Fire breathing post surgery

Submitted by Tathagata on August 5, 2011 - 2:50am
Body: 

Hi,
Its some time since I posted on here although its oten been in my thoughts.
I had surgery for removal of a large ovarian cyst about a year ago; the ovary was removed and I managed to persuade the surgeon to leave my other ovary intact! (I'm 64 but still wanted what hormones there might be). My horizontal scar is 20cm long and my surgeon said there were many adhesions over my bowel so I know I'm fortunate no other complications arose. He said my other ovary looked normal.
My cystocele symptoms disappeared completely for 9 months or so but seem to be returning gradually; I have always tried to keep the right posture but have now gone back to doing the 'fire breathing'. This now, although not at first, seems to making one end of my scar ache rather; seems to be inside but not sure. This end was where initially there was a fold of skin stiched over and which became infected. The infection eventually cleared up but I had to regularly have a small sinus packed inside to keep it healing properly from inside. This took many weeks to completely heal. I don't know if the ache is due to too much fire breathing or increased falling of my prolapse.
I've been very didappointed that symptoms have come back; I wrongly thought the large heavy cyst had caused the prolapse. I have had 4 children, surgery for peritonitis when I was small and surgery to free my fallopian tubes resulting from damage caused by a childhood accident, so I probably can't expect much else. Thankfully no hysterectomy.
Should I keep on with lots of fire breathing? I was also wondering what is the best sitting posture? Shall I keep going with playing badminton.
Thank you for any advice.

Christine

August 5, 2011 - 11:07am

Hi Tathagata,

I'm sorry to hear things are not smooth sailing. I think it's good to face the reality that adhesions and scar tissue within the post-surgery pelvis is going to create effects that are unpredictable. Adhesions actually can grow over time, like the movie The Blob. (sorry!) The good news is, you have much less chance of serious problems compared to women who have had the entire central compartment removed.

As far as your cystocele worsening, this is something that is very common in older women. As gynecology has struggled to come up with a definition of prolapse, the best they could finally do is a bulge that is at or near the vaginal opening. Anything less is not only asymptomatic, but ubiquitous in parous women. Does knowing this help? From the WW perspective, working with natural cystocele is infinitely preferable to the post-hysterectomy bulge that requires a mesh implant to reduce. Of course you must be able to keep the bulge inside the labia, with which a pessary might be of great help.

As for keeping up with firebreathing, you must use your own best judgment. We have no idea what's going on inside and only you have some intuitive take on the matter. I have tried to push through my post-surgery damage, but I certainly can't suggest that for others. The natural pelvis is very much the same from woman to woman, but every post-surgery pelvis is different.

My guess is that you are not as injured as you might think, but that you're not able to hold this posture while engaged in sports like badminton. I certainly would not give it up completely, but you may take it a bit slower as you develop greater awareness of these issues. Let your symptoms be your guide.

Sit with a lifted chest and strong lumbar curve.

Best wishes for living well with prolapse - it is the work we are all doing.

Christine

Tathagata

August 7, 2011 - 12:13pm

Thank you Christine. I do know I am fortunate compared with others who have so much more to contend with.