Advice for 6 wks post op

Women's health
1

Hi girls,

Looking for advice. I had my 6 wk check up today & was very disappointed. I felt like the consultant rushed me like yeah I have been paid so no longer interested. I feel like I have no info & was sent on my way after paying over £100 to see him for ten minutes.

I had pelvic floor repair anterior & posterior & peranium. He asked how my bladder was functioning & I said no problems. I said my discharge was smelly but he said he didn't want me on anymore antibiotics. He did an internal & said I still have a lot of stitches & to avoid driving & sex for another two weeks. That I didn't need to see him again. After op he said he would put me on oestrogen but no mention today & I didn't think to ask. Its only when I got home that i was annoyed that I was sent on my way without any pamphlet/info on life after surgery. So maybe you all can help me to compile questions to email him or help me answer them

can I lift kids after fully healed?

what is tge maximum weight I can lift when fully healed?

can I jog or does this encourage a prolapse to reaccur?

can I use a weighted hula hoop?

I told him I feel drier but he said once stitches heal, discharge increases is that true?

I was told to start pelvic floor exercises, would a pelvic floor wand such as kegel8 be worth investing in?

I was told I would bleed a few times after sex, did this happen you & was it a lot?

How long until I can resume exercise for weight loss?

When can I resume swimming?

Anything else you can suggest or recommend?

Thank you in advance to anyone whoanswers. I have found all you ladies very helpful.

2

Hi what a lot of very good questions. I had abdominal hysterectomy and anterior repair oct 14. Was told ok to swim after 6 weeks.

My prolapse returned after 13 weeks.

Now been told not to lift over 3-5 kilos.

No jogging or impact exercise.

Too soon for more surgery and after trying many different ones I now have gelhorn pessary. Which I am Learning to take in and outmyself!

Please take it easy.

Shame about your Dr not giving you more time and attention

3

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear that your prolapse reaacurred, were you given an reason as to why this happened. Did you rest?

I went initially for stress incontinence so that I could run on bounce on a trampoline but wondering if I can ever do them.

4

The post op care for us ladies is absolute rubbish The hospital where I had my op done didn't even offer an outpatients follow up,was told to go see my GP after 6 weeks I had thrush and a very bad bladder infection plus discharge about 4 weeks post op and was on antibiotics. My doctor was not impressed that the hospital doesn't see anyone post op but after a lot of badgering  by my surgery I was finally given an appointment for the 2nd of April !!! 18 weeks after my op. Have been to see a gynae physio who was lovely and checked me over and said everything is ok and that I could resume sex but when we tried it was very painful,so not too keen to repeat that for a while. As for lifting I was told by the physio in hospital never again,she said ladies are not designed to lift heavy things and that is one of the reasons so many of us end up with prolapses. I have been told to use vaginal oestrogen to keep the tissues soft. If he says you still have stitches then I would have thought swimming would be out of the question until you are properly healed. We are told we'll be back to normal by 6 weeks but reading most of the posts on here I think that is not the case at all. I would take heed of how you feel and what your body tells you,get as much rest as possible. I'm not one for sitting round doing nothing but have had to train myself to do just that otherwise you can undo what has been done and I'm sure like all of us you wouldn't want to have to go through all that again.Good luck and hope you are on the mend soon. I'd get onto the hospital and complain about your visit with the consultant,if you are paying then I would expect much better service than you got

5

I also just had my 6 wk visit yesterday and like you I was frustrated when I left. He checked me over and said,"everything has healed just fine."  He said the hemotoma I had at surgery had disappeared, and talked about how strong and flat the vaginal walls are now and how easy it was to insert the speculum (pssh, easy for HIM!) and how great everything looks. And how I shouldn't be having any pain anymore.  He made computer notes of me describing the prickly weird discomfort and lower abdominal pain but said he had no idea why and how I should be all good to go now.  (Then why does bending still hurt, sitting for too long hurt and standing for too long makes me feel heavy in the pelvic area and like my insides are about to fall out?)  On his way out of the room I had to say, "Oh yeah...lifting?  Am I allowed to lift now?"  He said, "Oh sure, you should be able to lift now, just don't lift things that are "too" heavy."  (And what exactly is "too heavy"?)  He did then add that I should avoid bending and lifting and lift with my legs.  But that's about it.  

