Hi, I am 79 years old. Last February I had a vaginal hysterectomy and Cystocele repair. Two weeks ago I had surgery for a sling bladder suspension for incontinence also an enterocele and rectocele repair. The first week I just got up for my meals and then went back to bed, last week I stayed up longer and walked around my flat. I have a partner who is looking after me regarding meals and house work so I am lucky. I have been bleeding but that seems to be easing off, I have managed the constipation by drinking prune juice, taking the medicine once a day that they gave me in hospital to come home with and two sachets of Movalot in the evening. I still feel very weak and tired but my main problem is the feeling of soreness in my nether regions that make it painful to sit. I was wondering if it would be OK to use some cream such as Savlon to ease this? also is this normal and how long will it last?
It sounds like you are doing a really good job resting and getting help. Thats wonderful. I found it painful to sit and just lay down. When I was feeling up for more, I walked a bit and then returned to laying down. My theory is that walking helps you get stronger and healthier while sitting, which also puts pressure on your pelvic floor, does not.
I would ask my doctor before using a cream externally. Nothing internally, of course.
Hi Pamela, it's early days yet, and a rectocele is painful and takes quite a few weeks -sorry!- to recover from and be able to sit properly. I would do like Dorry says and lie down when you are not walking, and not stand for too long just yet.
I found sitting the hardest and as the stitches began to break up and prickle after three or four weeks, it was harder, so sore.
It's major surgery and out of all prolapse repairs rectocele is the most difficult to get over. Just carry on resting, your body will tell you when you have done enough.
Not surprised you are tired, you've had a lot done.
I wouldn't use Savlon, or any othe cream just yet, the stitches will be right down tge back vaginal wall to your perineum and you don't want to get an infection. Have you tried an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, or pillowcase between your legs, it eases the pain.
Good luck with your recovery.
Hi Pamela I had TVt and rectocele repair one year ago last month. I’d recommend anaesthetic gel/cream from your GP, lidocaine I think, I keep it even now as the perineal area still gets sore if I’m constipated. It numbs the pain just enough to cope. Push for it as nothing else helps. Take lactulose also as constipation will make pain worse x
Thank you so much for all your help, I will have a word with my doctor regarding the lidocaine.
Oh you poor thing. You're doing remarkably for your age. Well done. But NOOOOOOO don't use Savlon. Don't use anything unless approved by Dr.
Thank you for sharing your recovery with us pamela1937. I hope the pain eases up in the next week.
An ice pack or lying down (not sitting up) should help a little bit. Take care and check in with us again in a few days to let us know how you are getting on. Has the incontinence stopped at least? xxxx
Thank you everyone, I am starting to feel a bit better now, been out a couple of times and the incontinence has stopped thank goodness. I rang the number the hospital gave me last week as I still had the smarting and discomfort. The nurse said by next week it should have eased but if it hadn't to ring again and she would contact the surgeon who may see me sooner than the 6 week appointment.Yesterday it felt a lot better and I did too and then this morning it is back again. I have tried the bidet bath thing in warm water and that is comforting. The nurse said that I had had a lot done in one operation and not to worry as long as I was having bm's and passing urine normally, so I guess I just have to be patient. I would think the stitches will be dissolving soon and then it will be a lot better?
Ohhhhh what do you mean by "the bidet bath thing in warm water" as the usual rule is NO baths whatsoever for 6wks and hopefully post-op check is then so you can get clearance to bath. You really can introduce infections in via stitches by soaking in water. You are only sposed to shower. A heat pack bought from pharmacy or wheat bag is way better for the area than getting it all soggy and allowing bugs in where they shouldn't be! If Heat helps than use these, not water.
oops, thanks for that info. The nurse had said I could have a bath, I said I only have a shower then she said I could sit in some warm water for a short time using a bowl over the toilet. I won't do it any more then and stick to the shower.
Please only shower. In the old days they used to get Mothers who had just given birth & had sore &/or stitches perineum to have salt sitz. They soon figured out that it was unsafe as your anus is also soaking away there & spreading bad bugs to the vagina. That's why they don't do it anymore. Not just cause it was a passing fad, but because it's just not good at all. No surgical area should be subjected to any wetness if at all possible. Sometimes it's impossible not to depending on where it is. I'm
Surprised with that Nurses advice! Genitourinary area is already naturally moist and you just don't want it getting soggy and promoting bacteria entering delicate susceptible surgical area.
Thank you for your advice, maybe I misunderstood what the nurse said to me. I will just shower in future, I am into my fourth week now and started doing a bit more, but soon feel tired, I also get a niggly pain iin the left hand side of my tum, lower down, when I go for a walk ( only about ten minutes for now) the other thing is my stomach is really swollen, will that go down do you think? The prickly pain thank goodness isn't as bad as it was, I can sit more comfortably now. Thanks fro the advice and help from all of you.
Robyn's a nurse Pamela.
Four weeks is still early days, it will slowly get easier. It was a lot of surgery,not surprised you're still swollen.
You're doing really well. You are at the point of the stitches all tightening. Some get quite a lot of pain at the 4/5wk stage, so your left lower pain is probably just stitches all tightening up. Keep up the walks. Small (10mins is fine for you) but do lots of those now.
Hello again, last week I was really depressed as I was still so uncomfortable and tired all the time. Yesterday and today though I have really made an effort to walk more and go for two little walks twice a day doing about a mile altogether, I am trying to do more in the home but just standing is tiring. I am still in a lot of discomfort but the 'barbed wire' feeling a a lot better. I am wondering if my stitches will be dissolving soon?
Hi Pamela, glad to hear you are able to get out for walks.
Don't overdo it though, it's still only three weeks. Your surface stitches will be starting to dissolve, but the deeper ones that hold everything together will still be there for a few weeks. Shouldn't cause any problems though.
Don't do too much standing about at this stage, just puts more dowhwards pressure on the operated areas.
You sound to be doing really well, give it time.x.
Thank you Laura, yes I know standing causes me discomfort, walking isn't too bad. I was awake last night with niggling pain in my tummy again, very low down, right hand side, still here today so I am resting today and it seems to be easing off, not sure what brought this on really as I am trying to follow the rules. Thank you for the information about the stitches.
Hello again, I seem to be getting a bit stronger, doing a fewl ight chores but not lifting or anything strenuouss. I walked further today, went to town on the bus and to one shop, my partner carried the shopping but tonight I have had some slight bleeding again, is this normal please. I had my op on the 9th October and would have thought things would be healed by now so I'm a bit worried.
You've overdone it Pamela, just a bit too much too soon. Please be more patient with yourself. I wouldn't say it's normal, but considering the activity I wouldn't worry too much as long as it stops. If it doesn't, ring your GP.
But it's probably just your body telling you that you've done too much. No you won't be totally healed for a few weeks yet.
Thank you Laura, I am just completely resting today and it has stopped so far. so good.. I thought maybe it was that I had done too much, hard to not do much when yu start to feel better, but I have to be sensible I know.