Hi all,
I'm desperate for some advice please. I'm 38, and had a hysteropexy, enterocele, & rectocele 4 weeks ago. I have one child born 6 years ago, although not a large weight apparently I had a traumatic birth which caused a fair bit of damage. Sadly my old doctors did nothing when I went & complained of various pains etc. After changing doctors 5 years later, my new doctor realised immediately what the problem was & set the ball rolling with a consultant. After seeing one consultant she had to refer me to a more specialist consultant so I had to wait a little longer in which time my situation got a lot worse so much so that something was protruding out of my vagina. My consultant is lovely & she diagnosed my problems immediately & she advised me that I needed an operation. I have a check up at the end of the month & appreciate I will have a lot of swelling but wondered if it should still feel like I have a prolapse? To be honest I feel pretty good, no pain other than slight discomfort & a little back pain. It's so hard with a little one & a husband who works very long hours not to do anything. Whilst I haven't driven yet & am trying not to lift to much I am doing somethings like making dinner & washing up etc.
Thank you in advance x
Hi Anita
Sorry can't help as had anterior surgery yesterday so you are further along than I. V similar as 39, one child nearly 5 and problem for few years where prolapse so bad cervix protrudes.
Tried Physio and pessaries but tbh looking back I have neglected my core over last few years. Determined not to have it fail but also taking up something like pilates asap. I have been told to do v little for 6 weeks. Though consultant's nurse incorrectly advised me prior to op I could be back at work by 3 weeks. Going to be hard updating my boss in a job I have had since September.
Can you reduce strain by sitting preparing food not standing? Any family or friends be able to cook anything for freezer? From what I have heard there can be swelling for months after so too early to judge. Don't overdo it.
Hi Anita I had the exact same operation as you on the 7th of May last year. I am 45 and damage was caused by a 10lb + baby 18 years ago. I work as a cashier/on customer service desk in a large supermarket and went back to work the first week of July but to be honest I wasn't fit to be there but I struggled on as I only work 2 full days a week. Like yourself I done a bit more than I should've the early weeks after the op but no heavy lifting some light cooking and laundry but would tire quickly. Like everyone else you seem to take a turn for the worse around weeks 5-7 post op when your convinced op has failed. I'm fat but realitivy fit and independent so have always stood on my own 2 feet. It has taken me at least 5-6 months to fully recover from this surgery but I'm feeling fine now. I go for my post op check next week and everything was great until 2 weeks ago when I caught pneumonia and have had an uncontrolable cough which has caused some leakage but I'm hoping when the cough goes so will the leaking. I've done pelvic floor exercises everyday since the op. Try not to overdo things as you only get one chance to heal but mainly stop worrying and looking if you are anything like me lol worrying about reprolapsing and remember your cervix is much lower at different times of the month so don't panic. Liz x
Sounds like you are doing everything right. At 4 weeks there is still a lot of swelling that can trick us into thinking it's repro lapsed. Are you having any symptoms have your symptoms been cured by the operation?
I would like to also add to be very careful not to strain or lift anything heavy I know it's hard but it will be best in the end
I found round about week 4/5 I felt worse than I did the day of surgery. I never had any pain but round that time everything felt even more swollen and the exhaustion was unbelievable despite resting loads. I think that is maybe the point the body really starts to pull the stitches in and a lot is happening inside. Just try and rest as much as possible still xx
My surgery was eight weeks ago and I have a six year old. It is hard combining all the tasks involved like the housework and cooking et. I started back doing afternoon school run three weeks ago (just a little walk) and then I got a urine infection which means I cant leave the house as I am staying near the loo! I feel like I have had a step back and feel very exhausted after performing small tasks. We both need to take it easy but it is so hard when you see jobs accumulating or children being clingy or demanding. Please try and rest as much as possible and cook basic meals.
I am sure like me you had not realised what a long recovery it would be! I am lucky to have a partner who is at home with me as he is retired so he has been doing lots of my chores and school runs , not to mention taking our little boy to all his after school activities. I have had to ignore the accumulating mess in the living room where we seem to have a whole Lego city at the moment!
