Hi all,
I'm just over 5 weeks post op for a&p repair using the mesh and perenium repair. I'm still not walking right most of the time without it pulling/ dragging and it's still really sore in/on my Perenium. I feel like I'm walking like an 80 year old with a back problem! I'm trying to rest as much as possible, not lift anything heavy and do everything advised for recovery.
Am I worrying about nothing?
It's really getting me down especially with a young family to look after. I never realised that I'd still be like this over 5 weeks after the op.
I'm really looking for advise from anyone else who's had the same op about how they felt at this stage? I know everyone's different and people heal differently etc but just reassurance really as I'm sure my husband is sick of me talking about it to him lol
Hi,
others will reply I am sure with their thoughts but just to say I am five weeks+ post up so the same as you .And feel much the same. I ache quite a lot or have little stabbing pains. Sitting with feet up is fine ,walking round the house good or out v briefly but trying to do any more is just not comfortable and I feel very weak like old woman ha ha . I know they say nothing will be any good for six weeks and it seems to be fairly true, it will be good when we have our checks and can see the specialist.I had an infection too which set me back and I do wonder if that is still lurking. I'm not too sore any more but we've all had different things done and I haven't had any mesh for example. I feel it's all fairly normal and try not to worry. But yes everyone is fed up of hearing it!especially males. It must be hard with young children but just rest as much as you can . Good luck.
Hello. Resting the nature of this surgery and it's something the surgeons don't always make clear is that around the 4th-6th week you feel worse. That's because your internal sutures are getting tighter due to the area around them healing. I remember it so well. It does get better of course but at the moment all you can do is listen to Mother Nature and take things easy. I know it's so difficult with young children but try and rest as much as you can. It will be worth it.
Thanks for telling us that matron, it's really interesting and just what I was feeling. I wasn't too bad and then worse again around 4 weeks, at least it makes some sort of sense .
I'm amazed at just how much has changed when it comes to the advice is given and what to expect following surgery because that was always something I would stress and it was made clear in the written information given on discharge. It would stop all the anxiety I read about here. Please keep in touch ladies and let us know how you are getting on.
Thanks matron, I was told absolutely nothing and received no papers. except a list of meds.When I asked about exercise the consultant said do what you like and if it hurts stop. They said there would would be discharge for two weeks where is it is clearly 6 unless I am abnormal and nothing about what to expect or what to do. Also to use the oestrogen cream whereas the nurse discharging me said no wait so I asked the dr at home who said take it and then I read on the pamphlet wait 2 wks after an op so I waited . All very confusing. I will report back after my check in 2 weeks.
thanks for all support.
Alybee this is major surgery and a lot of people including professionals forget this so it must be treated as so and very precise information should always be given. It's hardly surprising some surgery isn't successful.
Hi alybee, it really is a shocker isn't it! I'm normally really active and to just be forced to rest because it physically hurts to walk for more than 20 mins has been so hard. I feel like the sofa has actually moulded around my ever growing bottom lol. It's so reassuring to know that someone feels exactly the same. Are you in the uk?
Hi Matron, I had no advise on what to expect pre op, just the usual on no lifting etc. Nothing about what to expect with all the aches, pains and that everything I'm feeling is probably normal. What you've said however does make perfect sense now I think about it. Blimey, this really is one hell of an op! It's knocked me for 6... I just thought I'd breeze through it and be back to normal after say 5 weeks... How wrong could I have been lol. Thank you once again for your advice. Maybe you should write a book about the post op haha... I know I'd have read it cover to cover at least 20 times by now!! 😊😳
Hi Resting,
yes it's good to know we are in the same boat and yes this sofa has definitely changed shape and there was a big dent where I keep sitting LOL. Matron should def write the book. I mean I knew it was no picnic and I had seen these posts before so I didn't expect much but when I felt better after a few weeks I thought it would go upwards quickly instead of back to square one more or less. Yes I am in the UK, London op and still no aftercare.
Let me know when you feel better or things really change and I will too. I keep hoping it's the next day and then I get up and it all starts again !
Hello Resting. I have worked in gynaecology for a lot of years and I had to have a posterior and anterior repair and it knocked me for 6 despite all the advice I'd been giving ladies. It made me a better nurse in the same way after having children it made me a more compassionate midwife. You can't describe what it's going to be like until you've been through it and I am now doing some work with my local Health Trust looking at the advice given following all gynaecological procedures and we hope to role it out to all NHS trusts.
I think you are right to raise the issue of aftercare and after advise... I'm in Northamptonshire and although my surgeon was/ is fantastic and very reassuring, there is no written information regarding after care. I fell into the trap of looking towards the golden '6 week moment' when all would be normal again but I can see now that that is naive of me!
