What now? 6 months post op and think it's back

Bless you Phyl, and thank you for your reply again, your reassuring words, and positivity. I'll definitely be asking for a referral to a urogynae this time. Even though last time I asked about urodynamics, I was told there was no point, as I wasn't incontinent. To be honest, it's been shambolic from day one! It seems that you get pushed from one waiting list to another, no information, or very inadequate to say the least. So much for a national health service eh?

Thank you so much again. Hugs right back to you x

Thank you Sheila, as Phyl has said further down its bilateral salphingo oophorectomy, removal of ovaries and tubes. The surgeon asked me just before my op whether I wanted to keep my ovaries. Maybe naive, but said she should do what she thinks is best for me. She had done my previous surgery and changed my life for the better. I don't think keeping my ovaries would have made any difference, and the endo would probably have come back with continued oestrogen in my system? x

I'm questioning whether the anterior repair I had in May has worked, the horrible bulge is still there. 

Of all the warnings, risks and complications I was advised about it never crossed my mind the surgery wouldn't work! I'm not sure I would have another repair without a 100% guarantee; no one can give me that. 

Good luck to everyone out there going through problems. Xx

Hi cookienz, thank you. Did you use a pessary before your repair or afterwards? I just don't think I can face any more surgery and the long recovery again at the moment. I just want to be somewhere near normal again? I have read that these repairs can fail, so that has always been in the back of my mind, but although I haven't seen anyone yet, I would have hoped for a bit longer than 6 months post op. If it hasn't failed, I just don't know what else it could be? I'm trying to get a GP appointment, wish me luck with that then, and take it from there. Thanks again x

Bless you Sheila. I know throughout my recovery, I kept having doubts as to whether it had worked, it changes from day to day doesn't it? And the fact you have very little support, no follow up appointment, and more than likely lack of hormones, which obviously causes it's own nightmare for some, it's very scary. I did make normality generally, although I was careful ie, didn't go back to jumping around at the gym as one idiot consultant said! I had an OT appointment through work, and that lady said recovery is 6-9 months! I have also been told a year! Oh and at one physio appointment, she said to me ' well you'll never be were' insinuating that once you've bern under the knife you'll never be anywhere near normal again! Talk about bedside manners?I sincerely hope you are ok, and sending you healing hugs. x

HI Doolou

It is all such a mystery isn't it?

I saw my consultant a few weeks ago, I have my vaginal hysterectomy, sacrospinous fixation and anterior and posterior repair on May 4th. She examined me internally, lying down, and said the prolapses had not returned, I questioned what the bulge was and she said my urethra! It is uncomfortable again though, how it was before. Gross as it sounds, I want to push it back up, but it doesn't stay  

I think nine months to a year is possibly a realistic time for complete healing but I can't see how this bulge is going back; I'm religiously doing pelvic floor exercise (reminds me as I type!), and have returned to exercise but didn't until my consultant gave me the go ahead. 

Sex is still an issue, we months I didn't even try it, then after about three months it was hard to have penetration. Now it is still very sore deep inside, possibly at the vaginal vault!

I haven't been back to my GP but am considering it. I do have a follow up appointment with my consultant in March 2018, one of the reasons I opted for surgery was slight leaking, noticeable when I exercised or bent down gardening etc. She said she cannot asses this until it is all healed and she may then have to consider further surgery. Like you, I don't think I can face that again, the surgery was the easy bit, I sailed through that and thought I would be all fine. It NEVER crossed my mind the surgery wouldn't work and no one ever told me that it might not last. I fell mine has hardly healed and I feel the bulge. 

I do have some benefits, I am not constipated and can wee without leaning forward! Sorry for so much information, but I think when we've been through what we've been through we are OK to talk about such things.

I do hope you can resolve your problems.

 

Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (Removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes).

Hi may,

US that the synthetic mesh you are talking about or both synthetic and bio-mesh?

I know that lots of ladies here in Scotland had terrible problems with cheap synthetic mesh that had been imported for use, and like you say some ladies now in wheelchairs.

Matron who use to be on this site mentioned that with regard to repairs the mesh problems were sorted in England and that only specially trained urogynocologists can use it who are also trained in removal too.

They can use cadaver tissue or tissue from pigs or cows too.

Phyl x

Thank you May, yes I did say last time 'no mesh', he replied they wouldn't use mesh on a first repair! That should have rang alarm bells I suppose. I'd heard so many bad reports about it previously. Can any of you lovely ladies suggest any tests I should ask for or insist on? Last time I had an internal ultrasound, apart from that it was only internal examinations, by a every Tom, Dick n Harry! Lol. I injured my coccyx in 2009, and have pointed this out to all consultants through this journey, as I feel maybe this could have some relevance to my problem? Because our pelvic floor muscles are attached to the coccyx, maybe the muscles are lax because of this? I did mention this also to my GP months ago, and suggested and xray, she thought an MRI would be better, but then because I was waiting for repair op, and prolapse was diagnosed, it got forgotten about. I've read some tests bio-something? Anyone know what that is please? Thank you all so much for your information, kind words and support. I really do appreciate it x

The surgeon who did my repair only uses biological mesh, made  from pig's bladder. He stopped using synthetic prolene mesh after only 5 ops, when he saw the damage it did. He told me he regrets it to this day. But because biomesh dissolves it is only as strong as the scar tissue left behind. He was very realistic and honest about high failure rates for post menopausal, overweight, constipated women with poor pelvic floor tone,( 1 or 2 ) and lax tissues.

Unfortunately today I am experiencing some of my old symptoms, backache, difficulty bending and emptying bowel, feeling as if something poking inside. I can't quite believe it. Feeling So low. My follow up isn't until end of November and I don't know whether to wait or see GP. Not that she can do anything. 

I agree that it's unbelievable after all these advances in medicine they haven't found a better solution to this widespread health issue. A uterus replacement sounds like a great idea but not silicone, look at the problems women with breast implants have had. Wishing everyone going through this ordeal strength and positivity xxx

Do you think having a hysterectomy causes anterior and posterior prolapses?

I had an anterior and posterior repair in May, at the same time I had a vaginal hysterectomy with a sacrospinous fixation. I'm hoping the fixation will prevent a vault prolapse, something I've read about on here. 

Yes. I found out after my hysterectomy that 30% of women have a prolapse after hysterectomy and that's just those who report it, are recorded and look for solutions. Again, depends on age and other factors.

A prolapse of the vaginal vault or other prolapses? 

Yes, cystocele and rectocele