had rectocele and cystocele surgery 5 weeks ago

Hi Melissa

Hang in there. You are probably feeling quite alone at the moment, and very unsure what the future holds. I haven't had surgery so I can hardly say I know what you are going through, but I do now that there are a lot of women who visit this site who have expressed similar feelings of uncertainty and disappointment after surgery. They will come out of the woodwork and support you and encourage you in your recovery. I am sure that once you have experienced their friendship, and reassurance you will start to feel better.

In the meantime go to the homepage and read the FAQ's, particularly about posture, and study up on how the pelvic area of your body works, so you understand the mechanics you are working with, even though they have been surgically altered to some extent. Your posture will be really important from now on. Christine has shown by her own experience how it is possible to re-establish close to normal ways of moving after extensive surgery. If she can lead a normal life after surgery, so can you.

I think you are in the right place. So glad you have made it this far. Better things are on the way for you.

Cheers

Louise

have also had no surgery...
I just wanted to send you warm thoughts and say it is only 5 weeks since your surgery - It may take your body quite a while to feel semi normal again. Hang in there, try to take things easy. I am sure as last poster said - some people will arrive and be able to give good advice as to how to get through this hard time you are in

Hugssssssssssssssssss

Sue

Hi melissa , i had the same op just 3 weeks today, and i feel just like you do! i have the same bloated stomach and i feel frightened to do too much walking as i feel to tired and i am a very active person. I am 33 years old and like you i've been told that further surgey is very likely. I went to see my consultant on saturday and she says the stiches are all intact at the moment buti feel that my stomach is very tight, alot of pulling, she said that it will feel like that, and just to rest.
So i know just what you are going through, and like you i hope it things will get back to normal soon, but take it easy.
best wishes sarah

I am 28 yrs old and mom of 4,youngest is 9 mos. I am almost 4weeks post op form recotcele, cystocele and hemmoridectomy. And still I feel alot of pain. My operation ended up being 6 hours long, I lost alot of blood, needed 4 units of blood. Then, I had a catheter for 2 weeks, and developed a uti. And now since Thurs. developed a fever with horrible pelvic pain. I went to the er had a ct scan, normal. But I am on 2 antibiotics for infection. My dr does not understand why I am in so much pain. I have had a horrible recovery and need to know if anyone else has this horrible pressure like pain in the vaginal area, mainly on the sides of the vaginal opening in all the deep tissue there. Especially if I am to stand,The increased pressure is horrible. I am just feeling more and more depressed, and my dr says I am the first to feel this bad after this type of surgery out of her pt. IS it because I am so young? Does anyone else feel this way? My dr also says I am not to lift over 10 lbs the rest of my life. Come on, I have a 9 mos old. I have been very good so far with no lifting, but still feel awful.

I am so sorry that you have had such a terrible experience. I have chosen to live with my prolapse without surgery, one reason is because of the weight lifting restriction. I am so glad that I found this site before I made any decision to have surgery since Christine offers alternative ways of living with prolapse without surgery. I am 35 and have 3 children, 6, 4, and 21 months. I have to lift my 34# 4 year old and 30# 21 month old. I would say that your dr. should not have encouraged you to have had this kind of a surgery when you have 4 young children and you would not be able to rest and take care of yourself like someone with grown children. But that is now beside the point. So you have to come to terms with your new body and decide how you can get the healing that you need. I wish you much speed in recovery.
Jane

Hi Melissa: I was wondering how you are feeling now that you are about 10 weeks post-op? I also have a rectocele, stage 3, but am 52 years old. Many thanks for posting about your surgery.

I likewise have not had surgery and had the universal prolapses since 2000. I pretty much came to the conclusion that the three main prolapses can act as a "pessary" unto themselves, preventing either of the three from escaping and combined with the posture, allowed me to feel quite comfortable. I have not had to wear the familiar v-brace in almost a year and pretty much do everything I have always done, but within reason. I enjoy walking and have never given that up. Actually, it seems to have made that particular area "stronger."

Surgery takes a while to heal; please be patient.

sybille

How are you women doing??? You were all early in post-op stage...how are you NOW???
I am curious being a woman in my 30's who weighing all options at this time and would like to know if anyone has a successful surgery?
Thanks!