I hope you can get some help from friends and that you manage to rest while your little one is at school.
Thank you Helen, it's so hard not being able to do things. I try to sit for as long as possible, but even pulling a chair out to sit on would be hard as our chairs are incredibly heavy. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thank you so much for that Liz, I am worringing about it constantly to be honest & you read such horror stories. I got given very little information about after the operation x
To be honest Seph I had few symptoms before my operation other than the dragging feeling & my pelvic muscles being constantly switched on because of the prolapse. My toilet movements are good, & I have little pain. The area still feels very full & im such a fidget at night I wake myself up when I've turned over.
Anita you will probably feel as though you still have a prolapse for a few more weeks yet because as I always say on this forum the swelling gets worse as the weeks progress and what you feel now is perfectly normal for 4 weeks post op. Don't drive until you are 6 weeks because until then you won't be able to safely do an emergency stop and your insurance company may not insure you anyway. You know you're safe to drive when you can stamp your foot on a hard surface and not feel any pain.
Hi Anita I have a 7 years old kid and I am 5 weeks post op, still feeling some pain (not much, it's just some days I have to take a pain killer) and yes, the prolapse feeling still there sometimes and I have stings from the stitches. The BMs some days easy and some days less easier... although i take stool softeners... I feel I still have something inside after the bowel movement and I can touch a buldge on my perineum near my anus which I guess is swelling? My post op check was fine, my dr said I'm a bit paranoid 😂 He told me to relax and let the time go... but although they say everything is ok you always have the worry, right? I've had so many bad experiences with doctors that it's difficult for me to trust them...
hugs!!!!!
Useful to have other's experience and getting concerned as not had a bm since before op on Tuesday and now mid Friday. Been up and down stairs few times today and to end road and back with husband. Thought bit more movement and lactulose may help. Not feeling too bad after catheter out yesterday morning.
Really hope this has worked as cervix was protruding but bases on other responses I won't even check for a month or so. Consultant said yesterday I should have has hysterectomy too but you can still prolapse after that and I don't want menopause now.
Hope you all continue to heal well
H
If you have a hysterectomy helen you wouldn't start the menopause unless you have a oopherectomy as well.
Thank you Anne-Marie what a relief to hear someone else's experience. That's put my mind at rest somewhat. I too am exhausted all the time. I promise to try and rest as much as possible xx
Hi Angela, it is hard when you have a little person relying on you. It's often just the two of us as Daddy goes to work 4/5am most days and is rarely back before 5/6pm. I am very lucky in that my mum is batch cooking meals for us, so I'm only having to pop them in the oven but the meals can be very heavy. I cooked and have frozen several meals too so currently we're not starving. My husband is no chef, even struggles with eggs on toast... I'm ignoring the shop we currently have out in our lounge along with a vets etc. Wishing you a successful recovery ☺️
Thank you so much Matron, I read a few of your responses on other posts & found them very helpful. I think I'm expecting to much to soon 😞 I'm being sensible at the same time though. I just hate asking for help. I feel much happier knowing all my worries with swelling etc are normal. Sadly I didn't get told much about what to expect after my operation. My doctors have been fantastic thankfully. Thank you for your reassurance ☺️
I got told to stop overthinking everything, worry less & rest more. I think it's hard when you can't see what's been done if that makes sense. Stitches have been removed from my tummy but my left side hurts to touch. To be honest I feel pretty good though. I'm going to my Drs later this afternoon to have stitches removed from my perineal as they're really tight & she has now spoken to the hospital to see if it's ok to remove them which it is. Wishing you a successful recovery ☺️
I am really concerned at just how little information ladies are given when they are discharged from hospital. If you were told what can happen it would stop a lot of anxiety. Recovery is very slow following this surgery whuch frustrates a lot of patients.
Hi Helen, I was in terrible pain after my operation due to constipation even though I was eating plenty of fruit and taking Lactulose. I too have to eventually have a hysterectomy but my consultant didn't want to do it yet because of my age and reoccurrence of prolapse. Apparently I have a large womb... wishing you a successful recovery ☺️