Vaginal Prolapse

[gracetou]

Hi everyone
I found this site while searching for more information regarding prolapse. I am 54 and have 2 children. I knew something was wrong b/c I was urinating alot and feeling like I could not empty completely, and then one day while cleaning myself after using the bathroom, I felt a bulge. I used a mirror to look at my vagina, and I said to my husband, "OMG, something is falling out of me". I went to the doctors and she said I was a 3.5, but said it was not critical. I feel alot of pressure all the time and intercourse has been difficult. If I go to the mall for 2-3 hours, I have to stop to urinate about 7 times. It is so annoying.
I also have severe hemmoroids and the prolapse is on both sides of my vaginal walls, so my rectum is also falling in. I was advised to find a Uro-gyn, and not to just use my regular gyn or just a urologist I have found a woman doctor who seems very nice and very knowledgeable. She has performed these procedures many times. I will be having the prolapsed fixed (tightening up the vaginal walls), my bladder slung, and my uterus removed. They will be doing this vaginally, and not thru the abdomen. She said I should heal quicker this way. I am a little nervouse about this.
If anyone out there has had a similar surgery, I would love to hear about your results.

[Belliveau]

I am having mostly the same procedure done on March 6. Could you please let me know how it went and how you are doing? Scared to death!

[gracetou]

Hi Belliveau
Well, I am in my 4th week of recovery and am doing OK now. To be honest, the first week is tough and for me the 2nd week was tough b/c I got the flu on top of recovering that 2nd week.
I was only kept overnight in the hospital. B/c I had a bladder suspension, I had a catheter in when I came out of recovery. They removed it the next morning, but by 4PM that night , they had to put in back in b/c I was not "voiding" well enough. They sent me home with this Foley Catheter. It was uncomfortable, but not painful. Surgery was Tues. I went to the Drs. office on Fri. to have it removed. By Saturday night, I knew I wasn't voiding enough again, and had to go to the ER to have a catheter put back in. UGH!! I think I caught the flu at the Er, b/c the next day, Sunday afternoon, I began running a fever and got a horrid cough and sinus stuff. The fever lasted a week and I still have residual coughing over 3 weeks later. Bad virus. I returned to the Drs. on Tues. (1 week from surgery) to have it removed again. I finally was able to void well enough on my own. However, what I am finding now, is that I am having trouble (and it seems worse than before surgery) with incontinence. Before, it was just when I coughed, sneezed or did aerobics. Now, it is dribbling off and on all day, and if I hold it too long, I will leak as I get up to go to the bathroom. I've taken to wearing Poise pads. Not good. The Dr. said she will have to keep an eye on it and see if it is just taking me longer to heal. I am hoping and praying I do not have to undergo another surgery for it. It is major surgery and it does take a while to heal. YOu really begin to feel better during the 3rd week, but you must remember not to go back to normal activity just b/c you feel better. Really listen to the Drs. Do not overdo it. I did a little bit, and perhaps that's why I'm having trouble. I don't know. I'm not lifting anything over 10 lbs, but I was up alot. My husband went back to work after the first week. I home schooled my daughter and so the 2nd week, even with the flu, I tried to be up to make breakfast and lunch, sit with her and stuff, and just that little bit, I would feel pressure down there and know I needed to go lay down. Listen to your body and don't overdo it. What exactly is the procedure that you will be having. I hope my experience helps you and doesn't scare you. It's very uncomfortable. They gave my pain med (Demeral) with a button to push when I felt I need more. It would only disperse every 8 minutes, so I couldn't OD.
I was on a liquid diet at first, and with all the pain med, I became very sick by the next morning.
Vomiting and all. Those pain meds can mess with your stomach. After that happened, I asked to come off the IV and to take pills and something not as strong. That helped alot. I wish you well and will mark it on my calender to pray for you. My sister in law is having a hysterectomy that same day, so I'll be praying for both of you. Write back.
gracetou

[Belliveau]

Thanks so much for posting!

I am having my vaginal vault prolapse corrected. Both anterior & posterior prolapse corrected and a perineal reconstruction.

I had a very hard time with my first delivery that ended in forceps & 3rd degree episiotmy that did not heal well. Then 14 months later I gave birth to a near 10 baby. I wrecked my insides before I was 30!

My perinium is less than 1/2 cm wide and it should be atleast 3 cm. He is afraid that, if left as is, I my rupture into my vaginal cavity. In essensce ( excuse my bluntness here) I would have just one big hole.

I am scared to death to have this surgury done. I have never had a spinal or been put to sleep. So even that is creeping me out. I had both kids with out any drugs or gas.

Did you bleed alot after surgury? Did you have a pain Rx after you went home? What about bathing? Is there a restriction on that?

Best wishes to your sister in law too!

