Prolapse repair rectocele

[christie63]

Has anyone had surgery for a rectocele prolapse and how did it go where you offered surgery first or did they try and fob you off because i feel like i am being fobbed off from the surgery and wonder what i can do about it

[electricjaws]

If you decide to have a prolapse surgery , there is a procedure called the STARR procedure that they can do through the bowel, there aren't lots of surgeons that do it in the U.K , but if you google S.T.A.R.R procedure you should find one, I have had it done but the surgeon who did mine wasn't very nice , pompous and when I was in hospital and he came to my bedside he wouldn't answer any questions I asked as I wanted some reassurance so I would definitely NOT recommend him, but there are others out there that do it

That way you won't have to give you mesh

They take a piece of bowel away then tuck up the prolapse and staple ( the staples dissolve so don't worry you don't have to go back and have them out!!), the thing is for a couple of months your bowels make take a bit of settling down, because they remove the part of your bowel ( I call it the holding tank !) as you will no longer have that bit you will have to go to the loo as soon as you get the urge to do a number 2 as you can't think oh I will wait another 5-10 mins ( no , !!!)

I was only in hospital for 3 days ( it was a awful hospital so I was glad to go home and suffer in my own bed!!!( trouble with me is I have so many probs not be able to take so many meds but if you are good with pain meds you are better off!! And lucky!)

So there is another option other then mesh

What area are you in , in the u.k?

[Beezwax in reply to electricjaws]

Can you say which surgeon/ hospital you used? I am researching where to have a procedure done - both for intersussepcion and rectocele so it will probably have to involve mesh. The consultant I have seen for the last few years says it's time to consider surgery. She mentioned just doing the rectocele but a gynae surgeon who gave a 2nd opinion did not think it was a good idea just to do the rectocele. The hospital I go to don't do any surgery for intersussepcion but my consultant says she is willing to refer me to wherever I want to go. She mentioned Oxford or Chelmsford, which I would consider but I would quite like to stay in London. However I would be keen to avoid the surgeon you had as he sounds awful.

[electricjaws in reply to Beezwax]

The surgeon I had was the only one at the hospital that does th STARR procedure No mesh is used in this procedure and he is up north in Leeds certainly would not recommend him!

However I have looked around the Internet for you And if you type in

Mr Andrew Clarke, Poole hospital and read his profile , I clicked on the second one down, he does the STARR procedure he is nhs and also private in Poole, there are not a lot of surgeons that do this procedure

Good luck,!

[Traceylizzy in reply to electricjaws]

Hi just seen your post from a couple of years ago and I’m under a surgeon in the Leeds area who wasn’t very helpful can I just ask what the surgeons name was who delt with your op as I’m not sure if I want this guy to operate on me?

[Chica1943 in reply to Beezwax]

Beeswax.... PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE do not ever let any doc use mesh in your body to repair anything. My life has been ruined because of it. Just go to facebook and there are a few groups related to mesh. Thousands of women have been permanently injured. Even men when it's used to repair hernias.

[loadsofissues in reply to electricjaws]

I find most of the surgons and Drs (gps) specilists to me pompus rude and short tempered -not sure if its the stress they are under!

[christie63 in reply to loadsofissues]

I tend to agree with you that most of them are like that with little patient care

[loadsofissues in reply to christie63]

i'm still waiting for a letter from functional surgeon foran appointment - rectocele found early March and its now May - not holding up much hope as it sounds like a operation if offered can make it worse and pelvic hip exercise looks like order of the day - I've been doing them but it's not helping.

[Hidden in reply to loadsofissues]

Unfortunately there is no 'quick fix' for this. Surgery is sometimes an answer and often successful, but not always. Even after surgery you need to look after yourself by not getting constipated/straining etc. Pelvic floor physio therapy can help assess your condition and can work on helping you manage and improve your condition before and after surgery, or instead of surgery. It's the best place to start.

