Posterior repair for a rectocele

Hi to everyone,

I have read all of your entries to this thread and have yet more questions!

I am day 3 post a posterior repair and a perineal repair (perinopathy?!sp?)

I had quite a few complications following surgery including extensive bruising, haemorrhage and full collapse - most inconvenient! - however my main worry now is how my perineum feels. 

I know its been 'repaired' and the muscle built up, but it feels as though it is larger (sticking out further) than it ever did, and I'm not happy about this! 

I wondered if anyone else had the same and if it settled or stayed that way. I would hate to have to return to the surgeon again to have this corrected!

Hi, everyone....I just started having weird feeling of something falling in my vagina and was told I probably have a rectocele. I am worried sick about it.....SO mad at myself because I feel like I did this TO myself (straining due to constipation). It is interfering with walking I do for exercise. I am seeing an OBGYN on Jan 9 but meanwhile I am terrified that if I try to walk I am making it worse. Do I stop exercising? I will go crazy if I do! Is there anything I can do to make walking more comfortable? I DO know to address the constipation and stop straining...I am doing that. But other than that what can I do? I've been reading on the Whole Woman site about how Kegels, pessaries, and surgeries are bad...I don't know what to believe....It's not like a sprained ankle where there is consensus on treatment and self-care. Any tips for a newbie most appreciated!

Hi, I had this around 2 and a half weeks ago. I was also embarrased etc. I am in the UK and was meant to stay one night. I woke up after the anaesthetic and didn't feel too bad as lots of local anaesthetic and pain killers. I would suggest buzzing for regualar painkillers - you can have morphine very hour or so. I was OK that first day as the morphine made me feel good and I also had lots of anti sickness medicine, paracetamol etc. Remember to ask for laxatives. They kept giving me lactulose (hopeless) and I had movicol at home from previous problems. (much bette and ask for this). The second day I was given tramadol - felt terrible, sick and slept an awful lot. They took the catheter out that day and put me on a drip due to sickness. They said I could stay a second night. The real problem was after the catheter was out they said I could go home only if I could reduce the amount in my bladder to 150ml - and weirdly I could not wee. Really weird and I tried. I then got worried as a catheter at home for a week would feel awful. They gave me the benefit of the doubt due to sickness and being dehydrated. When I got home the pain was not as bad as you would think. I took nurofen and paracetamol and that was enough. I would suggest you start on the movicol asap as I didn't do a poo for nearly 5 days and I wasn't exactly constipted, just felt bloated. I wasn't pushing but felt vvvv bad!

I have had a few ups and downs. Most recently day 16 when I thought and perhaps did pull a stitch. All I would say is try to rest as much as poss and no lifting and take the laxatives. The pain after day 4 wasn't too bad. I was given codiene but didn't take as constipating - but would have helped if you have worse pain than me. I have had my moments of ----is it worth it. Cant' know for sure yet.  Good luck you will be fine.

Hi, I am 10 weeks post-op for rectocele repair. Around 6 weeks post-op I started having bladder problems, it felt like I had to pee all the time even though I didn't. That lasted until a few days ago but finally the feeling has gone away and I feel so much better. Now I'm noticing that I leak just a little bit if I really have to go badly. My surgeon thinks the bladder problem that made me feel like I had to pee all the time was caused by inflammation of my urethra. I have an appointment with her after New Years for an examination. I can't figure out why my bladder has been a problem because it wasn't touched other than the the catheter I had to use. Has anyone else had problems with leaking after rectocele surgery? I hope this is temporary.

Hi, im 1 week post op. I live here in the states, I started reading this blog before deciding to have the rectocele surgery, put it off for a year due to fears.  Decided to bite the bullet and move forward. Ive had other surgeries and always beat the odds for healing and pain.  I guess this one was inevitable. It amazes me of the difference between the states and the UK (hospital stay).  It also amazes me how the drs downplay all that will happen.  My dr actually told me on day 3 I could go on about my day as usual. I was fine day1 and 2 due to affects of anesthesia and pain meds in hospital but on day 3 it all hit.  Had to start taking the heavy doses of pain meds.  On day 4 spoke to a dr in my surgeons practice, was having heavy runs and my butt felt like it was raw.  In the hospital they told me use a stool softener when I came home and always clean with tucks.  The dr that I spoke to after surgery said stop the stool softener and never ever used tucks.  They were keeping my butt wet and cold and I needed to dry up the area not keep it moist.  He suggested I put calmoseptine on my anus (sorry ladies, but at this point all is out there).  I just happened to have a small amount of this ointment at home due to a prior problem with hemorroids.  well let me tell you I put this on my butt and within 20 mins my pain was gone.  You can apply it also to the area between the vagina and anus to numb that pain. Calmoseptine is a godsend, difficult to find, not many pharmacys have it on hand but they can order in a day. Get this stuff right away, never use tucks and never use prep h again. My plan was to go back to work 6 days after surgery, Im an office mgr, and fortunately my job involves alot of running around so not alot of sitting, I sit for 2, up for 2, thats my day, no long periods of sitting.  I extended my recovery time till yesterday.  Then this a.m. I got up, minimal pain down there, had a few sips of coffee which sent me running, thinking Id have a bm with no pain. Man o man, this was the first BM close to a normal one and I was crying. it came out easy but my insides were on fire..  Once I stood up after a few minutes and just stood still, the pain disappeared but there is no way I could have this happen in a public restroom at work.  I am so thankful there is this venue, I've learned so much about the road to recovery and know it will be a long one for sure.  I was told intercourse at 6 weeks would be ok.  Id like to see the surgeons try that one after this surgery.  I'll continue reading for useful info from fellow "celers" and hope all of you can get your hands on Calmoseptine for some relief.  Never TUCKS please.  

thanks so much, I def feel I overdid it. I had no choice but to go back to work, if Iknew there would be this much pain I would have looked into disability.  Today is 11 days after surgery and to be honest, I feel like im back at day 4 again.  At day 4 had alot of pain and discomfort, then by day 6 it seemed to have slowed down and I was feelling I was on the upswing.  Had one BM that was a killer and now im back to day 4 pain again.  Vicious cycle.  My insides feel like they are torn apart, my biggest fear is that the rectocele is back again, no way of knowing till 3/13 when I have my appt with surgeon. the pain is excruciating when I do have a small bm and I mean small like the nail on your pinky.  I think someone here mentioned eating prunes to keep things normal, wondering if prune juice would be a better faster alternative. I am taking it easy now, pretty much on couch all weekend, sitz baths but the baths and painpills arent helping me heal.  Just helping with the pain.   any suggestions out there to help the healing from the inside.

Hi, I had a total da Vinci hysterectomy, rectocele, and cystocele and was told I was a mess with scar tissue connecting my bowels to my uterus.  I had this done 2 weeks ago and am so surprised by how well I'm doing. I am thinking of going to work at 3 weeks, BUT, I don't want to be stupid and push it.  I feel like people may see I'm doing good and wonder why I'm not working, but I want to make sure everything is healed.