Posterior prolapse repair & hysterectomy!!!

Hi,

 it's a very difficult decision for you but if you've  aready got  the start of a prolapse I would go for the hysterectomy. These things could stay the same but they don't get better and usually get worse. 

 When I saw the consultant for what I thought was a repair  but with the bladder as well she said hysterectomy too and I was shocked and I said why and she just said otherwise you'll be back ,it won't last. She was very brusque  and I wasn't happy and my doctor was shocked so I asked if I could have a second opinion otherwise I was going to pay for one . I did a lot of research and chose where to go in London and the doctor said I can refer you on the NHS ! so I went to a top consultant and I just said I'm confused,don't really want an op etc  and they said exactly the same as the other one that I needed 2 repairs and a hysterectomy and I asked why and they said there would be not enough support, it would just come down again et cetera et cetera but no doubt I was quite bad and also I am older . I still did not really understand as so many people have just repairs but I trusted them. So 7 weeks ago I had it all done and the result does feel amazing but you can never be sure because you are so often sore and weak etc for some time. Yesterday I went back and had my checkup and they said all is absolutely fine , it's a very good result and that there is still healing going on for a few weeks, take it easy etc. Having read so much and heard all the horror stories I asked what are the chances of it lasting. They said well about 30% do fail at some point there is no guarantee with it but if you are sensible  with no heavy lifting  and try to avoid constipation etc  the chances are it will last. 

 I felt I didn't have much choice but was pleased with the outcome. With you it's so hard to know how the future would be. I was living happily with the prolapse for some years but then it deteriorated quite rapidly and that's the point, you don't know if yours would stay the same or not.Get all the advice you can and make sure you have a good urogynaecologist with experience . Best of luck.

Hi Jill

I was originally booked in for just a laparoscopy to remove my ovaries due to endometriosis. I had a posterior prolapse for many years and had really agreed to have it done this time whilst I was having surgery anyway and it was getting worse. I had a big discussion about having a full hysterectomy with the registrar and it was a case of not broken don't fix it !

On the morning of my surgery when the consultant came to see me he asked me again about the hysterectomy as I know what was his personal recommendation (the registrar was a woman !). So after me pointing out that the last thing I wanted was for him to wake me up from surgery and tell me I will need a hysterectomy in the future I gave him full consent to basically do whatever he felt was necessary.

To my surprise he didn't remove my uterus. Saying that i did end up having both anterior/posterior repair and he has done something to the top aswell !! I think my brain was on overload at this point so didn't really take the 3rd repair info in ! Really must ask him about that next time !!

I hope I don't regret that decision in the future but I know he is a consultant who was very pro full hysterectomy and I gave him consent to do so but when I woke he hadn't and said no need to !!! but I do want to add that I had I had the full hysterectomy I don't think it would have made any difference to recovery rate ! And I agree with the other ladies get as long off as you can to recover.

X

When I saw my consultant the other day he changed my vaginal ring pessary to a smaller one which was much better going in, however today when I'm walking I feel so sore! Nothing seems to be rubbing and sudocrem has helped but it's very red and swollen, has anyone else experienced soreness with prolapse? I had this prior to having the ring fitted so don't think it's connected, On the plus side, today I received letter from hospital with my date for surgery-5th Feb so not to long to wait, I cant wait to get this problem sorted!!! 

Hi,

 that's great your date is really soon – have you decided what to do? 

 Although I think you can have soreness from the rubbing with a prolapse  I do wonder as I had such a lot at different times in the past, sometimes severe  and every time I saw the doctor they said it can't be the prolapse causing it and they were puzzled then in the end when I saw a specialist she said you have got pudendal neuralgia ... She said a prolapse should never really make you sore!Anyway when I looked up the symptoms I found they fitted completely and it's a condition you have and just have to cope with and a prolapse just makes it worse . At least that's how I see it and now I have just  had the operation it comes and goes but at the moment it's  back to so I'm sore again although of course it's not at all the prolapse tho the operation has affected the nerves there and needs time.  Even with a severe prolapse when the neuralgia had passed I had no soreness at all, just discomfort .Several doctors I've seen said there's nothing I could take for it except painkillers but the consultant last week gave me some anaesthetic gel which isn't magic but  helpful. Anyway  it's just a thought but there is that and it can make you feel quite wretched with stinging too. The winter doesn't help as you have more clothes on and sit more and sitting is no good for neuralgia there  basically .

I wish you all the best with it all.

Hi, yes I think matron,s advice Is the best,get the  pessary removed , put in oestrogen cream and just be as  healthy as you can before the op.

 I am just over 7 weeks now and doing well. But it has all been very slow because I had an infection which lingered and then a very bad cold and cough which frightened me as I could not stop coughing . Then a lot of soreness well still as I said. Anyway the consultant was happy and said all fine,a good result and it is amazing to go anywhere with no prolapse. I keep expecting it back, it  feels as tho  part of you is missing but in a good way . also although there wasn't a lot of pain at first I got a lot of dragging feelings as the weeks went on and so did other people on the site, apparently it does seem to get worse before it gets better. Now no pain and I can do a lot, walk well and am not tired tho I'm still very careful . The consultant said it will still be healing for several weeks and should get better and better and it will be sore anyway still  so it is hard to tell exactly how it is until then.

 That's really good you've got your pre-up beforehand – mine was the day before and I stayed in, at least you can ask questions and make your mind up more easily . Let us know how you go.