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

I think it depends on what the mesh is used for, bladder sling or to support vaginal walls and how it's inserted. Some problems caused by the needles used.

I had abdominal hysterectomy and cystocele and rectocele returned within 8 months and vault within 2 years.

What do you mean by 'yanking 'the uterus down and out of the vagina. What else do you think It might pull out?

An atrophied uterus is about the size of a plum, nothing in comparison to a baby! There is no 'yanking' involved, it is far less invasive to have a vaginal hysterectomy than an abdominal one or even laparoscopically. No abdominal wounds, no cutting through layers of skin and muscle, and a much better recovery. If fibroids are present then they can't perform a hysterectomy vaginally, it's their size not the uterus that determines which method is used. 

It makes you wonder how many if any have a successful repair the first time, or are we destined to have to have repeat repairs? Did you have the prolapses before having your hysterectomy Rosabee? I found out afterwards that a vaginal hysterectomy carries a higher risk of prolapse apparently. Although I agree with Sheila, a quicker recovery, but at what risk? I didn't have any prolapses before my hysterectomy, and I find it even harder to accept my situation, because I haven't had children. Mmm x

Hi Doulou, It must be hard to accept without having had children. At least I know my prolapse was caused by 2 big healthy babies. I had prolapse symptoms after the birth of my second child: tampons were pushed out, penetrative sex sometimes painful. I ignored them for 20 years until menopause when my cervix descended so far my partner could see it. It put him right off sex! I had a mirena coil for heavy bleeding from fibroids and when I couldn't feel the strings i went to the GP. She advised a vaginal hysterectomy alarming me by saying if i didn't have it taken out it would fall out and I would need emergency surgery. by this time the walls and apex of vagina had been pulled down by the weight of the fibroid uterus. Ultrasound showed fibroids were large and surgeon said that a vaginal hysterectomy would be risky as bladder could be damaged. So I agreed to have it abdominally with sacrocolpopexy at the same time. I really didn't want this as i had heard the mesh horror stories. But he said without it my prolapse would return within 18 months. The irony is that i had another  prolapse within 8 months with the mesh still attached to my sacrum. Living with the daily fear the second lot of surgery will fail. Yesterday was a good day and I didn't feel any worrying symptoms  but for 3 days before I had dragging ache in pelvis and poking feelings in my vagina so felt very distresssed. I don't know how I will cope if it fails again. 

It all depends on why we've had our hysterectomy. Cancer is an obvious definite, very large fibroids, heavy bleeding another. 

I had a triple prolapse, a cystocele possibly following the birth of my second son, 28 years ago, a rectocele and a uterine prolapse. I think these all got much worse post menopause. 

I was offered the repairs initially, a year later when I finally plucked up the courage to opt for surgery a vaginal hysterectomy was suggested. It wasn't  until after the surgery that I knew I'd had a sacrospinous fixation, my understanding was that this was to prevent a vault prolapse and to pull up the vaginal walls. 

My major decision to have surgery was leaking, especially when exercising, bending down to garden or a trip or stumble. 

Prior to surgery it never crossed my mind it wouldn't work, I'm now five months on and will see my consultant again in March 2018. I still get some leaking, she said she can't address this until my repairs are totally healed.

It's made me realise how major the surgery was and more so, how long the recovery is. 

It's a long old haul, the surgery was the easy bit. 

