Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ju Ju on April 29, 2015, 06:34:02 PM
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I saw the gynaecologist today, who along with adjusting the HRT prescription, examined me after I mentioned the mild discomfort, particularly when opening my bowels. She told told me it's a repair job. She's writing to my GP, so that I can be referred. I know several of you ladies have had a prolapse and would be interested to hear what I should expect. Thanks.
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It's 1 thing after another ::) ……… :tulips:
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Thank you CLKD! It's actually a relief to know that it's not yet more IBS problems, if that makes sense. Not that I want an op.
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I had total prolapse at 23, following a birth mid pregnancy, back then I was told the best solution would be hysterectomy once I'd reached a satisfactory age. I tried the ring but it used to pop out when I crouched etc. I was also told that there was only one chance at repair, as any more after that are less successful, but maybe things have changed now. Plus, the surgeon I had , although head of gynae, has had bad reviews locally and I wasn't impressed with some things he'd done to me during pregnancy
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Ju Ju, I would also be interested to hear about other experiences. I have a rectocele and it is beginning to frighten me and disgust me in equal measure :'(. I don't really know what to do next.
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Cant help personally but my friend has just been told the same,she's been told it's just day surgery and that they can tape it back in position with mesh ! But not sure how this works ! However I think it's only minor surgery required . Hope it all goes well.
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The mesh has had some really bad results. There are dozens of women in Scotland who are persuing compensation for mesh repairs that have gone very very wrong.
In saying that my mother had one of the first mesh repairs and it's been fine.
I would do my research and ask a lot of questions.
Pretty sure I have something going on that's not right but both the nurse and GP have said things look ok. Feels very different though.
Honeybun
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Been talking to a friend who is on the medical staff at the local hospital, who has given me the name of a surgeon there who I should insist on seeing. I'll have to wait and see what happens. I have to wait to get a copy of the letter going to my GP, before making an appointment to see her and get the ball rolling. Part of my research is asking you lovely ladies!
Judith, how did you find out that you had a rectocele? If it is worrying you, have you seen your GP? Reading up on my symptoms, I suspect that's what I have got.
Annie, will you go back to have further treatment? You were very young to have this problem. I'm 61 and had 2 large babies close together, in my late 20s, plus I have struggled with IBS from a young age. I was examined a year ago, but no problem was noted then, but my current bowel problems started over 2 years ago. I had an endoscopy because it was a change in bowel habit and my age. All was fine, but I was in great discomfort during the procedure. I suspect this is why.
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I will only go back if I got desperate. I'm a reasonable small frame , size 8 (went up to size 12 when stopped smoking, dieted to size 10, then this meno took grip and without trying have gone back to an 8) my first baby was 8llb 2oz and they were surprised because my bump wasn't that big, but I had a retroverted uterus so maybe that's why.
Anyway, prolapse occurred to my next birth, my baby girl had anencephaly and spins bifida, congenital heart defects and Turners Syndrome(poor mite didn't have a chance) so they strongly urged me to terminate at 19 weeks and not allow the pregnancy to go full term, so they induced me, birth was straight forward but delivering the placenta was a nightmare, it wouldn't come away and no word of a lie they were pulling, tugging, squeezing my stomach and in the end it broke, and I haemorrhaged. I was never the same again. I had a heavy dragging feeling and my heavy periods made it feel even lower. Sex was uncomfortable because it all felt like it was there at the vaginal opening. I carried 2 more pregnancies but on the last one during labour my ex husband said he thought the head was coming(I was still at home) so went to hospital and they said the cervix is right there not the head, after the birth they had to push the cervix back up but said I had to seriously consider my options as it was worsening
I waited til my youngest was 4 then decided with my pregnancy history and discomfort the time has come to go for it, and they said losing the womb could help with the bowel and bladder, which it did. It's only recently since having VA that I'm feeling something isn't right in there but I haven't been examined
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Do not have mesh.......really resaerch what they will do.