Let me say I am so very glad I had this surgery in spite of any of the issues with recovery, as hard as it has been.  I already can tell such a difference and am thankful I didn't have to live with things the way they were.  If I knew that this was as good as it gets and I have to live with the prickly and lower abdominal issues forever I would still be glad I had it done because those feelings are much easier than the other.  I know it wont be this way forever though and I will continue to improve.  I do wish though, that doctors would educate themselves even through forums such as this one, as to what recovery is "really" like and how long it takes to truly feel yourself again, and share this information with their patients so they would have a better idea what to expect.  And so that we dont feel like we are being wimpy or milking it if we aren't right back to normal at 6 weeks the way they claim we should be.    

6

Lol it sounds exactly like the 10 mins I had with my consultant. I had posterior repair as well and said sometimes after bowel movement I have a lump like before but not as big & he said oh its probably a pile & pops back in. He said to maje sure my bowel movements are soft. So how long does that mean you are to continue taking lactulose?

Only after leaving I was angry thinking I paid you & you should have checked to make sure if it was a pile or not.

I am glad even with your pains that you feel it was the right choice for you. I have noticed a few differences but I went on his recommendation & sometimes wonder was it the right thing for me considering I just wanted to run or jump on trampoline but now hearing sport like that can cause a prolapse.

Wonder if we could set up a sticky of faqs for this op on this forum to help others?

7

That sounds like a good plan. I only came across this site by accident,I googled rectocele repair and this came up and am so grateful it did, Never realised so many women go through the same thing with the same lack of care 

8

That's how I found it too. But being honest I only read the good not wanting to believe the bad. Would love to help others while getting more answers myself.

I am going to email my questions to my consultant on Monday. I will post up his replies and if anyone has any questions they would like added to the list let me know.

9

Let us know what you are going to ask him,then we can add any extra questions if neccesary

10

Thinking of the following

1.What is the maximum weight I can lift when fully healed?

2. Can I jog or does this encourage a prolapse to reaccur?

3. Can I use a weighted hula hoop?

4. is a pelvic floor exerciser such as kegel8 more superior over manual pelvic floor exercise?

5. If sex is painful what can be recommended to help

6. How long until I can resume exercise for weight loss?

7. When can I resume swimming?

8. When can I resume housework such as hoovering, laundry?

9. How long should I continue to take lactulose for.

10. As mentioned I feel my discharge is smelling will that change when internal stitching has healed

Anything else anyone would like to know or add?

11

Hi Ruth i'm nearly 19 weeks post op for the same as you.  My sympathies are with you.  I never realised how pain and debilitating this op would be.  I did all i was advised to do and spent near on 8 weeks sofa bound, do small household chores.  No lifting, lugging, hoovering, sex (still not resumed the latter).  On my 7 1/2 week check consultant examined me to say although i had a few stitches remaining which could take up to 12 weeks to dissolve i was ok to resume all of above.  A week later was Christmas and i did stand quite a bit, cook and some lifting of dishes in and out of oven, but still taking care only to find a few days later a bulge.  So so upset, had to wait to see my female dr for a further 2 weeks who adviced that i wait another 6 weeks and she would re-refer me i returned after 7 weeks and she did re-refer me to consultant who did op but because i went private through NHS to relieve their bed crises issues he wouldn't see me again and told dr i need to be referred back to NHS.  So i'm seeing gp again next Tuesday to make sure she is aware of his letter and not just filed away.  I sometimes wish i hadn't had op because i feel such an invalid at the moment and my head wants to get on and do things, but i'm still taking caution - on resting and when i first wake up i feel much better down below, but walking, which i love i feel - sorry too much info but like i have a tampax needing to be taken out.  I just want some adice from a gynae dr as to what they think and the best way forward.  This site has saved my sanity.  I think one way or another we have all had to explore and get our info where we can.  I think fragglerocker has some very good questions and especially what is the safe weight to carry post op.  Fragglerocker if you are reading this (i did try to reply to you but each time it wouldn't allow me, maybe my internet connection - but i swim regularly, breast stroke and joined Slimming World 6 weeks ago, have lost 1/2 stone all of this makes me feel better).

12

Sorry to hear all you have gone through & that you have a bulge. I am amazed at how all of us have been recommended this operation but that recovery was sugarcoated.