Hi melissa
I had surgery 9 weeks ago. I went into hospital for minor surgery and expecting to be off work for 2-3 weeks at the most. when i awoke I knew something else had been done as i went in for vaginal tears to be repaired and expected to be sore there (vaginally) but found i was sore near my rectum area. it was the following day that i eventually learnt that i had had a rectocele operation. The nurses on the ward were not even aware that i had had a rectocele and as a result i got out of bed to make my bed the morning following surgery as the nurses were too busy. the nurse also told me on discharge when i asked for a sick note to return to work in 3 weeks, its only that i questioned what the consultant had told me the day AFTER my surgery (she said a minimum of 8 weeks). After surgery I had diahorea for 2 weeks, and i exaggerate not, believe me, i was using the toilet ALL day and i was eventually passing blood which was like running tap water. I had no explanation and was passed from doctor to doctor and each time given different reasons for the passing of blood. No one even knew i had rectocele operation. (i thought i was dying)
I am now tired, constantly bloated, depressed which has lead i think to my being unable to concentrate and have poor memory loss. (please excuse my spelling, i honestly cant remember anything simple anymore like simple spellings). PEOPLE HAVE SINCE ASKED ME HOW BADLEY MY SYMTOMS WERE. HOW BAD MY CONSTIPATION WAS PRE-OP. I DON'T UNDERSTAND AS I HAD NO SYMTOMS OR PROBLEMS AT ALL THAT I WAS AWARE OF, PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR SYMTEMS WERE. i sometimes think i've had someone elses op. I am so depressed because i am so tired. I started work last week as i felt so guilty but to be honest i am shattered and my lower abdomen is killing me by dinner time, and my job is a sit down job. Just like you I hurts when i stand for long periods, or if i sit in the same position without moving. I sometimes wonder if i was given the wrong operation. Can you tell me what symptoms you had before you had surgery and what advice you've had both pre op and since your op. I have been told nothing, absolutely nothing at all. I was sent home the next day, without having bowel movement, even though i have no family support and am a single mum of an active young child. I wish i hadn't gone back to work. It has been 9 weeks and in my opinion i think you need a minimum of 3 months off for this op. it disgusts me, that people feel under so much pressure from both colleagues and superiors to return to work. On reflection, my advice is do not return too soon, i wish i hadnt.....winter

I am so sorry about the problems you have been having--the pain and the confusion etc.
My sister just had surgery--emergency--to remove a gangrenous ovary--she had the surgery mid-May and the wound has yet to heal. She just went in for more tests and they are hoping the surgeon didn't rupture the bowel?! They can't understand why the wound isn't healing...they sent her back to work after 6 weeks even though her wound wasn't closed yet, and she was still on medication for an infection --her job is is an on your feet all day job--bending up and down...she also has a tumor on her leg they still haven't figured out what kind...
etc. I am sooooo frustrated for her and we all are waiting waiting for more info and for her to be able to finally recover.
I also think they are not allowing people to rest enough after operations.

I hope things get better for you Winter and maybe you need some legal advice. I don't understand how you could have a rectocele surgery without knowing you had a rectocele? Doesn't there need to be full disclosure? Many civil litigators don't charge for a consult.

I am getting to the point where maybe you need to go to an atty before you have an operation and have him or her read the papers you have to sign and explain them to you!

my heart is breaking, reading your post
can you get your hands on your medical records, and the op notes?
and schedule a looong talk with the dr. you deserve, and are entitled to, a full explanation of what was done during the operation.

sending healing vibes your way

Hi Everyone
thank you for your comments, it seems to me that people are rushed back to work too soon. As i said in my last post i went back to work, but after working for only one week, i only managed part of the second week and was then off again. I was absolutely shattered. I am going back again next week but am going to come home a little early each day.
Please anyone out there can you please please please tell me what your symptoms were. WHAT it was that first made you realise that something was wrong and lead to a diagnosis of rectocele. I really want to sort things out and need to begin to find answers as to why I had rectocele surgery.
So, IF YOU HAVE HAD RECTOCELE SURGERY, PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR SYMPTOMS WHERE THAT LEAD TO YOUR DIAGNOSIS.
THANK YOU in anticipation of your help.
winter

I am so sorry they have done this to you without your knowledge (You sound English from the way you write Mum)

I would have to ask why they did this without consent - Because i really feel like this is an assault - Without asking you if you wanted this or not :-(

If you had a rectocele bad enough for surgery - You would KNOW about it - I have a rectocele and its minor and I get no symptoms at all from that - Cystocele is the worst problem that I contended with...

I hope that you can find a way to cope with this healing and get back to normal life. I think it is shocking to hear that they have done this to you without even asking if you wanted this done - That is so sad - But the people on this site are wonderful people and will give you all the advice they hold... I am wishing I knew ore about surgery to tell you :-(

I just send you hugs and know that alot of the women here will know something to say that will be of more help than I (sorry)

((HUGS))

Sue

*EDIT*

I just spoke to my partner who said get legal advice about this.

He said the solicitors who deal with this type of case are expensive - but they seldom lose the case - most getting around 6 figures for the problems this will cause. They have treated you as less than a human being.

Basically he says there are legal people who deal in medical negligence and this is GROSS assault.

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
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