16 weeks post op update.

Women's health
1

Hi all,

Hope you are all doing well. I am 1 week short of 4 months post op and doing well. Still having to rest for couple of days after doing my 2 shifts at work.

This Sunday was much better half shift standing and half shift sitting at checkout, easier this week as not so much packing to do as quieter.

Monday shift at checkout for most of shift but included break and last hour standing at self scan, but kept busy. Shift much better when not sitting for full shift. Only problem this week is lower sore back and pelvic floor feels nippy due to seat at checkout which had no wheels which meant stretching to pack which were not meant to do, the seat feels like it's sloped forward and can't a just back. Best way to describe pelvic floor is similar to how you feel after riding a bike when not been out for some time.

My section leader told me she was aware that last week left on feet for 4 hours and she said that it shouldn't have happened and it's not on so team leaders been informed, so we will see how it goes.

Anyhow no long term damage done and internally think that any swelling now gone, but can still be a bit nippy at the posterior wall.

I'm off on holiday now for 2 weeks; I'm really glad I kept these holidays as not sure how long they will accommodate me at work. So off work for 19 days all in so hopefully will come back stronger.

Feel very positive about the future, although will always have to be careful, not sure if I should look for different employment as read on here that others in lighter employment still prolapse and often still need to be rerepaired. So even supposedly lighter jobs still have aspects where work can be heavier.

I love my job, my customers and my colleagues, and don't want to have to change jobs but more important don't want this repair to fail.

Anyway will not do any more updates, but will check in now and again just to keep uptodate with any new surgical techniques and how they are going for future reference, good to stay informed.

Everyone please take your time recovering and be very careful only a little progress at a time and see how it goes.

Lots of healing hugs,

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

2

Have a great holiday Phyl. I'm sure your colleagues & customers would miss you if you left but you do have to put yourself first sometimes. Whatever you decide to do I wish you all the best. Good luck! Xx

3

Thank you Imnotdoctor. Sincerely hope all works out for you and thank you for all comments and support throughout the long recovery process.

Phyl x💖

4

Would like to also say very many thanks to all the lovely ladies for all your comments and support throughout the recovery process, and a very special thank you to Matron and Stephanie for all the professional help and support given that is so important to all of us in reassuring and guiding us through the recovery process.

Long may this forum last,

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

5

Phyllis,  you have been so helpful, and will be missed. First we lost Matron, and now you.  Of coarse you have to go on with your life, and not feel obligated to say on the forum indefinetly.  Praying that your vacation and the future is bright and healthy for you.  You also will be missed.  Blessings to you.....Dorothy x

6

Thank you Dorothy for the kind words and prayers. Sincerely hope all works out for you! Matron may change her mind as yet, and if not they will find someone else ( don't think they will find anyone as great as Matron was)!

We are all wiser having this forum and I do hope everyone continues to pass on their experiences and keeps it all going.

Look after yourself and remember to always be careful not to cause unnecessary pressure on any repairs.

Lots of hugs will keep you in my prayers.

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

7

Good luck for the future especially in your health.

Fi.

8

Thank you Fi-45, hope all goes well for you ,

Look after yourself, healing hugs.

Phyl x☺💖💖

9

Thank you. Xx

10

Hi phyl, I've prolapsed again 2.5 weeks after surgery. I think if it's going to happen it will whatever the job.

I work in a school nursery which is full on and very physical. I'm getting very bored at home and feel like going back to work. Gp signed me off until end of school term, I went for sick note day after hospital had told me surgery had failed. Think I was very down at the time and would have agreed to anything!

Feeling positive today, took dog out for a walk and did some housework. Think I'll go crazy if I'm home for much longer. Feel guilty for going out when I should be on sick so I've stayed in the house for 7 weeks.

Hope you have a lovely holiday.

Caroline x

11

Have a good holiday Phyl, and a good rest, I seems like I have been reading your posts and updates forever, and feel like I know you! I can picture you at the checkout trying not to overstretch!

The forum seems to be loosing it's down to earth common sense ladies.

I hope you never have the need to have another prolapse, and wish you the very best for the future xXx.

12

Hi Caroline,

I sincerely hope you get it all sorted soon and don't have to wait too long to have surgery redone. I wish I new what the answer is when it comes to protecting the repair, it seems that all we can do is to be very careful during recovery and to hope for the best outcome!

