Hi All.
i had a rectocele repair on Wednesday discharged 24 hours later.
i have 2 issues. The first OMG the pain due to being so constipated. I was prescribed Lactulose and am drinking lots of water but nothing seems to help.
Im sorry for this next bit... But the more I need to go the more it's pushing on my stitches. It's agony!!!
the second is the burning sensation is it wise to use an ice compress or leave it?
has anyone else had these problems? Any advice would be gratfuly received.
Oh nicky I remember this well. I find lactulose never helps so I would buy some Dulcolax or Senokot. What pain relief are you taking?
I'm taking co codamol. But to be honest it doesn't really work. :-(
'Matron' is brilliant Nicky.....she will give you lots of good advice.
Thank you, I do hope so. I'm laying on my bed in tears at this moment :-(
Co codamol is codeine and paracetamol. Codeine has a tendency to make you constipated. If you can buy a stool softener such as Dulcoease that will help.
DO NOT get constipated!! It took me three days post op before I went. My recipe post surgery that is working for me, someone who has chronic constipation probs is this--2 stool softeners morning and night, 1 tablespoon milk of magnesia every nite before bed. I've been going ev other day and having a soft stool since doing this. Lactulose might work, I only took it once w no effect. The first stool post op was horrible. I finally had to use a suppository to get things going, plus all of the above. My surgery was almost 3 wks ago and it's getting a little better but it's a very slow healing process! Good luck to you!
Nicky I do feel for you. Try and get someone to go out and buy you something for your bowels
Thank you for your replies. I've sent my partner to the pharmacy. Thankfully have a midnight one round the corner!!!
hoping that once things get moving I will feel some relief. X
Also drink a lot of water. About 2
Liters per day.
Firstly poor you and it does get better honest! I am six weeks post op now and have my bowels under control. Get Movicol sachets, take max of 4 a day to start with and it will all be ok. I am now on two a day. They are brilliant, taste ok and you go with no pain!! It will pass and you will be 'normal' again. Take care.
Post surgery I used Swiss Kriss natural laxative. Take 2-3 before bed and works in morning. First stool firm, but following stools soft. I also drink tomato juice before bed and it seems to help too. Taking probiotics on a regular basis helps to keep you regular also.
I use Tucks (they are flushable) to wipe with, very cooling and soothing. Now 6 weeks post-op for cystocele I use Cottonelle flushable wipes (located in the toilet paper aisle in the store. They sell them in small containers like baby wipes and they sell refills).
After cystocele I was so miserable about 3 weeks post-op I was sitting on a bag of frozen fruit...it molded around me much better than the ice things I was trying to use. Made it feel much better.
Hope you're feeling batter soon!
Blessings!
Trish
Oh poor you. I remember that pain so well but I was so lucky that I had a normal bowel movement on day 3 and have had no problems since, mind you I have Crohn's disease and am queen of poo ! I hope the advice everyone is giving you helps and you feel better very soon.
Hi Nicky - just got home from work and the memory of the pain all came back. My surgery was 5 weeks and 1 day ago - hours really....The constipation was horrendous which caused the pain. Movicol is not available in North America (US/Canada). The closest to it is Senokot. I took 2 Senokot plus 2 stool softerners (dulcosate sodium - sold under different names) 5 days post surgery. The following morning, a normal bowel movement. By lunch time I felt a little better; by supper the pain was gone. I am sure it was the pressure of the constipation. My doctor said depending on the severity of the surgery, the constipation can last up to 3 months and taking Senokot on a daily basis is quite safe. I will see her at the six week mark this week and again at the 3 month mark. She will let me know when I should start tapering off with the "help". Some of us need it, others not so much. We are all individuals and react differently. I had a hysterectomy, a bladder and bowel resection and with the pressure relieved, went back to work at the four week mark - something I would have thought impossible after the first week and highly unlikely after two weeks. Each day during week 3, things got better and by week 4, quite well. My main problem now is obeying orders on what I can and can't do. I will NOT do anything I am not supposed to. I want this to heal properly and well.
