. So wore a very small bag like a satchel across my body!! Anyway hope you are feeling better and take it easy. Best wishes Mayx

    • may73695
      may73695 Carolmaria

      Posted

      Sorry forgot to say, hope your back is better soon. Mayx
    • Carolmaria
      Carolmaria may73695

      Posted

      Oh May I'm SO sorry to hear you've had another set back - life really is being too cruel to you, especially when you've done everything you should. Let's hope you don't have to have an internal exam - I would dread that!! I don't think we realised what this op could entail,  I certainly wasn't prepared for it or this long tedious (&tearful!) road to recovery. Reading all the posts on the forum, there seem to be so many variants,  let's just hope it'll all be worth it in the end. I think my bad back is probably my just desserts - I tried to tuck the sheet under the mattress & felt my back go ping! It was definitely trying to tell me something! I got nagged mercilessly by my hubby! That coupled with the uncomfortable way I've been sitting for the last 4 weeks to keep my underneath bits off the chair has taken its toll on my back, which is none too good at the best of times. Hey ho - MORE resting!! I really hope things soon improve for you May. Please keep in touch. Best wishes Carol x 

    • may73695
      may73695 Carolmaria

      Posted

      Hi Carolmaria, please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to your lovely post, I have been resting a lot and the tablets always upset my system. I do have to have an internal tomorrow as the surgeon wants me checked out. Don't know how I will cope with that!! Hope your back is feeling better, its so easy to just do something you have done thousands of times before with no problems. You are right about the surgery, I tried to do research but don't really think I knew what I was letting myself in for. I had no choice but surgery though so we just have to get on with it as best we can don't we? I don't like feeling a burden on my hubby, who as you know has his own health concerns. I don't think I have ever felt my age really but being so incapacitated with this surgery has made me feel ancient! Please take care of yourself and rest! Let me know how you are getting on, Mayx

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