Hello, I am 4 days post-op for posterior repair. Surgery went well but I feel lost as to what to expect now. I feel very swollen and very sore. I feel like I cant walk normally. I came home the day of surgery and have been up and about but rest as well when needed. I am wondering if anyone has any advice. I don't go back to see the surgeon until Nov 5th. Thanks in advanced.
Hi
I had a hysterectomy and posterior repair in June 18. What you are feeling now is very normal. I felt swollen and sore and couldnt walk properly for a few weeks. If you can rest rest rest and rest some more so you give the repair as much chance as possible to heal. I was 44 when i had my op and to be honest it really took it out of me but it does get better.
If you are concerned at all visit your gp for a check up. If you have anymore questions i will help as much as i can. x x
Bobsey thank you for your reply. Another question I have is about bowel movements. Sorry if its a bit to much information, however I took stool softeners 2 weeks leading up to the surgery and continue bow and have actually increases it to twice a day. I have finally had 2 since the surgery and I am trying not to strain or push. This last time though i noticed i had a very small amount of red blood. Is that okay? I am so lost as to what is normal and what is not with this surgery and I do jot know anyone that has had it.
hi, i had my posterior repair last April. it was a tough recovery - i found walking and sitting in those first few weeks challenging and was most comfortable laying down with a pillow under my bottom. its important to keep moving but rest as much as you can. it took me a good 8 weeks before i felt somewhat normal again.
I cant comment on the blood (see a doc if youre worried) but i was given movicol which i still take daily now. i couldnt go for a week following the operation though (probably due to the painkillers and lack of exercise).
good luck with your recovery. this group helped to reassure me loads.
Hi
I was very badly constipated after the op and didnt go for 6 days after the op. With the pain from that and the op i was in agony. I ended up having to take movicol, lactulose and enemas. I to noticed blood but it was from pushing and straining and stopped when i started going properly again. I carried on with movicol and lactulose for about 6 weeks after op and slowly weaned myself off it. I was advised by my gp that i could do this so it is safe.
It takes a long time for your body to heal so give yourself lots of time and rest as much as you can. I personally think its really poor that we arent given any info as to what to expect after the op. I found this forum brilliant for help when i had my op.
Dont hesitate to ask more questions if you need to.
Take care x x
Im sorry to bother but I have another question. After a shower this evening I happened to grab a mirror and take a peek down there. I happened to notice that I have a small area that is red. No other area is like that and now I am afraid I have an infection. I have a call into the doctor but I am wondering if you happened to notice anything like that during your recovery? Thanks again.
Hi
One of my stitches came out which was very red. I saw my gp who prescribed some antibiotics and some numbing cream which was a god send. I also had two water infections which is quite normal after this type of op. Im sure your doctor will see you and put your mind at rest.
Hope you get on ok . x x
I went last night to the ER as i cant get a hold of the doctor until Friday. The ER doctor put me on antibiotics. I for sure have pain in the area that i believe the infection is in. It is a small area but red and sore. I hope the antibiotics kick in soon and help with that pain. I am sure that I would be moving better and sitting better if it wasn’t for that area. I don’t think a day goes by that a don’t regret this surgery! Thank you for your help and kind words. I really appreciate it.
Hi
I really hope the antibiotics will kick in soon. Are you on any painkillers? I live in England and was given something called vagisil which is great for numbing the area. You can also buy it at the chemist over here. Might we worth seeing if you can get it? It is a horrible op to have and worse than having the anterior repair apparently ( i am on the waiting list to have that done ) I can only go off my own experience but like you i regretted having it done because of the pain but it will get better but it is a long recovery. Give yourself time and rest as much as you can and take painkillers and bowel medication which will all help with the healing.
I am quite happy to help if you want to ask more questions. x x
Hi Bobsey.
Thankfully the antibiotics have kicked in. For pain I am taking Toradol. Its a pain medication as well as an anti-inflammatory drug as well. I have backed off the pain killers as I was starting to feel better, unfortunately though I had to go on a long car ride and am feeling sore again. i have this horrible feeling like someone has shoved barbwire up there. I am not sure if it is the stitches I can feel but it is certainly not a pleasant feeling. I have this constant full feeling down there as well. Hopefully the surgeon will have some answers. I see him on Tuesday because of the infection.