[gracetou]

Hello
Glad I could help. Don't be afraid. I know surgery is scary, especially when you've never had it before, but eveything will be ok. Let the anesthesiologist know that you want something mixed in with the sleep meds that will make sure you don't get sick when you wake up. That is a commom thing that happens after being put to sleep. Very nauseous and sometimes vomiting. You will have internal stitches,so you will have some pain, especially the first few days. I also had a perineal reconstruction. Forgot to post that before. That was not planned. The Dr. said once she began the procedure she noticed that I did not have much skin there and decided to do some reconstruct on it. I also had my children naturally, but 7 years apart. I had to have an episiotomy too. I remember taking those sits baths after childbirth. Well, they will still help you with this. I would place that bowl on the commode and fill it up with very warm water after every single time I went to the bathroom. Even if I could only sit there for 2-5 minutes. It really helped. I was sent home with pain med. That helped alot too. Watch them though. They bind me. Take stool softners as often as the directions tell you. I bled like a normal period for the first and second day, then it began to lessen. I bled for about a week. The first week you can shower. I did bathe during the second week, but make sure the tub is very clean. It sounds like your perineal reconstruct will be pretty intensive. Just keep taking those sits baths. It keeps the stitches soft so that they don't dry and pull (Ouch), and it promotes healing. They are doing your surgery vaginally, right? What kind of Dr. is doing it? You will see alot of staff that will be in the O.R. before they take you in. Nurses putting in IV's, Drs. Assistants, the Anesthesiologist, and your doctor. Have a list of questions to ask, if you forgot any when you went for your consult. It really will be ok. They put these leg squeezers on me afte the surgery. They automatically squeeze the calf area off and on to prevent blood clots. I'm sure everything will be fine. Hopefully, you'll have family and friends who can help you out that first week. You really should not do anything except go to the bathroom and shower once a day, if you feel up to it. You need to get up sometimes and move around, but absolutely no housework. I'm sure your doctor will go over all that. If you have time, answer my questions above. If not, I'll be praying for you on 3/6.
Blessing,
gracetou

[Belliveau]

It is an OB/Gyn that will be preforming my surgury. I went in to see him again on Friday to go over some other question that I had come up with since my consult. He laughed and told me I was very thorough. No kidding? You are going to be slicing into my vaginal area! I want to be sure I know what is going on. Ha Ha

Yeah, I have lined up care for both my children & I for the first couple of weeks. They are only 3 & 4 and demand alot of my time so I knew that I would be enlisting a lot of help over the next little bit. I go to see a pre op clinic on Monday and those who have been say that the nurse in charge of this is very nice and explains away any concerns you may have. I am looking forward to going to see her.

I really do not mean to pry, but I am assuming that you are an American. Here in Canada we do not pay for our health care with the exception of medical Rx and dental care. Is this a costly procedure down there? If you are not comfortable giving this information I absolutly ubderstand. You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat.

That's for your support!

[gracetou]

Hi
How was your nurse visit? Was she able to answer more of your questions and ease your mind a little bit? I'm so glad you have help for you and the children. They are young, and still need so much physical attention, which you will not be able to do for a while. Yes, I'm from Baltimore, MD. - USA.
We pay for our health care and it varies so much depending on the Insurance company. Some employers only offer one or two choices of companies. My husband works for the Federal Gov. and they have about 5 choices. We have been with this one for about 5 years now. They are an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), which means we have to choose our doctors from their list. Which isn't too bad, because they really have alot on their list. Once in a while, you may run across a doctor that someone has recommended who is not on the list, and therefore, if you want to use them, you pay out of pocket. Some people pay the whole premium for their insurance, but mostly, employers pay a portion of the monthly premium. The Gov. pays at least 1/2 of our premium. We pay about $150.00 a month for our insurance (family plan). It includes some coverage of RX and dental and vision, (not 100%, but not bad either). It includes diagnostic testing, Doctors visits, In-Hospital, ER, Out-patient, Surgical, therapies (OT, PT, etc.), and a host of other things, with some alternative things like chiropracty, accupunture etc., but unfortunately, no holistic type services like herbal or natural alternatives. Then we have co-pays. The insurance does not cover 100% of anything. Doctors copays range from $15.00 to $25.00 per visit, In-hospital visits are $150 per night, diagnositc tests are around $20-$40.00. So far, I have received statements showing just the hospital and surgical part of my procedure (not the doctors bill yet), of approx. $12,000.00. We will have to pay about $200.00 of that. My daughter has epilepsy and alot of learning issues, which I have to fight all the time to get different educational testing done. I just found a Doctor who is a Pediatric MD. who specializes in the Holisitic approach. I am hoping some of that will be covered, but I will probably have a fight on my hands. Othewise it will all be out of pocket. Well, your surgery is tomorrow. I hope you pick this up beforehand. I will be praying for you (and my sister- in- law) that all goes well and that your recovery will be swift. Let me know when you can, how everything turned out. Best wishes.
gracetou

[Belliveau]

I survived!!!!

I am still very uncomfortable but am glad to say that I am now on the road to recovery. I had an infection develop and that posed quite a problem and set me back, But all things seem to be going well now.

How did your sister in law do? well, i hope.

I must say though that thie recovery is much more painfull than I thoght.

They did not but me to sleep by the way! My biggest nightmare come true!