After waiting two years nearly I'm finally getting the operation anterior posterior

Women's health
1

I'm getting the operation at end of this month anterior. Posterior and fixation thing and a hysteroscopy as coil has moved absolutely. Petrified. But has to be done need my life back how long is the recovery for this help please

2

Hi weesue

I had a tvh and anterior repair and the recovery is usually around 8 wks plus another few weeks to return to normal..ish.

Everyone is different but the first 6 weeks are really just rest and not much else really.

Good luckxx

3

Kudos for finding this fourm before surgery. It it very very very helpful.

I am at 2 weeks and I have returned to work a couple of days on short 4 hour light duty shifts. I will be on light duty for at least the next 6 weeks. But work is manageable at this point along with minor house hold chores and activity.

I was not prepared for several things:

The discomfort after the numbness wore off. It felt like I had been stuffed with a cactus - and sitting on a cactus. This was much improved when the stitches started to dissolve.

How gross and irritating the dissolving stitches are.

How things would function after surgery. Just 2 weeks out none of the plumbing is predictable. I haven't idea when to expect my bladder (too fast) or bowels (too slow) to figure out what the new normal is.

Everything externally looks fine - but at 2 weeks I have not done any exploring before I feel more healed.

4

Yes this forum has been a godsend! I was advised by many (practitioners & on this forum from others that have had the surgery done) that a minimum of 6 weeks is needed, off your feet as much as possible, then you can resume light duties and approximately 12 weeks all up. No lifting anything heavier than 2kg/2L milk/half full kettle, no "work" above shoulder height or below hip height, & as best you can no stretching like if you drop something on the floor or something is too high up especially in those first 6 weeks. But each place seems to have their own variations of rules (perhaps the surgery is performed a little different?) 😊 I agree with the stitches comment above lol I'm also 2 weeks out & still very uncomfortable to sit, I had the anterior & posterior fix, hysterectomy & perenium reconstruction. Best of luck!! It will be worth it in the long run!!

5

Hi Weedue

If you are talking about going back to work then I was say allow 12 weeks. I had what you are having 11 weeks ago and can’t sit for very long and definitely can’t stand for more than 15 mins. I currently go for 3 x 15 minute walks each day. I also can’t lift more than 1 kilo or 1 litre without anterior wall strain.

Doing normal activities too soon will just result in surgery failure. If you’ve waited this long and you are prepared to go through the slow recovery from this surgery, then you want the best outcome. There are no medals for straining and stretching unhealed wounds. 

The surgery is really worth it along as you respect the extent of it and give your body the rest it will need.

Positive thoughts

Peta

6

thank you im lucky hubby going to look after me im really scared about it all just hoping i will be okay after it xand  as to rest learning to knit haha that should keep me going xx

7

ohh two weeks and back to work they told me 8-12 weeks as having five things done at once lol and as for my bowel im hoping they give me stuff as it doesnt work properly at normal times so will see how that goesxx

8

thank you so much for your advice at least i am getting some good advice on here and i do know everyone is different at healing but as i have a lot wrong and also osteoporosis i wil lhav e to be extrememly careful  how bad is the sitting down ?? i cant wait for it all to be over and start recovering xx thanks for the help

9

hi peta im not working as im actually a carer for my son , but arrangement have been made for that and my other half is going to look after me . i will take it easy as i can , and wont be lifting anything for a while as some people have said x cant wait to feel normal again although i know its a long time to recover xxx thanks again any other advice is welcome as im scared to death lol 

10

Hi  Weesue,

I so agree with Peta, with all the repairs you are having, you need to get in the mindset of a long slow recovery! I had anterior and posterior repair plus hernia repair and cannot even imagine get dressed to go anywhere at the two week mark! Everyone is different but I am 10 weeks post op and still take it easy going on walks each day, emptying the dishwasher, but when I went out to eat riding round trip about 30 minutes one way, standing about 10 minutes before being seated then returning home, my pelvic area was a bit swollen the next day.  It is harder at this point in some ways because I am physically feeling better so do what seems like something small; then my body tells me it was not all that small to it! 

Just so you know, this forum has been a life saver. My doctor did not prepare me in anyway for this recovery, so when my head starts telling me I am “just being lazy” I read on this forum where others who have had these procedures are going through similar experiences and that reassures me that I am doing the right thing in just taking it slow and easy so I will be completely healed. Definitely do NOT want a surgery repeat!!!

Take care! Wishing you the BEST!!!

11

Movicol is magic for softness of bowels. I am still on it after 14 wks. It's not a laxative rather than osmotic which draws water into colon.

Intake 2/3 sachets a day but you can take less or more depending on how much your impacted😮😮.

I definitely should say 12 wks before your doing your normal routine to be in safe side.

I'm very cautious so I still won't lift anything heavy,not even a kettle yet weesue🙏🙏🙏

12

It's similar (maybe a little worse) than the stitches I had after birth. I only had very minor stitches then though, so I would assume this would be similar recovery to an episiotomy maybe? I find it more annoying than anything. Luckily the surgeon cut down one side so i find if i can shift my weight to the other cheek when i sit its not as bad. Or sit on soft surfaces & lay down when possible (this is a must to help with the other repairs anyway). It is what it is unfortunately, sitting on a sliced & stitched wound 🙈 the surgery overall for me was a bit painful (especially in the first few days-week post op, they give you some pretty good drugs for that) but not excruciating, its tolerable 😊 Remember we are here if you have any questions!! With so many different recoveries & experiences it's a great resource, especially when you are wondering if something is normal, & you will 😉 hopefully your recovery is not too bad for you

13

Thanks for your endorsement Brenda. For me ....The 12 week mark seems to be a real turning point in feeling that the surgery is less prominent in your life however it’s funny but you don’t know how much more of life you can take back and then you find it’s been too much. It’s a difficult one to gauge. I make sure I am not in a situation that could be out of my control as far as the length of time sitting or standing. 

Getting back to what you use to enjoy is so good for your general well-being. I really found the recovery and the necessary restrictions very isolating.

Looking forward to a better life for us all!

Peta

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Not sure how long you will be in hosp for (4 days for me) but a short hair lamb skin was so soothing for lower back pain in a hospital bed when you can’t move much and make sure you ask for movicol soon after you start eating. The pain killers bind you up so drink lots of water even pear juice plus the Movacol and you will head off a possible problem. Avoid sitting for as many weeks as possible...stay in a lying position.

Try not to be scared ...you are going to improve your enjoyment of your life ......that’s worth being happy about!

I was crying before surgery but it was my third time and I felt I had  only a little bag of hope with me. So I do understand.

Peta

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Thank you peta ,it's the. Recovery I'm scared of its a long time. Not being able to do much but I have a wonderful husband to look after me xx scared out me wits but you all have been supporting in your answers will let you know how. I'm going XXX next Wednesday is the operation x

16

Thank you so much for all the advice x I will just have to see how it goes it's now only a week away and yeah scared lol but looking forward to a new me once I have. Recovered.

17

Just keep in the forefront of your mind the outcome. That’s the prize you want!

Try and look at Wednesday as the opportunity that you deserve to get stronger. 

I bought a lot of the regular

consumables in advance and froze many meals to get through the first couple of weeks to make it easier on my husband. That seemed to work well. 

You will be fine Weesue x