I feel like I have to wrap my body in cotton wool & to be honest with three kid's under 6 life has to move on. Well done on your loss it makes a major difference to our confidence. I lost 6 1/2 stone last year & felt so confident & sexy but after this operation & wearing I catherer for three weeks my confidence has taken a knock.

As for sex I cant wait to resume. I miss being close with my hubby. We messed about last night and he asked me this morning if I was stitched closed that normally entrance is so big it slips in but didn't. Hopefully even that side will make this op worthwhile to me.

I went private too thinking it would be better care & initally it was but I had to stay 8 nights in hospital & felt they didn't want me to question anything. I was being pumped with pain killers, injections & sedatives even when I didn't need them & when I asked what each was for I got basic answers.

It is ridiculous that you have to go the public route after you went private. your follow up should be with your consultant. Afterall we should have a 6 mth guarantee considering this is when they say you will start feeling like yourself again. Take care

13

Great idea to ask those questions fraggleRocker! I will be interested to see the replies. I am 16 weeks postop and was told never to lift more than 5kg, I can resume gym but not to lift weights. 

14

Hi

Here are the answers from my consultant

1.What is the  maximum weight I can lift when fully healed? 5 kilos

2. Can I jog or  bounce on a trampoline or does this encourage a prolapse to reaccur?

jogging in future should be ok but trampoline can cause reaccurance of prolapse

3. Can I use a weighted hula hoop?

Depending on weight

4. is a pelvic floor exerciser such as kegel8 more superior over manual pelvic floor exercise?

Not enough research on them but kegel8 would do the work for you and it is focused time to complete it so you don't forget

5. If sex is painful what can be recommended to help ? Lubricants and time

6. How long until I can resume exercise for weight loss?

I should have resumed by now working up to my previous fitness level

7. When can I resume swimming?

I am safe to swim as I am water tight and stitches are internally 

8. When can I resume housework such as hoovering, laundry, changing beds?

I can resume now at 6 wks

9. How long should I continue to take lactulose for? Continue with it until I feel comfortable to stop

10. As mentioned I feel my discharge is smelling will that change when internal stitching has healed?

It might be a slight infection or my good bacteria has been affected with the amount of anti-biotics I was on. Recommended yakault yoghurt, plenty of fluid & if doesn't improve then anti-botic.

15

Is it just me or do some of those answers seem a bit short? It could be that you just gave us the summarized version but if the answers came that way from the doctor some of them seem a bit curt. Which honestly doesn't surprise me, it seems these days that you were lucky to even get a response since they weren't being paid to answer your email. In any case I do appreciate the answers, as most of these are questions I had myself so thank you!

16

I was actually surprised that he rang me within an hour of sending the email. The answers would be curt by email but he was very friendly on the phone.

He asked if we had been intimate yet & I said we messed around but didn't have sex as you told me to wait two weeks but he said that was for hubby as stitches are like razors. He said give it a go & stop if he hurts but I would be afraid I would scare hubby for life. Has anyone had sex 6 wks post op? was it uncomfortable?

17

I think I was about 10 weeks post op before we tried,with no success at all,tried again after another couple of weeks but still no joy. Got examined last Monday by the gynae physio and she said everything seemed fine and for me to go and try again,which I did but it was extremely uncomfortable even with lots of KY jelly and a lot of patience from the hubby . Have felt not quite right down there since and am not sure that I want to try again for quite a while I will be 15 weeks post op tomorrow and had rather hoped that by now I'd be back to having my sex life back,it really feels as though it has been sewn too tight although the physio said not

18

Sorry to hear that. Was it that you were dry or is it just too tight down ther? I imagine it's going to hurt normally hubby just had to go near the area & slipped in because it was so wide but the other night he asked if there was a hole or was I stitched tight.

Ky jelly or any other lubricants kinda ruin the moment don't they? Would you think about oestrogen my consultant mentioned that it could be recommended if I was too dry below.

19

Forgot to mention that I've been using oestrogen cream for a while now,the phsyio said that it should help . It just feels really tight,maybe it's just something that will get better with time but it was so painful last week that it's really put me off doing it again . Trouble is I really want to get back to having sex but it should be a pleasure not a pain 

20

I totally understand you need that connection with your partner & very hard to shut down your hormones.

I sent you a pm.