Rectal Vaginal nodule removal- post surgery

[lou840]

Thought Id write a quick update on my post surgery for Stage IV rectal-vaginal endometriosis.

I had a large endometriosis nodule removed from my bowel and vagina in April via a very deep bowel shave and a partial vaginectomy, adhesion were also removed to unstick my bowel from my uterus, I had endo removed from my pelvic walls, my tubes flushed out and my ovaries sewn up out the way, and removal of any other endo found. In total I had 8 procedures done over 4.5 to 5 hours surgery. I needed a catheter post op for the first 24 hours and spent 2 days / 1 night in hospital.

The first couple of weeks were tough, my vagina swelled up ridiculously and actually scared me how much it did ( no one had pre warned me on my discharge) and took a few weeks for the swelling to reduce right down. My bladder has been quite iffy post op and i have been working with a pelvic floor therapist to help with that. I still get constipation but nothing to the extremes or to the pain levels i was getting pre-surgery. I still get constipated, bloated, sensitive to foods, ibs symptons etc and am seeing a nutrionalist. I still have hip pain and am working with a physio on my hip and to get my weak left leg stronger but know this will take time.

I bleed for about 4 weeks post op and have now had two periods since my surgery. Both only lasted 4 days and although were heavy were half the normal number of days they use to last. I didnt get my usual bed ridden migraines or excruitcating bowel and stomach pains but did get some cramping in my stomach and bad hip pains. I have not had any spotting or bleeding in between periods which is the first time in decades! I am not allowed sex yet and am working with the pelvic floor therapist to reach the point I can. I already have hugely reduced pain when she did internal trigger points. And my stomach no longer feels like i have lead ballon in it and no pulling/ tugging feeling.

Surgery has been a slow recovery, the wounds healed nicely and quickly this time round but I still have to take things slow and avoid lifting anything of weight as i immediately feel it in my stomach area. I am still exhausted and fatigued alot but am learning to balance my days better.

I am glad I had found an endo specialist and had excision of the endo as I can notice some differences already but I know some things will take longer to get back to a "normal" and other things may not change but for now I will monitor my symptoms and follow up with the specialist in 6 months time.

[Reggiefelix17]

Thanks for your update I’m due my op for big lesion removal off my bowel next thur so reading your post has helped me , I don’t know if I’ll have a bag yet for a bit

But find that out when I wake up I know recovery is gona take some time sounds like your doing well if it was April

Stay positive and I hope ur recovery is fast x

[lou840 in reply to Reggiefelix17]

Thank you . I was the same as I was marked up for a bag but ended up with a deep bowel shave. I hope your surgery goes well and take it easy post-op. x

[ccsmith]

Congratulations on having a successful surgery and are improving slowly. I’ve finally got my date for very similar beginning of September. I’m starting to try and plan how my 8 year old & hubby are going to manage. I think my hubby thinks I will be ‘normal’ in 2 weeks!! Best wishes for your continued recovery 🥰

[lou840 in reply to ccsmith]

Thank you. Its always a relief when the surgery date finally comes through and thats good you are thinking in advance on a post-op plan! I really wish i had meal prepped beforehand as my boyfriend was the same after 2 weeks he seemed to think i was ok to cook etc and in fact i couldnt even lift a kettle and relied on him more than i wanted to. x

[Charts]

Hi

Hope you don't mind me asking....what were your symptoms of a recto vaginal nodule? They found one 7 yrs ago when I had a laparoscopy but left it. I keep getting pain up the vagina on the right and when it's bad everything down below feels swolen. I just had a MRI but she said it was clear so I'm confused could it disappear on its own as they didn't remove it! Do you know if a doctor would be able to feel if they examined me? It sounds gruelling what you had done! It really shocks you sometimes how long it takes to recover

[lou840 in reply to Charts]

Hi, sorry to hear they didnt remove your nodule back then. I had to change Doctors to find one who would remove mine as my symptoms started to get really bad that I wanted all the endo out asap.

My Doctor was able to feel my nodule and he could see it as a purpley colour on my vagina when doing an vaginal internal examination. The nodule did show up on the mri but when he did the surgery he found it was a lot larger than the mri had shown. I had a endo specialist do my my mri scan and from what i know endo doesnt always show on an mri so I guess it can be a bit hit or miss.

Symptoms included: Chronic constipation ( which got 10x more painful during my period) and diarrhoea, painful sex and internal examinations (had to stop wearing tampons too), hip pains, pains & high sensitivity on my inner thigh, my groin area seemed to be kind of numb and insensitive tho, bad migraines, food sensitivities and intolerances, bloating, night sweats, fatigue, difficulties with sleeping, depression, anxiety.

Really hope you get some answers soon! x

[Charts in reply to lou840]

Thanks for the reply. I think I'll go to the doctor's to see if they can feel it. Hopefully it's gone somehow, I don't want to have to have it removed it's risky. All the best to you!