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Oh Annie, you have had an awful time and I'm so sorry about your second baby and the consequences of her termination, both physically and emotionally. Do go and get yourself examined, as you know not all is as it should be. I didn't as I have been assuming it was just another IBS problem and had been reassured after an endoscope. The trouble with specialists is that often they don't look beyond their specialism and once they can't find anything wrong, they send you on your way. Or maybe I wasn't graphic enough about what was happening. Too embarrassed and all rather vague then. Having read up on symptoms, I found a description of what I am experiencing. I wish I had gone back to my GP sooner, but I was examined a year ago by the gynaecologist, so I doubt it was so obvious then. All a bit of a shock. My first baby was 81/2 lbs and the second 10lbs. I have very narrow hips, definitely not ideal for carrying large babies!
What is the mesh repair and why has it been such a problem?
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The mesh is put in to hold every thing in place. My understanding from the court cases in Scotland is that the mesh can erode the vaginal wall and cannot successfully be removed if this happens. In some of the extreme cases women have been left in constant pain and some unable to walk.
I don't think it would be something I would want to chance but everyone is very different.
I'm sure your consultant will be able to give you all the details you need to choose what's right for you.
Honeyb
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Thanks HB. I suspect it will take a while before I get to see anyone. I wish I could afford to go privately with my lovely gynaecologist. I trust her.
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Thank you Ju Ju, it was hard at the time and still does bring a tear or two
I was young having my children and very maternal and my friends were just shelling them out like peas, which made it harder for me to understand, plus they weren't that maternal
I've lost faith over the years with the medical profession, I almost lost my last baby during the amnio (had already miscarried his twin very early on) doc put syringe in after turning scan off and drew blood from the placenta, quickly withdrew and started again, resulting in cramps from 16 weeks, my gp said I must rest to let it knit together , gynae said carry on as normal, gp said I very nearly became the 1 in 200 that miscarries
A year after my hysterectomy I was still having problems, so went in for laporoscopy , same gynae did it, 2 weeks later I was gouging downhill, flu sympyoms and very smelly down there, went to loo one night and as I was wiping felt something rock hard, phoned the ward who told me to go straight in, I had to have a swab manually removed (obviously didn't do a swab count during op) doc who removed was disgusted , they had to open windows, the stench was disgusting.
I kicked up a fuss once I was feeling better and the Nhs tried all sorts to get out of it, wanted every STD disease tested for, arranged for my mental health to be checked, I came though all with flying colours , that same gynae worked privately too and did hysterectomy on my friend saying she had uterine cancer, he didn't sew her up properly and when she started proceedings her results were she never had cancer, she was 28 years old
Sorry, this is off topic, but between hospitals and gps my positive experiences are far outweighed by negatives
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Don't worry about being off topic. Have you sort out counselling with someone you feel comfortable talking to. I suspect you need to talk and talk this through with someone not emotionally involved. It's amazing how much this can help. And yes I feel cynical about some of the medical profession I have been to see. However, I have also had help from some wonderful medics too. It does seem you have to be assertive to get what you want.
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No never had counselling for my baby, although I had a lovely gp and although I'm not religious the hospital chaplain came to see me the day after the birth and told be about SANDS, my baby's name was put in their book of remembrance and each Christmas SANDS would meet at the hospital chapel to light candles for our babies, it gave a lot of comfort to my mum who suffered because of it and seeing me go through it, plus t helped my toddler at the time understand she had a sister, I had her ashes put with my nans and bought a marble plaque for the cemetery all arranged by a Funeral Director, she would be 25 now
Re the swab, a locum gp saw me shortly after and booked long appts for me over about 6 weeks so I guess it was counselling, I recovered physically and emotionally but will never forget it but I never dwell on it
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As with all bereavements, you don't forget, but hopefully build your life around it. Sometimes the grief comes to the forefront with new bereavements. It's never too late to go and see someone, if you feel the need to. It's not being weak.
I'm very grateful for the GP I now see. She has been persistent to help me through all my health issues. Thanks to her recommendation, I went to see my private gynaecologist. She follows through all the gynaecologist's recommendations, without challenging my taking HRT when I'm over 60.
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That's good you have good professionals around you helping
No I'm ok , don't feel I need counselling or anything, I had a very good neighbour who was a nurse who talked me through everything my baby had, so I understood and found it amazing how babies are born so healthy, considering all the things that can go wrong
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I lost a little girl at 5 days old. I really do understand what you went through and how terribly hard it is.