[loadsofissues in reply to Hidden]

I hope I can cope and I don't get worse - had a tad constipation this eve. I'm trying to only go when it feels ready to burst but it was painful sitting so I had to strain - regretting it now as my back and leg muscles feel torn more. I felt real ill this afternoon it must have been the constipation brewing. I dare not take laxatives as I have lost so much weight and my body is not absorbing nutrients as it is - I do eat healthy. Would you know if that fybogel deprives nutrients

[christie63 in reply to loadsofissues]

I have to take laxatives every day and will have to for the rest of my life I was told by the consultant or it is a stoma bag he said

[Hidden in reply to christie63]

That is terrible that he would eventually offer you a stoma but not a prolapse repair! You really should try to get a second opinion.

[christie63 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Suebooo yes I am terrified of having a stoma bag and he said I should try biofeedback first but still if biofeedback doesn't work looks like I will have to have a stoma I am very frightened of it all

[Hidden in reply to christie63]

Is it a colorectal surgeon you are seeing? Maybe ask to see a urogynaecologist as they specialise in pelvic floor problems/prolapses. Stoma is not your only option.

[christie63 in reply to Hidden]

Hello suebo is it worth me writing a letter to the consultant about the stoma bag as I am frightened ask him to consider surgery for the prolapse first before the stoma bag

[Hidden in reply to christie63]

You could do that to try and get him to explain. But go back to your gp and ask to see someone different for another opinion.

[christie63 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sueboo I am on my second opinion and the consultant says a stoma bag is all that he can offer me so I am very worried about it all, he has not given me any details of the operation so I am in the dark about everything. I have written a letter to him to ask him to explain so don't know what to do.

[Hidden in reply to christie63]

What type of consultants have you seen?

[christie63 in reply to Hidden]

I saw the colorectal department

[Hidden in reply to christie63]

You need to ask to see a urogynaecologis that specialises in pelvic floor issues. They may have a completely different opinion. Worth a try before accepting life changing surgery.

[Beezwax]

Thanks. I will have a look.

[Kirstyhorse in reply to Beezwax]

See my post below Me Clarke is great so is Micheal Lamparelli they both work in Dorset

[Beezwax in reply to Kirstyhorse]

Thanks.

[Kirstyhorse]

Hi I have just had ventral mesh sacrosanct-colpo-rectoplexy done by I Micheal Lamparelli in Dorset. Too early to say if it worked yet but he is a great surgeon been under him for year. Mine isn't you're usual case as was caused by damage done years ago by another surgeon. He works in conjunction with Andrew Clarke a lot who also helped him do my very complicated overlapping Sphincter repair.Both are great surgeons

Kirsty

[Hidden]

try colon irrigations, there are kits that you can use to instill water and wash away the recum content ; you can try to support the rectum with your fingers during going to the loo so it empties better; rectocele forms after perineal body gets destroyed by childbirth and episiotomy; repairing the perineal body makes more sense, gynecologists do it, very painful and may not hold; I had a few of these repairs, they all fall apart after the stitches dissolve; had mesh rectopexy - horrendous consequences, had several surgeries to reverse the damage; and STARR causes fecal incontinence as mentioned above, you may not be able to leave the house, this is forever as part of your rectum is removed

[electricjaws]

I had STARR procedure for my intersusseption prolapse a year ago and a removal of a small rectocele, everything settled down within a few months, after those few months ( about 2.5 -3 months) I went back to having one bowel movement a day , occasionally two but certainly not housebound with incontinence forever!!

I was told if I left it , the problem would end up worse in the long run and so I went for it

I don't regret having it done!

[GracieJ in reply to electricjaws]

Could you tell me where you had your surgery done, thanks?

[Hidden in reply to electricjaws]

How is holding gas for you? I could be sitting drinking tea with somebody and all of a sudden start farting without control. Can not eat anything for breakfast or lunch otherwise will be in big trouble by the evening. The rectum feels like a tiny straw that can not hold anything. It is crooked since one side was excised more then the other. You should see the faces of the surgeons that examine me - they are saying there is a tight ridge in the rectum where the cutting was done and how are they suppose to help me if I let somebody excise my rectum and throw it in the garbage?