Matron kept saying that these repairs can last up to 10 years these days as they are only meant to be done by urogynacoligists now and the sutures used are far better. So it would seem that the rest is down to us, but it is so difficult, we still have to live, work and get on with our life's.

We can't live our life as dependants and until we retire (and not everyone can) the chances are repairs mag not last. Employers are not going to accommodate special circumstances forever.

Anyhow I do hope you enjoy the summer break and manage to cope with new prolapse/recovery, I hope the diagnosis is wrong and if not that it is only mild and you are able to manage it for a few years before needing more surgery.

Good luck, healing hugs.

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

13

Thank you for your kind words Laura.

When I found the forum and signed up it was very busy; in fact Matron said it was the busiest she had ever know it to be. I was very lucky that the ladies were all lovely and very supportive. As they have all progressed in their recovery they have one by one been less active on the forum but at the same time many new ladies have joined. Those of you who are nearing their surgery or just had surgery tend to be on the forum more regularly as that is when we need the support and access to information to help manage our recovery.

I have updated every week as I felt that when I had just had surgery it was encouraging to hear how well some of the ladies had progressed and helped me to feel positive about long term outcomes and hopefully that I too would have success this time.

I also felt very strongly that there was lack of information on do's and don't's during recovery, and even more important I disagree strongly with the recovery times that hospitals give out, they are so unrealistic and felt that we all need to make sure that ladies at start of recovery do not overdo things as realize that most of us ladies are no where near ready to return to work at 6 weeks.

I will probably need re-repaired by the time I retire if not sooner. But at least by then I will be able to protect any new repairs.

I hope everything works out for you, take care, healing hugs.

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

14

Hi Phyl, glad to hear all is going well.  Have a fab holiday and well deserved break.  

This forum has certainly kept me going throughout my ongoing recovery, I've still got a bit ahead of me yet so will keep popping in and out of here every so often.  I do miss matron what a shock that was to hear, hopefully she will come back.

Very best wishes for your continued recovery and thanks for your support and posts on her.

Lots of healing hugs to you too,

Sue xx

15

Caroline nevee feel guilty for doing out whilst on sick. You've had surgery and need to get out or else we go crazy especially when you can do housework and walking is only thing we can do. I also work in a primary school for children with special needs so I too know how busy our roles are and it's tough so don't worry about being off. We need to take care of ourselves. I'm so sorry to hear your repair hasn't worked. You have some tough thinking ahead of you and I hope you get the help and support you deserve. Take care. Xx

16

I didn't realise that they would need doing again unless it prolapsed. Does the mesh they use have a shelf life(so to speak) the thought of having it done a few more times in my lifetime doesn't fill me with much joy. I'm only 45.

17

Thank you Sue, all the best for the future, and hope all goes well for you.

Healing hugs,

Phyl x☺💖💖💖

18

Hi Fi-45,

Don't actually know much about the mesh,

I personally had my walls repaired with sutures, I believe they cut the wall, push bladder back in place, fold loose prolapsed wall and tighten it all up with stitches, probably similar at the back.

If Matron was still on forum she would be able to help you.

I'm sure I read somewhere that they use different types of mesh and that it works really well, some hold repair long enough for it to heal then dissolve into tissues. I'm sure it can last just as long.

I would imagine that you only prolapse again if the actual repair itself fails.

Hope this helps a little but probably best to ask your GP or consultant would know best.

Phyl x☺

19

Someone was on recently and their repair had lasted 20 years. They didn't say exactly what they had done.

On the other hand someone was on forum and had repairs done 5 times, again not sure what repairs.

I would not want done that often, someone else had been told they would not be able to have it done again as they had too much scar tissue. I do find that worrying, so I assume we should not take any chances and be extra careful and do nothing that would put repair at risk of failing!

Phyl x☺

Matron always said that the repairs very rarely fail as they are only done by urogynacologists who are specially trained and new surgery techniques are much better, so every reason to be optimistic!

💖💖💖

20

Yes taking care is the way to a happy repair. 😃 I hadn't heard about a urogynacologist until I came on here so I didn't know what my consultant was but I looked him up the other day and he is a urogynacologist so I was pleased is has the best care for this particular surgery.