1983 Surgery Disaster

Submitted by Newborne on November 18, 2017 - 4:34pm
Body: 

My friend pointed me to the Whole Woman website, and I cancelled my appointment with a urologist to see about my cystocele because of what information I have found here.

In 1983, I went in for a routine PAP smear to my gynecologist. I was 33, had 4 children and was not going to have any more. He suggested that I have a bladder repair, a cystocele and a rectocele repair. He also offered to do thigh tucks while I was under anesthesia ( Grrrr)! I stupidly agreed to the pelvic repairs.

Post surgery was a disaster. I was peeing what looked like cranberry juice and was in great pain for 6 weeks. The doctor told me that there were 12 other women who had the same surgery as I did at the same time and that they had the same symptoms. The problem, he explained, was that the cushioning that they had used to keep the sutures from tearing through the flesh were causing an inflammatory reaction.

So, he cut above my pubic bone and removed the sutures that he could reach. The pain and blood in the urine didn't get any better, and I developed a vaginal fistula which was leaking pus into my vagina.

The doctor said I had developed gangrene and that he needed to remove the rest of the suture material and clean the infection out of my pelvis................but not to worry because the resultant scar tissue should hold my bladder in place just fine. He made incisions vaginally and took out all the suture materials. I healed in subsequent weeks. But the cystocele and rectocele are still there.

I am wondering if any of you underwent this type of surgery in the early 80's and had a similar reaction to suture material? It seems very strange to me. I think the doctor said it was wool pads.

I'm glad to have found this site and to have hope of recovering natural function. Thanks!

Forum:

Surviving60

November 19, 2017 - 11:05am

Hi Newborne and welcome to WW. That's a lot of surgery. I don't want to discourage you from pursuing the Whole Woman work, but this isn't a medical site and no one here (except Christine) is really qualified to advise you. That being said, you need to look at your situation realistically, proceed with caution and adjust your expectations. You may think that the 'celes that you experience now, are no different and will act no differently from the ones you had in the 80's.....in other words, that all those surgeries just put you back to where you started. But they did a lot more than that; your pelvic dynamics have been altered in major ways. What exactly does the phrase "recovering natural function" mean for you, right now? Do you still have your uterus and cervix? And you have no sutures, only scar tissue?

Newborne, you haven't asked for any assistance with the WW work, and you don't have to answer anything that I've asked. I'm just trying to figure out where you fit in, and whether or not the posture work would be safe for you. - Surviving

Tangogirl

November 21, 2017 - 2:12pm

Hello: wow! this sure puts me off having the surgery for rectocele/cystocele, but apparently mine is only at Grade 1 level. God help grade 3. I am yet to see a bowel specialist as my current specialist wants another option??? I have found for burning(when I get it) solution of A.Cider Vinegar with honey helps to apply. I reads in this Forum about that. Thanks so much. It helps at least.
I still dance the odd time.
Tangogirl

Newborne

November 21, 2017 - 7:33pm

My uterus and cervix are still there, and one ovary. The other one was removed due to a tubal pregnancy and ovarian cyst. My cystocele is right there at the vaginal opening, but doesn't protrude. I have been working on using the posture. Most of my exercise is gentle walking.
Thanks for your concern.