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Recovery time for rectocele posteria repair with mesh?

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Gardener_Jo
Gardener_Jo

Hi, finding so much reassurance from this site, it is so good to know that we are all going through the same or similar things. 

I was wondering if anyone has may ideas of the time for recovery. I was told by my consultant it would be 3-6 months to fully recover due to the extent of the weakness in the posteria vagina wall

I had the op 4 weeks ago, but am still in pain if I do too much, and am feeling so frustrated at being so limited I what I can and can't do. 

Any advice would be very welcome

jo 

 

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  • momoffour
    momoffour Gardener_Jo

    Posted

    Hi Jo (and recent posters m54321 and pls 1020).  I am scheduled for vaginal surgery to repair posterior (cistocele) and anteriror (rectocele) repair with mesh on May 18th.  I am 52 years old and my child is graduating high school on June 14th.  After reading the many posts about the level of pain and bloating and general total discomfort, I am thinking I need to postpone this suregery, as I will be unable to easily/comfortably attend her graduation ceremony. I had it in my mind that the first week would be bad (ie, painful), but by 4 weeks out I would be feeling closer to normal/much better. My gyno surgeon said I would be going home the same day of the surgery, but now I feel so dumb to have thought the timing from May 18 to June 14 was OK.  Is there anyone who can tell me how mobile they were at 4 weeks post-op?  Thank you!
    • pls1020
      pls1020 momoffour

      Posted

      Hi momof four I will be four weeks tomorrow. I also had a hysterectomy at the time of my repair too, but honestly the rectocele repair has been painful to me. If I had to sit on bleachers or hard metal chairs right now without padding I would definitely be uncomfortable. It's still painful for me to wipe and stuff. Still really tender, but that may just be me. I've seen some ladies completely healed and going on about their business at 2-3 weeks. Each person heals so different I'd hate to say you should be 100% by the time you need to be. I am able to get around perfectly fine I am just achy so I keep ibuprofen in me. If your planning a big party and plan on having lots of guests...I don't think I would be up to major hosting or anything. More than likely you'll be okay to just sit and relax. Best wishes to you during your surgery and recovery!!
    • momoffour
      momoffour pls1020

      Posted

      Dear pls1020, Thank you so much for your reply. It is very helpful to hear current feedback.  I am just having the cystocele & rectocele repairs done (I am not having a hysterectomy at the same time). And after speaking with my  doctors Monday, I am opting to not have a "sling" put in either, so I am hoping that will shorten recovery time.  I have decided to move forward on May 18 and just make sure I have the sitz baths at home, and the right ring cushion to sit on when I need to be out and about and sitting places a few weeks afterwards.  I am afraid if I postpone, i will lose my courage!  I wish the best and hope that you will be more comfortable with each passing day until you're fully recovered. Thank you again!
    • m54321
      m54321 momoffour

      Posted

      Hi momoffour,

      I am two and a half weeks post surgery now. If I do too much one day because I'm feeling ok, I pay for it the next. The best advice I've been given is to let my body rest.

      I think you'll be ok by four weeks for your daughter's graduation. You have to let people help you. Use the donut to sit on, be diligent with your sitz baths, ice, ibuprofin and arnica for inflammation and rest when you can. Ask the best to you!

      m54331

    • momoffour
      momoffour m54321

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply and advice m54321. I am nervous, but from your feedback and others on this forum, I think I understand what I will need to do and how to best take care of myself. Much appreciated!
    • flibbitygibit
      flibbitygibit momoffour

      Posted

      I hope you are feeling better now. I had the hysterectomy and vaginal floor reconstruction anterior and posterior May 2nd. I graduated from college on May 20th and had a party after. I was so worried about my ability to sit for so long, but I took it easy the whole way through, and I found that some chairs are more comfortable than others. Take a cushion with you and get up and move if you need too. I know when I push too hard because I need to rest for the next day or two. By the way, I went to church this week for three hours. I did notice that some chairs were better than others. I am taking a pillow next week:-) Happy graduation!

      P.S. I just hit the four week mark yesterday. I feel so much better than I did before the surgery.

  • VOWeaver
    VOWeaver Gardener_Jo

    Posted

    I'm five weeks post surgery.