You never forget but you do heal and move on through life.
It's something no parent should have to go through.
:hug:
Honeyb
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Aw bless you Honeyb
You see, I think yours is much worse, I was very poorly during that particular pregnancy and had a gut feeling all was not well, when they found the ptoblems I wanted to carry on and see what happens, but they kind of bullied me to end it, it's unnatural
But I think the worst is going through the birth and having nothing at the end of it when your body then changes in preparation to nurse that baby
Hugs to you x
Annie
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Hi Ju Ju, to answer your question, things started to go really wrong with my lady bits last year after I had sex with my partner and developed a UTI, two ladies on here Maryjane and Hattie know all about it and have been very supportive :'(. Anyway I had two cystoscopy's last year, the first urologist said my bladder was fine and there was no prolapse, the second one diagnosed interstitial cystitis and put me on long term anti-biotics but they were making me feel ill so I stopped them. The gynaecologist I saw said I had VA and would be fine after Vagifem and HRT (I wasn't). I saw another sexual health specialist who said I had no sign of VA at all. The pain specialist I saw who gave me three nerve blocks said, quite dismissively, that I had a rectocele but I didn't really think much about it. A lot of the time I was also feeling as if I had a tampon stuck inside at the wrong angle.
Anyway, fast forward a few months and the rectocele is now starting to make it's presence felt - emptying my bowels is a problem as the contents of my rectum get stuck and my rectum never feels empty - I feel horrible typing this :'(, Also, if I strain to empty my bowels I get a lump in my vagina that I have to push back in. I know I should go and see somebody about this but last year I think I was examined internally by about 15 different people and now I can't bear the thought of anyone else looking at me :'( I am also getting really bad pain in my rectum.
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Annie and HB, a big hug to you both. A girl at work had a stillborn baby a couple of years ago and SANDS were amazing. The Company that I work for invites the staff to choose a charity for them to support for a five year period and at the moment it is SANDS.
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Hi Judith - although I understand your reluctance to be poked and prodded yet again you do need some specialist advice as this wont get better. Have you been referred to a pelvic floor specialist? A proper programme of pelvic floor exercises at this stage, although it wont cure the rectocele, could strengthen your tissues to prevent any further slippage and also the descent of anything else! I have had a hyster for a uterine prolapse and a cystocele (anterior repair) the repair is beginning to fail after only eight months. I left it too long really - put it off for three years - and my tissues were considerably weakened. I would think you should be advised on the possibility of a posterior repair especially if you are having to digitise to get an effective bowel movement.
Taz x
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I know I should Taz but one reads such horrible stories about things going wrong and I also have a problem with my pudendal nerve. Also, I don't really know where to start - I don't like my GP so would happily go privately, is it a gynaecologist for a posterior repair?
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Thank you Judith
SANDS are a wonderfully supportive organisation and they too have suffered so it's nice to hear they receive help
I would really urge you to see a specialist, it's not right that you are suffering like that, if my problems became very bad, I would ask for a referral straight away
Annie
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I know I need to get back on the medical merry go round Annie but I lost so much faith in the medical profession last year that I really can't face it. I know there is a lady on the forum who had a rectocele repair so perhaps she will be along with some advice.
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I went in for repair 10 years ago and woke up to find my uterus had been removed along with quite a bit of bowel which they said had stuck together,suspect if they had looked at bowel first they would not have given hyster. However I still have some prolapse but find its worse when under stress - does anyone else get that? Also know a lady who had mesh repairs and now incontinent. Has anyone tried any of the tens machines for strengthening the pelvic floor?
Inititally i was horrified by it all but now accept it , would any of our American friends have news of better treatments?
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Judith - could you send an e-mail to your Surgery for advice? and ask which Speciality would be best for examination? Any extra pressure down there may well aggravate your other problems :big hug:
I often wonder how any baby reaches Term without problems …….. when I saw lots of sadness when working as a Medical Secretary, some babies went home, others were nursed until the end ……. there are so many medical problems and 'in the Wild', the baby wouldn't survive. I was one of those babies but was popped into an incubator in a cupboard ::) (long story short) as I wasn't expected to live.