Good luck to everyone out there. 💕

You've ruined this "discussion" forum since appearing. Nasty aggressive "know-it-all"!!!! Other people have knowledge too you know!! I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ELSE IS PULLED OUT WITH THE UTERUS!!! Dumb ass! Our female bodies are born with a uterus. We are designed by nature to grow a baby inside over 9mths, with our bodies adapting cell by cell to this slow invasion. Our bodies ARE NOT designed to NOT have a uterus. PROLAPSES have been recorded as being more prevalent since vag hysterectomies!! Also some girls can successfully give birth to 10 kids and never have a prolapse. Some have bad prolapses having never given birth. There are a huge raft of problems and suffering post-hysterectomy that end up far worse than the reason for the hysterectomy. And are troublesome for the rest of their lives! Whereas if managed properly to cessation of periods, and managing to escape hysterectomy, then lots of problems cease with menopause, & we retain all our bits. There are too many Surgeons who consent to do hysterectomies just because a woman asks for one! Some Dr's are just taking them out without really good reason, instead of treating problems with every other thing known to mankind, and only doing hysterectomy when all else has failed. There have been many girls come into here hugely regretting having one done. Going into surgery ill-informed and given so little information. Prolapses are failing right left and centre because woman are not given hardly any instructions for what not to do post-op. It's a MAJOR failure by the medical profession!!! They come into here because of problems, and mostly too late after damage is already done due to a sometimes almost total lack of clear post-op instructions. The uterus sure as hell doesn't just gently float out of vagina!! It is retrieved from inside via surgical instruments!! Whatever method and invasion to get it!!! 

2yrs on now since my anterior repair with mesh sling and mines held fine. My Urogynaecologist has a very very low failure rate. Some of it does definately rest on individual Surgeons skill! On the public system its luck of the draw who you are assigned to. I do realise that there are a limited amount who can go privately and research who to go to first. 

Robyn I am far from a know it all and I apologise if I come across as aggressive. ☹️ I can only speak from my experience and the reasons I opted for surgery. I have found these forums invaluable during what had been a turbulent journey, I still feel very fragile and your comments heart me deeply. Many people have thanked me for my contribution and value my comments; unfortunately I have said things to offend you. 

Oh dear, I will read but refrain from commenting in the future! 

Ok, yes, I'm sorry also. I understand there is a miriad of reasons for our various problems and our choice to go for surgery. It's heartbreaking to have surgery fail and some have followed strictly to the restrictions needed post-op. I didn't find this forum till 1mth post-op and that was cause I wondered if I had an infection and was stupidly too scared to ring my Surgeons rooms to ask. It's been so informative for past 23mths and interesting reading Girls journeys. I didn't word my comment how I should have, and shouldn't have used "yanked"! I have very strong ideas on trying with every might, to not have a hysterectomy. Cancer or pre-cursors of, certainly are a different kettle of fish. I guess once our suffering of heavy periods, period pain, and endometriosis are behind us, they are then never as bad as they were during our suffering. Thank god nature is kind in helping us forget

I agree Robyn. I think, in my case anyway, the choices of treatment, and information given has been totally inadequate. I was happy with the surgeons, or so I thought, as they were said to be one of the best in this area. But the consultant I saw before my hysterectomy, wasn't the person who did the operation, it was his registrar, who I saw just before going into theatre. I was glad to be honest, as she'd done my laparoscopy and ablation 8 years previously. Just thinking about it........neither of them did any examination of me, just asked symptoms etc., I'm pretty sure anyway. I know I can't turn the clocks back, and change anything. I would just love to have my a quality of life back, to be the carefree happy woman I used to be. I struggle to believe there isn't ananswer? I know I'm probably going over old ground, and I apologise ladies. Thank you all for your support, ideas and suggestions, I really do appreciate all of your comments. Sending hugs x

Bless you Rosabee. It's an eternal nightmare isn't it? I don't think how they were going to go the hysterectomy was mentioned, I remember waking up and looking down, to see what they had done. I know I was in so much pain from the catheter though. So are you just seeing how things go day to day? Hoping today is a good day for you, and stays that way eh? X

Hi armelle, that sounds awful. I can only presume if you cannot pass water properly, it could lead to nausea, as surely you're not getting rid of toxins? I really hope your treatment next week helps. Constipation is so awful too isn't it? I bought a squatty potty, and never strain now, as I know what affect it can have on the pelvic floor. This does help, along with the right balance of fibre, and fluids, and occasionally a little help from extra fruit, or medication when needed. Maybe one day ladies, we will have a few days or more, when we don't have to think about these issues eh? I'm forever hopeful x