Rectocele surgery.... Did the surgery leave you disfigured?

Kirsty.

What was the name of your surgery and precise technique?

Did you have anaesthetic prior to surgery to see what was needed.

Apparently my womb bladder and lining of bowel are down.

So I may need a joint surgery.

However I believe it needs to be taken slowly now in stages.

The pressure if my womb appears to be causing most if the problems.

Let me know how u get on.

What were your symptoms for surgery?

Sandra

Hi Meg, my doctor just stitched me up internally and left me with a frill on the outside which currently hasn't got any where to go. I think I would rather have had a proper perinoplasty (plastic repair ) which should be much more aesthetically pleasing and in the long term more comfortsble. Again there is quite a lot on line showing you what is done . I would expect the cosmetic results to be good but personally haven't had it done your way so can't really advise. It's going to be sore and very swollen at first but don't let that panic you. Bit more than episiotomy after childbirth but very similar so it's worth looking on line for advice for that. Probably find it in a midwifery/mum & babies type forum, I did. Good luck

Sue

Is the aloe vera gel a supplement? or a drink of sorts? I've only ever used aloe for cuts and sunburns.

Yes i take about 10mls first thing in the morning. Cant recomend it enough

Hi Sarah, I have been reading your comments. How was your perinorrhappy done. We're you cut and tidied up on the outside? Was yor previous scar very bad? Can I ask where you live?

Sue

Im in coventry. My scar wasnt bad...just had a big opening where my prolapse was falling down. All done on the inside 

So no stitches on the outside. Did it leave you with your vaginal tissue pulled together on the outside, a bit lumpy and like a frill

A tiny bit. But early days yet. Probably about a half inch scar 

Hi Sarah , sorryI didn't reply sooner been a bit hectic with Xmas etc. Saw my consultant Thursday  & she pulled out a stitch which  was possibly contributing to my continued perineal discomfort & put me on antibiotics as there was a little bit of localised infection, which I really wasn't aware of. Not sure you & I had quite the same repair for the perineum, was just curious as to what other women had done as I didn't quite expect mean to be like this.

Anyway take care & have a lovely Xmas one & all

Sue

Hi Sue, forgive me for butting into your question for Sarah but I had a rectocele and cysotcele repair with a perineum correction (a perineorraphy) 14 months ago. The results were amazing and I can't tell you how delighted I am with the results. I too had to have a stitch snipped out in the early days as it was pulling and hurting and was given abtibiotics at that time because the stitch had caused a slight infection the same as you had. All went extremely well afterwards and everything is beautiful down there. My husband says I have the feel of a teenager (who's he kidding!?!) pity I couldn't get a facelift at the same time though as I've just had my 70th. Sex life is great too. Best wishes, LadyPink

Hi Lady pink I was actually considering texting you personally. I am not too worried about the aesthetics it's just the method. At present there doesn't seem to be anywhere for the surplus tissue to go. It is not a text book copy of the procedure. It may well be that when all the swelling has gone icompletely it will settle into place ., but unfortunately using this method the inside sutures have pulled unequally on the tissue causing tension externally in uneven places. I suspect it is all stretching to accommodate. Internally it seems to be OK. Can I ask were you actually cut on the outside, surplus tissue removed and the edges stitched together. That would certainly heal evenly?

regards

Sue

Hello Sue, Yeah I know exactly what you mean and as I too could feel uneven lumps and bumps along the folds where the (lady) gynaecologist had stitched and tucked everything in.. It seemed so messy and uneven. As the tissue heals and reduces though everything sort of shrivels. You'll just have to take my word for it but it does. Naturally your vaginal area won't be 'exactly' as it was, it can't be - but I have just asked my husband if he had noticed anything and he said "No, not at all". I myself can feel two small, soft nodules and that is all that remains. The human body is so miraculous in its healing. There was no cutting at all done by the way. I read a lot before my op and asked my Gynae consultant all these questions beforehand too but like you couldn't quite believe how it would turn out so well - but it has. It's amazing. Hope this puts your mind at rest? LadyPink

Hi again. Yes actually I think you have answered my question & I can feel a difference at one end , I think it is shrinking back which I really didn't think would happen at my age. Can you remember how long before this settled. The SHO was going to send me back to work after 4 weeks which would have been the 10th but the cosultant had told me six weeks , which is now extended to Jan 12th as I still have discomfort & will see her again before I go back. I think now that stitch is out it will heal a lot quicker. I just need to be able to sit comfortably for my job as well. Thanks for your support

Sue

Hi LadyPink--Thank you for so much sharing. I have a rectocele that I am contemplating my options for and following some of the discussions in order to educate myself. I'm curious when you say that there was no cutting. Is there a name for this procedure? Is that the usual technique for this type of surgery? I guess that I had pictured the surgeon cutting and stitching back to tighten.  Thanks for your input!  --Suzanne

Good morning Sue, Looking back, I would say it takes 8 months - yes seems a long time I know - before you really feel that things are back to normal. Each week that passes you will notice little subtle changes for the better.You suddenly find too you are not thinking about 'down there' as much as you were. And once normal sexual relations are restored you feel more feminine and attractive so that your mind becomes less focused on your one time problem. To be honest though these medical professionals  as good as they are, can only give you an estimated guess at how long you need to recover. We are all different. It was at about four months post op or maybe even five before I realised the dragging, aching feeling I had been having in my tummy when I'd been on my feet too much for instance, had gone completely. The longer you can spend off work, recuperating though, the better. I can't emphasise enough how important if is to listen to your body. When it feels like it's 'had enough and it needs to rest' it will let you know. If you are at work you're not in a position to do that. I wish you all the best Sue, have a good Christmas but take it steady and if you are sensible and follow all the advice given about not lifting or overdoing things and I'm sure you'll end up with an excellent result as I did. LadyPink

Im 7weeks post op n couldnt agree with lady pink more. 

Good morning Suzanne, I'm sure there is a name for this procedure where they don't cut anything but my gynaecologist-surgeon never mentioned it. Like you I could never imagine how this would work, with just tucking, folding and stitching down the 'bulge' of the prolapse but it does. My lady, just said she preferred using this method. I understand that different specialists have their own ways of adapting and doing things. I had total faith in my gynaecologist and when I was discharged from the hospital, I was so delighted with her work, that I gave her a big hug and kiss on the cheek to say 'Thank you!'. I had excellent results and am still thrilled 14 months later. LadyPink

Thanks for the reply, LadyPink! That is very encouraging to hear that you are glad that you did the procedure. Do you think that your healing was faster without cutting? --Suzanne

Hi Suzanne, Ha ha - how would I know if the healing was faster? I wouldn't know would I - I've only had it done once and don't think I'd like to go back for another try. TeeHee. Seriously, I'm not a medical person but just have a huge interest in medical matters and a deep regret that I didn't study medicine at university. If you think about it, cutting down there could lead to unwanted infections etc. It's a highly complex and sensitive area especially with our female bits being so close together. To repeat what my surgeon said, 'She'd always had good results with no complications'.  Initially the site of the op seems lumpy and uneven and you think 'This is going to be a right mess' ! Then, miraculously it slowly heals and shrinks back into a lovely neat, smooth area. Amazing. Good luck. LadyPink

Hi LadyPink--Ha ha!  I hope that you never need to compare your healing with this procedure with another procedure, too! It is curious how folded-over tissue can heal in that fashion. I'm surprised to hear that's even an option--but it sounds so much better than cutting. I'm so glad that you mentioned it because it does sound more humane!  Thanks again for sharing your story--it's invaluable to me! --Suzanne

Thanks Ladypink, Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year. Sue