Hi
Thats good to hear that the antibiotics are kicking in. The feeling of barbed wire up there is what i felt for a few weeks then it can get itchy as the wound starts to heal. The full feeling was the swelling i had.
I hope you get some answers on Tuesday. x x
hi hun
I am 15 mths post op from vaginal hysterectomy and anterior repair. I would like my back wall sorted now as I have to rely on glycerine supps to poo as i will not strain for fear if everything dropping .
too be honest this repo scares me more than anterior and you ladies are right in sayonara ant9 is relatively pain free for me but noone is the same.
I’m sure once your antibiotics kick in it will be a lot easier to walk and sit. I cannot believe I have had these ops, from age 27 which was my first baby, and age 29 my second up to age 43 I had not one issue in my vag. reached full menopause at age 45 and everything change for me when I carried turf to lay in my new garden. must of been the lack of estrogen and the heavy lifting that caused my first anterior to show its ugly head lol.
age 51 now and her I am with the prospect of another repair😱. I tell myself it could be soo much worse.
chin up hun and take carex
Hi everyone
I’m glad ive come across this thread tonight as I had my pre assessment phonecall today and it looks like surgery for rectocele will be in 6 weeks time. I’m weirdly excited to have this done as my problem started about 10 years ago with it gradually becoming worse every year. I have seemed to have put looking after myself on the back burner since having children so i’m looking at this surgery to be a fresh start. I’m looking for any tips to make this a success as I really don’t want another repair.
hello legoland.
with all repairs the main advice I can give is to rest for 6 weeks to give your body the best chance of a strong repair.
these repairs do not have guarantees unfortunately but if yiu refrain from lifting,bending,straining on loo and no housework you will really help recovery.
take movicol for soft bowels and basic a healthy diet and plenty if water to flush out anesthetics.
when I had my tvh and anterior repair I starting small walks around house first week then a little bit further each week to keep your body free from DVT and muscle soreness.
good luck x
Thank you for the reply and tips from a fellow Welsh girl 
. On the back of your advice I have been to see my employer about my sick leave and looks like i’m covered for more than 6 weeks . Time to get organised with how I’m going to manage getting the 4 year old dressed for school and if I can walk her there (its a minute walk from the house).
Hope everyone on this thread is getting better and becoming stronger xx
Is your pain sorted Kristina? I had post-op infection 2-3 weeks post posterior repair back in May and it felt like I had a scalpel inside me. Antibiotics cleared it up but it set me back to square 1 with my recovery. Thankfully I had greatly improved 6 weeks post op. Hope you’re getting sorted.
hello,
I saw my surgeon this past Tuesday. he said everything looked good. The antibiotics seem to be clearing up the infection. I go back and see him in two more weeks. Still feel like I’m not walking properly. My surgeon has only written me off work for four weeks in total. Hopefully by then I should be ready to go back to work. I’m on my feet all day I work in a hospital.
hello
I’d suggest you try and take a couple more weeks off. yiur healing tissues will be still swollen and standing all day will put lots of pressure on them.
see what your consultant says.
Hi welshgirl,
I do find that even now if I’m on my feet too long i get sore and more so by the end of the day. When i went to my surgeon in the first place it felt like I had a fullness down there and it just didn’t look like it did before. I still find that i have a fullness feeling but I am just assuming that its because everything inside is still swollen. If thats the case how long does that last? I really do wish the surgeon had told me more about the recovery etc. So many different little things and I always wonder if they are normal or not. I’m in Canada and one of the health magazines just did a giant article on women and pelvic floor health. They stated that its something that is not talked about often and needs to have more and better knowledge out there. They spoke about non surgical treatments as well as surgical treatments. Hopefully its a start!
Hi
Its really good to hear that the antibiotics have worked. The feeling of fullness will be the swelling. and it took a few weeks to be able to walk properly. You really need to rest as much as possible. I work in a doctors surgery and would definately ask for longer time off work. I had 12 weeks off after my hysterectomy and posterior repair last year. I also had a phased return to work so slowly went back to my full time hours over a month. Has your consultant advised you to do any pelvic floor exercises? I was told to leave it for at least 2 months but they can help later on when you start to feel better.
Take care x