    I had a mesh bladder sling removed because of erosion and infection. The prolapsed bladder was repaired and the URL surgeon fashioned a new sling out of my own body tissue. I also had a complete hysterectomy and a rectocele repaired.

    My biggest problem is the misery of the rectocele repair. I know it takes a long time to heal, and I'm following instructions to the letter.

    But I still feel like I have a pineapple wedged up my butt, and DAMN, I hurt!

    From what I've read the rectocele repair can take six to eight weeks to heal. So, I'll sit on my heating pad, take my Miralax every day, hit the pain meds when necessary, and eagerly anticipate being "normal" again.

    VOW

  • brenda21770
    brenda21770 Gardener_Jo

    Posted

    Hi, I have just found this great forum

    i am nine weeks post op from having a vaginal hystertomy/Anteria repair, it's been a strange experience,although I am feeling much stronger and am able to do most things my tummy stills feels tender sometimes, I also have to have a further op for Rectocele repair so it's interesting reading on hear. When I came home from hospital and needed to open my bowels for the fifirst time I was so scared, I think I must of been on loo for two hours before passed what felt like a melon. I am now worrying that having the Rectocele pepair will be the worse of the two ops

    I am a full time housekeeper for a large house and am hoping to return to work in three weeks

    • brenda21770
      brenda21770

      Posted

      Hi just wanted to follow up my progress, I have had my second op for rectecile repair which surgeon called a post bridge repair, not really sure what that mans.Operation was done on 24th October 2016, all went well I'm told, five days after the op I had awful probs passing a BM very scary . Since then I'm still having to take laxatives and also have been given pessarys which really do get it moving. Am I impatient I thought things would get back to normal sooner and also I'm trying to rest but people keep commenting oh you look so well, feel like a bit of a fraud  😞 

      Shoul I expect to have at least 3months of as I did with last op 

  • su1970
    su1970 Gardener_Jo

    Posted

    I had my rectal repair 4 days ago and have been so pleasantly surprised that I've had very little pain. Feel a bit tired but not much bleeding or discomfort.

    Hope this continues and all repairs and heals well.

    Taking Senna to help go to the bathroom which is really helping too. Feels so wonderful to have a normal bowel movement and my swollen bloated tummy has gone.

    So feeling very positive.

    • jennie43338
      jennie43338 su1970

      Posted

      Hi su1970

      I am waiting for a rectal prolapse repair via vagina, is this what you had? I am very worried about afterwards. : ( 

  • VOWeaver
    VOWeaver Gardener_Jo

    Posted

    I had removal of eroded vaginal mesh, pelvic organ prolapse repair, complete hysterectomy, and large rectocele repair done on May 11th.

    I'm doing SO WELL now.  Honestly!

    But BOY, was it a rough road to recovery!  It was like everything in my pelvis has to learn how to operate all over again.  I still have occasions of bladder spasms, and I have to monitor my bowel operations constantly.

    The recovery of the rectocele repair was the worst.  EVERYTHING is swollen, and it STAYS swollen for a long, long time.  You have to take Miralax or its equivalent daily, use stool softeners and have lots of patience.  Pain killers are blessings, but they can make you constipated.  Sitting on a heating pad is nice.

    But seriously: the swelling for me was like having a pineapple shoved up my rear end for at least eight weeks.  I wondered if I'd have that damned pineapple forever.  It did eventually go away.

    Be nice to yourself.  This is a huge task to recover from, and your body is very, very angry with you.

    When it's over, though, you WILL be glad!

    ~VOW

    • VOWeaver
      VOWeaver elizabeth22581

      Posted

      I had the MONARC bladder sling (mesh) "installed" on 5 May 2005.  Erosion symptoms began gradually in the past three or so years.  The prolapse was corrected for a while, but eventually gravity took over.

      The MONARC brand is one of the transvaginal mesh/bladder sling products which has been recalled by the FDA.  I do have a pending lawsuit.  Lord knows when that might be resolved.

      ~VOW

    • judith83137
      judith83137 VOWeaver

      Posted

      Hi there you are the first that has metioned the mesh. I had the retocele & the mesh for levator sized 30.7 cm.

      Its great to hear your pain has gone.

      There is a lot of pain on the bottom stiches where the mesh is anchored its hard. Did you have these pains

      Aussie

    • judith83137
      judith83137

      Posted

      Sorry that size is 39.7cm

      Iam in Sydney

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