I am also dealing with bladder leakage which apparently will also lessen with time. So I would check with my doctor before taking anything but even the pharmacist said it was unnecessary to check about the Senokot. I did check anyhow and the answer was "go for it". I did, and it worked. Good luck to you. Keep us posted. I can remember well that Jools gave me the first glimmer of hope that it would get better - as did many others for which I still thank them. God bless. Keep us posted.
Nickie
Wow back at work already! Brilliant. Don't overdo it though. When I had a total hysterectomy four years ago I returned to work early but then had to take more time off a few weeks later! But my job did involve a great deal of standing and walking. Glad all is going well, literally, on the bowel front!! I am still on two sachets a day and everything working perfectly. Will carry on taking them forever if needed - I am a firm believer in taking anything that improves quality of life. Would punch any Doctor who tried to take away my HRT - and they have tried over the years!! Look after yourself.
Just an update. Feeling MUCH MUCH better today. The relief is unreal. :-)
currently laid in my garden soaking up the sun (whilst it's out)
thank you all for your help xx
I was exactly the same with you I couldn't go to the toilet i could only sit down on my side I even had to get my husband to rub the bottom of my back try and help me past my stoll but it didn't work so I know this is not what you want to hear but the only way so I could get the stool out because it was right there was to get a pair of rubber gloves an help it out it was all little balls but once I did that it ws so much better an not so uncomfortable. I know what you mean by not pushing because of stitches but they are so strong .
Hi Nicky,
The body and mind can be so tricky. Knowing you are not alone with the pain and misery helped me tremendously - without my even doing anything! So glad you are better today. I am hoping this means that whatever your hubby got you worked and you were able to go.
I started out here in a forum called HELP! Severe constipation 4 days post anterior/posterior prolapse repair and TVT...You might want to read the posts. For those of us on this slow mend journey, re-reading some of the entries is good for the soul. Warning - all the posts were from people like us who were bowel movement obsessed!
But there were some good hints which are on my question list for the surgeon whom I will see on Thursday. I do know that some were doing something called pelvic exercises and my surgeon's assistant doctor virtually yelled down the phone - you had different surgeries. DO NOT EVEN TRY TO DO THIS UNTIL WE TELL YOU TO. Wow - I got the message. Don't try anything without checking with your surgeon's office.
I am just back from our annual Swim meet in our small rural community. The weather is beautiful today sunny and warm, not hot. The contests started at 9:30 a.m. EST and the Barbecue ended at 2:30. First visit to the beach this year. Word of caution to all - even if you are feeling well. Walking in sand is not recommended - got some of those shooting pains which I had not had in the last 3 weeks. Stayed on the grassy, shady, even edges of the beach after that! Since it is 78 in the shade and at least 85 in the sun, I was happy for the excuse of not being closer to the water. My 8 year old grandson won a first, second and third place. First in 6-8 year old swim; 2nd in 9-12 year old swim and 3rd in sand castle building...
I never nap - but am having one today.
God bless and it will get even better nicky.
Nickie.
The stitches are strong but at this early stage the area around them isn't so straining can cause an awful lot I'd damage. You may not realise it at first but you'll know about it when you start to get more pain,blood loss and realise your prolapse has dropped again. I wouldn't advise removing the stool yourself by inserting your finger in the rectum. That could cause so much damage not only to your repair but also to the rectum itself. This procedure is no longer allowed in hospital anymore in the UK.
Hi Matron I wouldn't have even considered doing this put it was stuck it would go back or come out so I had to do something because I was in so much pain i didn't put finger right in it was just the opening I understand that the area around the stitches being very tender .I would not reconmend anyone to do this but I just wait any longer I would never strain even now 4 weeks post op im still very careful in what I eat an drink plenty of water which is helping loads . I know that with having bladder an bowel prolapse done I would not like to cause myself any damage . I very much appreciate all the advice that I have got from this site it has help me so much . Iv got to go to HR on Tuesday for a health review that's a joke (NHS) they now why I'm off iv had major surgery !! Anyway iv still got 2 weeks sick note left an been advised by my consultant that it can take upto 100 days before I go back to work because of being on my feet an lots of lifting an bending .☺