Query about prolapse

[Reading68]

Hello all, I’m new here so have read some of the postings. I have small rectocele, cystocele and grade 2 uterus prolapse and small bowel prolapse and intuusception. I have it for about 14 years, and had physiotherapy and pessary fitting etc. The pessary helped a bit but was so sore having it removed, so I got it taken out. It was a gelhorn pessary.I wear support garment called Hideaway which can be ordered from Canada. It is a very supportive garment and helps me a lot to get out and around and holds up my bulge. I have been offered surgery called laprascopic ventral rectopexy for a fix for all these problems and am rather frightened to have it as the gynacologist may also have to do a hysterectomy to sort the womb prolapse which in my opinion is not all that badly prolapsed as I feel most of my discomfort is from a pressure feeling that I haven’t emptied my bowel properly and need to keep trying to empty even though nothing is there and I don’t think that is caused by the bladder or womb. I also have abdominal discomfort which makes it uncomfortable to sit. I would be glad if any ladies on here can let me know if they have that type of pressure feeling from the bladder or womb prolapse, and if any of you have had the laprascopic ventral rectopexy if it was a success. Thank you for any advice. So wish there was something to help us feel better. From Reading 68

[strongmouse]

Hello Reading68, I have had a repair operation for cystocele and rectocoele many years ago and they both reoccurred, but are manageable. Yes I get a lot of discomfort at times.

Is the small bowel intussception likely to get worse?

It can be hard to weigh up the benefits and risks of an operation. I would ask your GP or Consultant to talk it through with you what are the possible benefits of having this operation and what are the possible risks. There are no guarantees the best you can do is to be as informed as possible. What would you like the outcome to be? Is it necessary to fix all three at once?

I have had a hysterectomy done (for a fibroid) and had no problems other then a long recovery period. I have not had the surgery which you mention done. Are they concerned that the prolapse or intussception will get worse and possibly need urgent surgery?

Sorry that I can't be more helpful, but all the best with going forward.

[Reading68 in reply to strongmouse]

Hello strongmouse,

Thank you for your reply to my post. I am sorry that your prolapses have recurred after you going through the surgery to correct them, but yes I did read that one of the complications could be a recurrence of the prolapses as there is no guarantees with the surgery being a total success. Is the discomfort you get now easier to cope with than before you had the operation. Did you have a laprascopic ventral mesh op? They have not told me whether the small bowel prolapse would get worse over time so I’m not sure if it will. It really is a hard decision to make whether to just live with it or have the surgery even though I have been given lots of information booklets to read about it as the laprascopic ventral mesh surgery has a lot of complications too. Yes I think they would fix all three prolapses at once and I would like the outcome to be that I didn’t keep feeling abdominal pressure like I needed to empty my bowel even though it’s already empty. That is so uncomfortable, and my worst symptom. I now try doing Kegel excercise when I get that discomfort and it helps a bit, but it’s like going against the grain when everything feels like it’s being pushed down and I have to pull up instead. What kind of discomfort do you get. I think a hysterectomy is very major surgery and I don’t really have a severe womb prolapse. I am grateful to you for sharing your experience, and will discuss it all some more with my doctor. Take care. Reading 68

[strongmouse in reply to Reading68]

I had a transvaginal mesh and aferwards I have had bilateral groin and hip pain (chronic pelvic pain) which has made standing for any length of time very painful. I would check what material they are inserting. The mesh I had was like an open ended nylon criss-cross which embeds in the tissue. Sorry I can't help with the sort of operation you have had.

[Reading68 in reply to strongmouse]

Sorry strongmouse to hear you have problems with the mesh and I hope you can get some help to cope with your symptoms as it sounds very painful. I was told it was biological mesh or pig skin mesh or something like that they would use for my op, so I think it dissolves into scar tissue. I don’t know if that is the same kind you had or not. It all sounds so scary and so wish there was some alternative to surgery. I hope you feel better soon and thank you for replying to my post. Blessings to you. Reading 68

[strongmouse in reply to Reading68]

Thank you.

No the mesh I had was made of a synthetic polypropolene. I have heard that the sort you mention are much safer.