Pelvic Floor Prolapse - Cystocele and or Rectocele

Submitted by Diamond on March 10, 2011 - 8:03pm
Body: 

Hi, my first post. Three months ago January 2011 it all started with a UTI -urinary track infection where I had noticed that my urine was orange [never happened before first time] - my GP prescribed antibiotics to clear the infection. Following the doctor's visit I became curious why I had UTI and checked out many Medical websites through the internet, to my surprise it suggested that it could be a prolapse with photos of the various types e.g. cystocele, rectocele and so on. To put my mind at rest I did a self-examination and to my horror I discovered that there was a prolapse but not protruding outside the vagina wall. Two days later I was back at GP's surgery to discuss and was physically examined to confirm the prolapse by the doctor which she did. It was suggested by my doctor to send me for Physiotherapy to learn about Kegel exercises.
Although I am not against physio I felt that my issue was not trully evealuated by a urogaenocologist and I seeked private consultation beginning of March 2011. The outcome was cystocele grade 1 and rectocele grade 2. I am not in pain, do not leak urine and have no problem with toilet issues apart from a slight discomfort during sexual intimacy with my husband. This urogaenocologists wants to see me over the next 2 to 3 weeks to further investigate and conduct further tests. OK, my concern is this: The urogaenocologist has suggested possible surgery to do a fix for the cystocele grade 1 and rectocele grade 2, what I want to ask is very specific, how many women on this forum have had a recent or past cystocele and or rectocele surgery? was it successful and how long did it last? were there any other complications arising that you did not have before the surgery? what type of surgery did you have? would you have had the surgery in the first place or live with the prolapse and what I mean by that no organs protruding outside the vagina walls. Thank you

bad_mirror

March 10, 2011 - 9:09pm

Welcome. From the sound of your post, you are a bit shocked and wanting answers and solutions right away. It is a very common headspace to be in following the discovery of prolapse. I think if you do a little more reading on here you will see that this site is devoted to avoiding surgery through reorganizing our postures a lot, and our lives a little. So so so many of us here are living fabulous lives with our prolapses unaltered by surgery. You can too. Read more, ask questions. Read old posts here. As a very mild case, take the time to really investigate your options. I love and work in traditional medicine, but there are many areas where it fails. Prolapse seems to be one of them. After two years if doing this whole woman work, I can honestly say, "what prolapse?" of my own condition. Deep breath. You'll find your way.

Diamond

March 11, 2011 - 5:52am

bad_mirror thank you so much for your encouragement; yes I was shocked as I did not suspect anything wrong, it sort of creeps up on you! I will be doing exactly what you said taking time to investigate the options, right now the gyno consultant has started me on hormone replacement cream applied locally in the vagina to strengthen the vagina tissues and wall.. no appointment has come through yet to see the consultant and will probably take another 3 weeks or so. Step at a time especially after the tests and proper diagnosis will make up my mind then. Thank you

Sammy

March 13, 2011 - 4:00pm

surgery IS experimental
2003- prolapes hung like a penis outside my body
2006 - with inflammation gave in to abdominal surgery- top of uterus removed, back of cervix tethered to sacral ligaments with 5 cm piece of mesh. surgeon called it sucessful and after 8 weeks of healing good for TWO years(to 2008)- then a baseball like external protrusion, bleeding, pus and 3 sections of mesh taken out of vagina. 2011 - it took 2.5 years for a specialist who was really annoyed at the first surgeon to try to remove the infected mesh. I am a medical concern now with a bit of mesh still in me, a sore tailbone,and still weeping from the vagina --- I wish they had described this surgery to me as experimental- I felt I was just being difficult when they had a solution... Now they are offering the sacrospinous fixation, which Christine says in her book is not as effective as the colpopexy I was given.... This is just my 2 cents and we all have our own experiences... I will go back to my first impression of this surgical procedure as a foolish one. I had a lesser problem before the surgery - just needed to know I would be Ok .... they appear to have made damn sure I am not.

Christine

March 13, 2011 - 11:30pm

I hope you're feeling better each day now that most of the mesh has been removed. ♥