Thank you though for reassuring even though I'm sure you've heard the same problems a thousand times before 😊
Oh I am sooooo glad I found this thread! I'm also 4.5 weeks and totally agree with what you say including that everyone is fed up with listening. I can't sit or stand for very long. Have to take painkillers, which I haven't had to do for a while. But...I know I have to go back to work in 1.5 weeks so trying to stay positive. Have even done all my mum's filing (while sitting in bed). Good luck all, not long to the 6 week mark.
Matron, it would be so valuable to have the more detailed guidance you are planning.
Hi bresychen,
This forum has been beyond helpful, if I hadn't found it I'd have just worried myself to death! You're so right that it is so incredibly boring and so incredibly frustrating with the 'up and Downess' of the recovery.
It seems like forever! Matron is right; I definitely feel like this operation is kind of played down in terms of how long the recovery is.
But hey ho, I've read encouraging stories on here so there is light at the end of the tunnel 😜
Keep in touch and maybe we can all cheer each other up!!!
Hello bresychen. I don't know what your job is but I really think you are going back too early. I hear Urogynaecologists say as I do "listen to your body". If you don't feel as though you can do a days work and still have some energy left over then it's too early.
Regarding the guidance. A lot of guidance out there is too prescriptive because not every woman heals and recuperates the same so this will be far wide ranging and will be different depending on the type of surgery a lady has had eg with mesh etc.
Hi everyone, can I join in too?! I'm relieved to read this thread as it echoes exactly how I'm feeling. I'm 6 and a half weeks post op now, anterior and posterior repair plus perineum repair. I feel like I'm past the wound healing stage now but I feel like I'm back to where I was before the op, in the early days before I even got a ring pessary😫 Some days are better than others but for example like yesterday, as soon as I'd had a bm in the morning, I felt like my insides were falling out and I had the constant feeling like I need to wee (not a uti but the symptom I had pre-op). I feel like an old woman with a vice grip round my abdomen. It aches, drags and all feels so weak. The posterior repair feels strong but not the anterior. I saw my GP and told her my symptoms and she helpfully said 'maybe the anterior repair hasn't worked' 
she didn't examine me apart from taking a quick swab to check all infection has gone so don't know why she said this. It's the last thing I need to hear right now!! I'm so disheartened thinking what was this whole op for?? I'm frantically googling those big pants that hold you up (that cost loads!) and the like as I cannot bear the dragging feeling. I see the consultant in 3 weeks so have my sick note extended til then. I agree Resting that it's so hard with little ones and I think everyone (including me!) expected to be sorted and jumping around by now! I didn't see this forum til post op so was completely unprepared for the recovery. And I seem to be mentally preparing myself that it hasn't worked so that I'm not too devastated at the follow-up appt. Its tough mentally as well as physically isn't it? Here's to us all feeling great soon!
Mel I have sent you a private message
Hi Mel,
Yes, it's a constant concern of mine that the op hasn't worked I didn't look into anything really before the op as I just thought I'm young, fit, healthy... I'll breeze through it... Big mistake eh!
If I was in your position id prob phone the hospital and try and get your post op appointment brought forward? In the first week, I got a uti and I phoned the ward I'd been on and they were lovely and advised me what I needed etc.
I really feel for you as I too would be frantic. As it's not all the time that you feel like it's prolapsed again, could it just be still knitting together?
Keep in touch and hope you get sorted xx
Hi Matron. Maybe you're right but I will create a lot of bad feeling. Because of the advice I received pre-op I promised work I would do quite a bit from home during latter part of my recovery. I haven't! If I organise it well I can sit most of the day. I have a footrest which just takes the pressure off my stitches. I will probably try to work short days as a compromise.
BTW on the advice you're putting together, I meant it's a great idea and you should definitely push to get it rolled out (rather than can you provide it now). I would have managed other people's expectations of me very differently if I'd known more.
Onwards and upwards! My husband is going to put all the kids' clothes on the bed tomorrow and I'm going to sort out what's too small/got holes in etc.
I wish I'd found this forum sooner. I worried myself sick. At my lowest I spent two days just weeping. My poor husband was simply bewildered. I think someone should write a separate guide for the person looking after you.....
Lovely sharing with you ladies!
I keep hoping that it's all that it's knitting together, Resting. This afternoon I've had a much better time - and stood for an hour no problem! So that's bouys me up but if tomorrow is a bad day again I'll be so upset... Such an up and down time eh? Bresychan- I have spent a lot of these past 6 weeks crying.... And you're so right wishing we'd been better prepared to be able to let others know what to expect e.g. work - I had no idea it would be like this!