Rectocele recovery ? (Page 1)

I have had it done, and can tell you it is very painfull for a long time after the surgery. The recovery is 6 weeks, which means you cannot sit properly for the entire period! I was not told that to start with, and subsequently lost my job as could not come back to an office to sit for 8 hours straight.
I had follow up problems, like severe diarhoea and for the first time in my life have developed piles.
This was a preventative surgery, where I went into the hospital healthy, and came out very ill, and 2 weeks later I am still suffering A LOT.
In retrospect, if I new 5% of what I know now, I would NEVER have done it.
I sincerely hope it helps.

I had rectocele and cystocele surgery 3 months ago and still have pressure when lifting and sitting up straight. Are you any better now? My doctors say there is not reason for my pain and think I am overly sensitive.

I'm interested to hear about the difficulty yu had with sitting. I too, had rectocele in Jan. and I still have evenings when there doesn't seem to be a way that I can comfortably sit down. I end up laying around a lot. I also had my bowels start acting up and had to use lots of stool softener and suppositories but still ended up straining too much once or twice which worried me about undoing the good that was done. I find that a day with more activity will leave me aching from the lower back down and I actually feel that my rectum is aching. I think you will see a lot of improvement around the 6 week mark. I know that I wondered how I'd ever go back to work at 6 weeks but the last week brought a lot of change. Hang in there!

Did you ever start feeling better? I had this 4 weeks ago and am amazed at the rectal and vaginal pressure.

I had a rectocele and cystocele repair 6 weeks ago and was worried after reading all the horror stories from others.I am much luckier than most as I had virtualy no pain post-op, no pain killers after 2 days and no real discomfort sitting,not at all what I was expecting.I hope others have my experience.I was quite tired for a couple of weeks but that's normal after an aneasthetic,good luck, wendy.

I had a rectocele on 8th September along with a vaginal hysterectomy. I still have some good days and some not so good. As mentioned by others, sitting can be a bit uncomfortable at times but I am confident that in a couple of weeks things will improve.

I had a rectocele and cystocele repair on 12 October 2009. I have to say that the first time I had a bowel movement after surgery I was in tears because I was so happy. For the first time in six years I was not in pain with going and it was so easy. Now three and a half weeks later I still find it difficult to go from lying to sitting and from sitting to standing or standing to sitting. I feel a tugging sensation in the vagina that I describe as feeling like a tampon that is in crooked or wrong. I do hope that what I am feeling is just a normal part of the recovery and will get better over time.Is this a normal part of the recovery and does it get better with time? Also, after surgery how long is it before sexual intercourse in possible and is it comfortable? My doctor said to wait six weeks so I am hoping all is well by then. I have also had concerns about messing up the good work that has been done with coughing and sneezing and lifting small things or bending. Maybe I am just worrying for nothing.

I am scheduled for rectocele surgery w/graft and bladder "sling" on April 6th. I am currently on darvocette for bad sciatic pain and that just makes the situation worse, since darvocette is constipating! my question is how long before you can drive or walk in a grocery store, etc. Is that 6-8 weeks? Everyone seems to have pressure and aching for so long afterwards......I ALREADY have aching from sciatica and I can't imagine feeling worse than I already do, but I know it's coming. Any suggestions on recovery from others who've had this surgery would be welcome.......I wonder how these other ladies that posted are making out now??

HI all
I am now in week four post op rectocele repair. i had this done because after a bowel motion i would have to go to the toilet and clean myself again a couple of times. i am sorry i had this op done as it repaired the wall of the rectum from falling but it has''nt helped the leak in my rectum. i am in a lot of pain and went back to the hospital 2 days ago as i was in a lot of pain and leaking urine, this had never happenend before, the doc told me that the stitches were still there and have not desolved yet.Can anyone tell me when this will happen as i am so sore. I think if you can cope without having the op done i would carry on as normal as i think i would rather give birth than than go through that pain again. I just pray for the day i wake up and have no pain and feel normal again. this is my 7th op below and i have never had pain like it in my life. only hoping i will get better soon

I had a rectocele 9 weeks ago, and still feel awful. Every few days or so I have a normal bowel movement (which is very positive, as before the op. this was impossible!), but afterwards still feel I need to go. Some days I can't leave the house as I constantly need to go to the loo, but my stools are stuck in the rectum, and come out in little bits. It's very painful still, and sometimes I need to go very urgently, which makes it difficult to do anything. I also have IBS, so I think I'll just have to be patient and things will improve. I think 6-8 weeks is far too short to recover from this op. and 4 months is more realistic. I wish all of you strength and health.

To Anita and all,
I'm 9 weeks out from surgery and although improving each week am quite angry that the surgeon did not inform me that this is a very painful and long recovery. Still unable to sit without donut pillow. More frequent urination, piles. Intercourse abandoned as too painful. If I do too much one day, I pay for it the next two or more laying around with painkillers onboard. I feel depressed that life may not return to normal.
I learnt more re recovery times at my follow-up hospital visit last week. