When to start pelvic floor exercises after surgery?

Women's health
21

6  WEEKS POST-OP

Hello Ladies!

I had my 6 week post-op for anterior (bladder, cystocele) repair. My outpatient surgery was done vaginally, using my own tissue that supports the bladder. NO MESH or other materials used. The reason I had outpatient surgery was that I do not have health insurance and my doctor felt that I was in good enough shape and health that he was confident in performing my surgery at an outpatient surgical care center, 2 blocks from the hospital. The cost of everything was about 25% of what I had heard anterior repair surgery would be, so obviously that was a substantial saving to us.

I had all of my questions written down so that I wouldn't forget any...my doctor was pleased with that and took the time before the exam to listen. He answered what he could before the exam and met me in his office after the exam to finish answering the questions and inform me of my progress. 

I am telling you this so that you can be prepared at your appointments...if you ask the questions, they will answer them and you will get a lot more information regardless of where you are on your health journey. I did not ask many questions when I was diagnosed, I found most of my information on the Internet. At my 2 week post-op, I was completely unprepared and still had "med head" from the surgery, so basically didn't ask much. I was prepared this time.

My cystocele was a strong stage 3, pushing on stage 4 with a lot of pain pressure and problems with completely emptying my bladder. After surgery at my 2 week checkup, he said that I have some "residual bladder drop". After asking questions today, I now know that means I still have a stage 1 cystocele. The bulge is in the bottom of the bladder vs the top, which is good. He said even after removing excess tissue, pulling the tissue tight and stitching it, it still stretches because it's obviously, not new tissue. 

I have seen many comments about doing PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES soon after surgery. I asked him if I should have been doing them and he said " NO, NOT UNTIL YOU ARE COMPLETELY HEALED". So please check with your doctor before you start them. Maybe the decision is made on a case by case basis, or maybe the doctor's preference. I don't know, but I definitely don't want to go backwards or undo what surgery has done!

He removed the few remaining stitches that had not dissolved ( for comforts sake😀), and gave me the okay for bending, lifting, and walking. He said that pain will stop me if it's too much. He also gave me the okay for intercourse...my husband is working in another state right now, so I won't see how that goes for 5 more weeks. The up side to that is I have 5 more weeks of healing before I try it out! lol

I still have a lot of pressure in the groin area and problems eliminating if I don't go at the first urge. There is no infection 😀. He believes it's because I am not eliminating completely, so there is always pressure, so he gave me a prescription to use for one month to improve the emptying of the bladder. This should improve my comfort level tremendously! He still wants me up every 2 hours through the night to eliminate and keep the pressure off the bladder area while it continues to heal.

Some days are really good and some not so good. On the not so good days or days I know I will be on my feet a lot, I still use Lynn's garment to give me that extra support so I don't feel strained. The garment was designed for those who cannot or do not want surgery, BUT it gives much needed support to those of us that have had surgery and are healing. How many of you walked around the first couple weeks holding yourself and being thankful no one was there to see it? I know I did and was so happy to discover a support garment so I could walk around and not feel like I was falling out anymore.

Sorry if I rambled and gave too much information, but I know when I first came on this site, I wanted as much information as I could get. I am posting this on more than one discussion because different people on different discussions wanted an update.

I have another appointment in 4 weeks and hopefully all is completely healed at that time.  Thanks for reading and I pray all goes well for all of you, whatever stage of your journey you are at!

God bless!

Trisha

 

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Sounds good now, but you'll have to see how you feel. The first 3-4 weeks I didn't feel like doing a lot, but this past week or so I have better. I make cards and do scrapbooking and it sure feels good to get "lost" in my craft room again!

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Hi Rita2602, Do them now - any exercise will help to improve circulation whch will help to improve your surgical outcomes by speeding up your recovery. After the surgery you can usually start to exerice after about 6 weeks, or following the advice of your surgeon. Whatever you do rememebr to rest, rest, rest. Don't rush it. You will see here where women want to do more than they should and they pay the price of pain or beeding, so take it really steady, but also make sure that your recovery weeks are not spent eating. You need to get strong, but with your pelvic floor repair you need to make sure you lose weight (if you are a few pounds or kgs over) as this weight has a direct affect on your pelvic floor vby adding more strain to it. Eactly what it does not need.

Good luck, take it steady, your body needs time to adjust!.

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Isn't it a little hard to lose weight when you can't workout or exercise? That's the whole reason I had this surgery so I could finally exercise post baby. Also, the only reason I haven't been able to lose my weight. I definitely don't sit around and eat all day but I have always had a slow metabolism and eat very healthy and low calories. If I don't exercise it is difficult even to maintain my weight let alone not gain weight. I got so fed up with completely pee-ung myself exercising (even non-impact) so I had he surgery. I really help it heals properly as I was always very active prior to having my first child :o(

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Hi I know this is an old thread but I am in my early 20s myself and am also due to have a posterior repair feeling very anxious as so many people say the prolapse comes back and also about no lifting ever after the surgery this will be very hard for me with my job and 9 month old. I'd love to hear about your story with the reapair as I can see it was a success for you and you were of a similar age hope u see this would love a reply thank you

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Hi all. I'm booked on July 20 for a posterior vaginal wall repair and a vaginal hysterectomy. I'm quite nervous. I worry about gaining weight being inactive. I'm also worried about pain. So far unsure whether need mesh or not. Have heard there can be complications. Any advice?

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Where does one find Lynns garment??

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Hi Rita. I'm booked for the Samson July 20. Are you also having a vaginal hysterectomy ?

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That was I'm booked for the same. Damn auto correct!!

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I had my surgery on 31st July 2017.  It was an anterior and posterior vaginal repair with bladder prolapse.  I had to stop working on sick leave three weeks before as I was in too much pain and couldn't sit in car or walk properly.  This is my 4th week home from surgery.  I was advised to start the pelvic floor exercises as directed by a physio at the hospital as soon as I could.  I have started to have back pain after sitting or standing for half a day.  Not sure what is going to happen at work as I am a direct care worker and work in peoples homes during the day and also respite at night.  By 4.30 am in agony with pain in back and legs.  Going to the surgeon/gyno who did the op for the second visit.  He was happy with the first and have been told that I cannot lift more then 10 to 15 kg.  My work might be in jeopardy to a certain degree but if I don't follow his instructions it might happen again.  I don't do gardening anymore, have a gardener and I also don't clean my house either, have a good friend that comes to clean my house.  Not sure what will happen, going today to see what he means by transitioning to work and then to my doctor for a referral to a pelvic floor specialist who will show me how to cope with my job.  I am 64 and was diagnosed in 2015.  After a day in the sun on a row boat I fronted emergency in my area on February 2017.  I paid for it myself as I didn't want to wait a year or I would surely had have to go on benefits and I didn't want that to happen.  Yes I was tired, very tired and I was depressed and crying for the first two weeks.  Hope you take care of yourself and do things very slowly.

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 I had the same surgery as you September 14, 2017. I am almost 5 weeks postop. I am wanting to know how you were doing. I’m supposed to return to work October 30 but I cannot be up longer than an hour without pressure below. Keeping the bowels regular has been an issue.  I have a concern about returning to work at the six week mark since I can’t even sit for more than five minutes without pain. I have a desk job. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. My husband does all the cooking cleaning and I don’t lean over to pick anything up. I still have spotting at the five week mark.

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Hi Dlee.  I had the same problem.  I couldn't sit in the car properly and now even after 3 months I have pain below near the urethra and have probs with some pressure, do leak on the odd occasion like sneezing, urine is hot but have no bacteria or infection so was told its probably a nerve issue due to the op.  My specialist was adamant I take estrogen called Vagifem.  It has helped some but still on the days that I stand up a lot due to work, the pain comes back and some pressure.  I now put a cold pack on the area and that helps a lot.  Wearing pads makes it also uncomfortable in that area.  In Jan that's the 6 months that I was told everything would return to normal.  If it doesn't am going back to the specialist to find out why not.  I have a fantastic pelvic floor specialist who shows me how to do exercises to strengthen my pelvic floor muscles.  She is very happy with my body and is amazed at the strength coming back.  She has stated that swimming would be perfect after January.  She also told me I can do the pelvic floor lift that you do after you have had a baby but under no circumstances am I to do tummy exercises at this stage.  I am going to stay with her even after as I don't want the bladder prolapse to return.  It takes a toll on the body.  If I could retire I would as house cleaning is too much for me now in my job and when I get too much I make an excuse and say I have an appointment and do get a certificate for whatever time I get so work cant assume anything.  Its going to be a long year as will be retiring next Dec 2018.  TAke your time but I know that's hard when you run out of leave like I did.  I had three weeks beforehand due to pain and too much pressure, then 7 weeks before returning to work.  Sitting down for a long period is also hard for me now.  I might sit for a maximum of 2 hours then go for a walk.  It will work out eventually, just don't stress and rest a lot.  Take care