Post posterior op advice

Thank you Steph. Just feel so down and miserable, the more the swelling has gone down of my op the more I feel this is the problem. I just feel more uncomfortable with this than even before my op! Where before when I used to lie down the lump and feeling sometimes would go, now it's a constant feeling and discomfort! I will discuss with the physio I just am scared to have to go through all things again, it's a nightmare Thank you x

Hi Matron thank you for your reply. I am really worried and I don't really know what to do!!!! I don't have alot of faith in my gp's over my experiences but basically I got the prolapse in April 2014 at the same time as an inguinal hernia but after that when I kept telling them about the bulge they just said it was probably the ovarian cysts I had been found to have, or the endometriosis that I was found to have, or maybe I had internal haemmoroids and given some cream, i had a few transvaginal scans for the gynaecologist i was referred to regarding the endometriosis those were found I wasn't emptying bladder fully, I had a laparascopy and hysteroscopy for endometriosis in November 2014. Still endless problems was only after I saw a physio not for that but I saw for spondylolethesis and degnerative disc disease that was found on an lumbar mri as I had really bad lower back/left hip/leg pain she heard all what I was saying and she said it sounds like you have a prolapse. That was August 2015. They just got me to have another scan which the bladder was still retaining urine in November 2015. I went back to gp and she said I had a mild cystocele in February 2016. I then had to wait for physio and course of physio no improvement, gp referred me to see urogynaecologist. I had alot of problems chasing up the appt, gp wasn't happy as ccg were only going to fund one out patient appt. Luckily through my husband's medical insurance I got to see a urogynaecologist in October and she said I had stage 3 rectocele, she couldn't understand why they thought cystocele. Fast forward to now I am concerned about this and I don't know who to see at my gp's as I found they never really helped when I had the rectocele are they going to help with this? The physio I am going to see is linked to the post surgery care at the hospital that the consultant. The first appointment is on the 13th, should I tell her about the rectal problem or will she only be interested in the vaginal recovery? I just feel like I tell medical people sometimes my symptoms and they just don't listen I just feel so low at the moment emotionally at the thought of more of examinations/appointments/check ups etc I just hoped this surgery was going to make me feel normal again. I hope you don't think I'm being dramatic but I just feel the lowest ever and feel so alone I'm so embarrassed and ashamed of having all these problems Sorry for all this such long post

I can fully understand why you don't have faith in your GP. The problem is their knowledge of gynaecology is often minimal and just enough to get them through basic examinations. Some do undertake extra training after the GP training but most won't have that interest and it's usually the women. I don't think you're being dramatic at all and if I'd known what you'd been through I'd have answered more fully. I just thought having a medical opinion was the best option but it isn't. First of all please don't be embarrassed. I think most of us on the forum understand what you are going through to some extent. I had awful symptoms before my operation and my colleagues at work knew everything because I was working in urogynaecology at the time but obviously they were brilliant. I think your physio needs to know everything and make her listen. If she wants to examine you sit tight until you've told her the history and make sure she's documenting it. I know at 7 weeks post op you think you should be over these symptoms but that isn't necessarily the case. I think you still have a lot of swelling from the surgery and if you aren't emptying you vowel completely you will get the feeling of a lump and the twinges you describe. There are a lot of nerves in the bowel so it can be very sensitive to anything that's contained in there. A rectoenterocele involves the small bowels as well so this is slightly more complicated surgery and can be more painful because you do tend to get more swelling. I can understand how you have lost confidence in professionals, I know I would if I'd had the experience you've had. Is the physiotherapist attached to the urogynaecologists team do you know? That would certainly help if she is. Just to add donna if you don't want the physiotherapist to examine you tell her so. You don't have to be prodded and poked, she has your history so there's no need to. Please keep in touch 😘

Hi Matron, thank you for your help, your help and advice has been invaluable!!!  Thank you for what you said about the visit to the physiotherapy, yes it is linked to the urogynaecologist.  At my post op six week check last week she said that she wanted me to see the physio and I don't have to see her again but the physio can refer me back if need be - but if it was which I obviously hope it isn't a prolapsed rectum or something like that I wouldn't go back to see a urogynaecologist would I?  Obviously I hope it isn't and I hope it's still just the recovery which you said it could be but if my symptoms continue at what point do I say go to the gp and say I think something else may be wrong?  Thank you for me being able to 'talk' to you, I have no-one else to talk to about this, the only person I've said how I feel about is my husband and he obviously doesn't understand very well and doesn't really know what to say.  I will be totally honest to the physio on all the history and how I feel, she won't really know as the urogynae doesn't as I only saw her once before the surgery day as all my other care was nhs.  Thank you so much.  I'll try not worry too much and think about it too much now and see how I feel on the 13th when I have the physio, and depending on what she says I have my gp appointment on the 20th, regardless of how I feel about the past 'experience' with this gp I will be honest with how I feel and ask their advice, if this is I still have this 'issue'.  I cannot thank you enough for your help today x

Hello donna. Men will never completely understand what we have to go through despite how supportive and kind they may be. Regarding you going back to see your GP I would wait another 2 weeks and if there isn't any improvement by then make an appointment because by then you'll be over 8 weeks post op. Is there more than one GP in the practice? Sometimes a female doctor is easier to talk to. I'm very please the physiotherapist is part of the urogynaecology team because that is so important and she will have specialist training. It's hard not to worry to much donna. Recovery from this surgery takes time and it is very frustrating at times. The swelling usually gets worse over the first 6-8 weeks or so and that causes a lot if anxiety. Try to elevate your legs on a stool whenever possible so you keep the weight off your pelvic area. If you can relax in bed it will be good and don't feel guilty because you've had major surgery. I can assure you if there was an equivalent surgery for men they'd be on bed rest for the first 8 weeks! Still take pain relief if you need it, don't be a martyr, pain prevents recovery because it causes tension of the muscles even the pelvic floor muscles. 

I'm 7 mos post op now I went thru hell n back this is all natural it takes s year to recover, I went to my gynrcologist to check via internal pap yo ms make sure a ll was good to ease my mnd.good luck, but this is normal.

Thanks, it's reassuring to hear others recovery stories, it gives hope, thank you x

Hi Hijadeonagro, thank you also for your reply, yours and Matron's responses have been reassuring so thank you for that - I think I remember 'talking' to you on here in December as we had surgery at similar times (mine was 12th December).  I wished I'd asked more questions at the post op appointment last week, when I went in, I was almost convinced it had failed, I even said to my husband I am 99% sure it has failed, but when she examined me and said the stitches were still in place I was relieved but concerned of how I felt, but in the last few days more of the swelling has gone down and I felt this further back, but your description of the surgery etc I hope it's just further swelling and not anything else, but if it is I'll just have to get further help.  I was at the lowest point I've ever felt in the last 24 hours but thank you and Matron for giving me some hope x  Good luck for your continuing recovery, you have made me feel not alone x  I cannot thank you enough and I really appreciate your reply x

Hi, thank you for your reply. It is reassuring some of the symptoms we are going through but I'm sad you are going through them also! Yes i have those symptoms but I'm worried about the 'bulge' that doesn't seem to be where it was bulging but I've just got this internal bulge feeling pressing down on my rectum area causing so much pain and I haven't explored but it feels like it's coming out I'm hoping this improves Take care and hope you feel better soon x