I hope that who ever 'gets in' ext week turns their attention to making the NHS a cross-Party issue ! and I wish that Surgeries would have question and answer evenings for people wanting to help improve services. It's enough that a person is ill or worried without having to run the Gaunlet of trying to get an appt., then being made to feel we are wasting time or not getting the treatment we should have. Someone said above that Doctors look at their particular 'speciality' but don't seem to join up the dots any more …….
(same with teachers >:( don't get me started :bang: )
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Hi Winterose, that is one of the things that worries me about surgery, becoming incontinent afterwards :-[
CLKD, I have had a letter from my surgery inviting me for a smear so perhaps I will go to that and ask the nurse what to do....that's assuming they can do a smear of course :-[
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Judith - Perhaps the nurse may be able to give helpful advice..... :hug:
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I went in for repair 10 years ago and woke up to find my uterus had been removed along with quite a bit of bowel which they said had stuck together,suspect if they had looked at bowel first they would not have given hyster. However I still have some prolapse but find its worse when under stress - does anyone else get that? Also know a lady who had mesh repairs and now incontinent. Has anyone tried any of the tens machines for strengthening the pelvic floor?
Inititally i was horrified by it all but now accept it , would any of our American friends have news of better treatments?
I'm really not sure what I had as it's years ago but is similar to tens I guess.I used to have to go to physio dept and be attached to a machine via wires and have little shocks, as I'm describing it I think it was probably tens, I didn't personally see any improvement
But that's not to say it wouldn't benefit another woman
Annie
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Oh boy, now I'm getting worried! :-\
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For every less than positive experience there will be tens of thousands of procedures that have been perfectly fine.
My mum had a ring in for years before her repair. She had the repair done in her 80s, was in for four days and has been fine ever since.
Speak to your consultant and work out a plan that is correct for you.
:hug:
Honeybun
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I agree with Honeybun :-)
Annie
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The important thing is to weigh up how much it impacts on your life Ju Ju. I put my repair off for three years because I knew that although it would cure one problem it might set up problems elsewhere. I had to have a hyster too though. The repair has begun to fail but, and this is important, 60% don't fail. I am unlucky to be in the 40% that fail within two years.
The important thing is to take control of your own body now. You can do loads to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to stop further things prolapsing. You need to be referred to a pelvic floor specialist so that you can do the right exercises to get the muscles stronger. My gynae disputed this after my op and it took quite a lot of persuading for him to give me "one appointment" with the pelvic floor nurse. She has now put me on a programme to see her once a month. She has also requested my doctor to increase my HRT back to full strength (Yay!) as my tissues are very weak.
Ask questions. Research lots yourself too. Is it a posterior or anterior repair? I would assume posterior as you mention bowel movements but, then again, my uterine prolapse made evacuation (lovely word!) difficult. http://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/prolapse/. Please pm me if you want to chat further.
Taz x :hug:
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Thanks Taz. I don't have much information yet. The gynaecologist examined me and is writing to my GP, so she can get the ball rolling. I shall do my pelvic floor exercises. Looking back I have had problems for a while, confused sensations, when opening my bowels and yes difficult evacuation (!)Uncomfortable , feeling of pressure, though not painful. I initially blamed IBS, which is probably a major contribution. I don't have any major bladder incontinence, thank goodness. I would love to have the gynaecologist to do the repair job, but that would cost thousands. My friend, who works for the NHS locally has recommended a surgeon, who she said was excellent. She said I should insist and not be bullied. You are right. Knowledge is power and I suspect things won't happen quickly. My GP is great, which is good. I have had my oestrogen prescription doubled, as she says from my other symptoms show I am not absorbing enough due to IBS. I also need it to help with healing. Damn I've had my fill of hospitals over the last year and with my mum being ill. At least with this I don't feel ill, just uncomfortable. I'll look at the link. Thanks again Taz. I may need to pm you further along the line.
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Yes do lots of research , dont blindly think that they know best - like I did - and remember the positive experiences are unlikely to be on here. I think it just needs a surgeon who specialises in this and perhaps you could speak to some of his previous patients.