[electricjaws in reply to Hidden]

I can't control gas since op , I'm afraid it is " wherever you may be, let the wind fly free"!!!

[Hidden in reply to electricjaws]

You are not angry?

[electricjaws in reply to Hidden]

No point to be angry about it as I was warned about all of the after problems that may arise from this type of surgery and at the end of the day I went into it with my eyes wide open and I read through thoroughly the consent form before signing

[Hidden in reply to electricjaws]

The guy who butchered me said that in his hands STARR never causes incontinence, it was the wrong people doing STARR that caused incontinence but never him. He destroyed my life.

[York65 in reply to electricjaws]

Good to know it CAN work !!

[electricjaws]

Beeswax , I have sent you a private message!

[christie63 in reply to electricjaws]

I have not had surgery the consultant would not let me have surgery but gave no explanation as to why not I am very distressed as having to put up with the prolapse and its causing problems cant go to the toilet

[electricjaws]

Did the surgeon say why?? Ask your g.p if you could have a copy of the letter the consultant sent to him ( the g.p)

Or you can phone the surgeons secretary and request a copy of the letter for your own records

If you are unhappy with what the letter says you are entitled to get a second opinion on the matter

Sometimes the surgeons won't operate for a number of reasons, if you have had surgery in the area before, if you are obese , or a heavy smoker etc... you need the letter that that particular surgeon has written to your g.p to see what reason (s) he gives for not doing surgery, if it is something flimsy , you can then ask your g.p to send you to see someone else, the NHS is in such a mess they are cancelling a lot of operations, so as awful as it sounds it could be down to cost , but get the surgeons letter and go from there

[christie63]

Thanks for that I am making a complaint about the surgeon but probably get nowhere with it

[loadsofissues in reply to christie63]

lets know how you get on with complaint - i think the drs all stick together and come up with reasons that prove you wrong and you might not get any more help - I want to complain about some of my gps who say my issues are in my head and chase me out of their room - even though I have raised white blood cells and a definate dignoses of a rectocele seen on proctograme. Once you get a 'mad' put on your record you've had it and each dr see's it and you are judge - I think it would be the same if you complain - all drs wouldsee you as a complainer and refuse to treat you - take care x

[rainbowqueen18 in reply to loadsofissues]

So true..my gp insists on ibs treatment and ignores me when I talk prolapse bowel..she's asked for pooping diary n diet diary.she's getting neither..I'm at the point of I'm in control of me not some up your own arse too busy saving money gp.when I've had appmts..its always hurry up I'm running late or try this try that..I've had one appmt with bowel doc at hospital she says stop taking painkillers for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis ...I'm already on low doses anyway..it's a case of how far do I want to go with this game they're all playing before I blow my top n then get labelled unstable throughout the whole medical world..it's not easy to get control of your own body n life in this world of prolapse..it's taboo to whoever you talk to..this prolapse thing has risen from the ashes in the last few years and I know there's some sort of cover up in the world of medicine...it's said you cannot die from this but I don't believe that..your life is over when prolapse arrives if no one listens..support is so lacking ..living means more than a heart beat or a breath ..dying can happen to people with prolapse ..dying inside isn't seen but is just as final..and is harder when there's no support from family or loved ones..they don't see the death that's occurring inside you..that smile is still there..they say multiple sclerosis is invisible illness well so is prolapse I believe more embarrassing ....this world is hateful and more cruel than I ever imagined it could be...bless you all 😕😧

[christie63]

I am waiting for an appointment, does anyone know what biofeedback is and what is it

[loadsofissues in reply to christie63]

I think it is where you are linked to a computer and it it is to show you how to engage the correct muscles and signals for exit but not 100 % sure

[christie63]

No you wont get anywhere with complaints I have tried it myself I have a rectocele prolapse and intussception which no one wants to help with me even got a second opinion which proved useless so got nowhere just told you have to live with it there is no help from gps or hospital I am very disappointed and have nightmares every night about it all.