Recovery from Enterocele/rectocele/bladder sling repair surgery

It sounds like you are doing a really good job resting and getting help.  Thats wonderful.  I found it painful to sit and just lay down.  When I was feeling up for more, I walked a bit and then returned to laying down.  My theory is that walking helps you get stronger and healthier while sitting, which also puts pressure on your pelvic floor, does not.

I would ask my doctor before using a cream externally.  Nothing internally, of course.

Hi Pamela, it's early days yet, and a rectocele is painful and takes quite a few weeks -sorry!- to recover from and be able to sit properly. I would do like Dorry says and lie down when you are not walking, and not stand for too long just yet.

I found sitting the hardest and as the stitches began to break up and prickle after three or four weeks, it was harder, so sore.

It's major surgery and out of all prolapse repairs rectocele is the most difficult to get over. Just carry on resting, your body will tell you when you have done enough.

Not surprised you are tired, you've had a lot done.

I wouldn't use Savlon, or any othe cream just yet, the stitches will be right down tge back vaginal wall to your perineum and you don't want to get an infection. Have you tried an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, or pillowcase between your legs, it eases the pain.

Good luck with your recovery.

Hi Pamela I had TVt and rectocele repair one year ago last month. I’d recommend anaesthetic gel/cream from your GP, lidocaine I think, I keep it even now as the perineal area still gets sore if I’m constipated.  It numbs the pain just enough to cope. Push for it as nothing else helps. Take lactulose also as constipation will make pain worse x 

Thank you so much for all your help, I will have a word with my doctor regarding the lidocaine.

Oh you poor thing. You're doing remarkably for your age. Well done. But NOOOOOOO don't use Savlon. Don't use anything unless approved by Dr. 

Thank you for sharing your recovery with us pamela1937. I hope the pain eases up in the next week. 

An ice pack or lying down (not sitting up) should help a little bit. Take care and check in with us again in a few days to let us know how you are getting on. Has the incontinence stopped at least? xxxx

Thank you everyone, I am starting to feel a bit better now, been out a couple of times and the incontinence has stopped thank goodness. I rang the number the hospital gave me last week as I still had the smarting and discomfort. The nurse said by next week it should have eased but if it hadn't to ring again and she would contact the surgeon who may see me sooner than the 6 week appointment.Yesterday it felt a lot better and I did too and then this morning it is back again. I have tried the bidet bath thing in warm water and that is comforting. The nurse said that I had had a lot done in one operation and not to worry as long as I was having bm's and passing urine normally, so I guess I just have to be patient. I would think the stitches will be dissolving soon and then it will be a lot better?

oops, thanks for that info. The nurse had said I could have a bath, I said I only have a shower then she said I could sit in some warm water for a short time using a bowl over the toilet. I won't do it any more then and stick to the shower.

Thank you for your advice, maybe I misunderstood what the nurse said to me. I will just shower in future, I am into my fourth week now and started doing a bit more, but soon feel tired, I also get a niggly pain iin the left hand side of my tum, lower down, when I go for a walk ( only about ten minutes for now) the other thing is my stomach is really swollen, will that go down do you think? The prickly pain thank goodness isn't as bad as it was, I can sit more comfortably now. Thanks fro the advice and help from all of you.

Robyn's a nurse Pamela. 

Four weeks is still early days, it will slowly get easier. It was a lot of surgery,not surprised you're still swollen.

You're doing really well. You are at the point of the stitches all tightening. Some get quite a lot of pain at the 4/5wk stage, so your left lower pain is probably just stitches all tightening up. Keep up the walks. Small (10mins is fine for you) but do lots of those now. 

Hello again, last week I was really depressed as I was still so uncomfortable and tired all the time. Yesterday and today though I have really made an effort to walk more and go for two little walks twice a day doing about a mile altogether, I am trying to do more in the home but just standing is tiring. I am still in a lot of discomfort but the 'barbed wire' feeling a a lot better. I am wondering if my stitches will be dissolving soon?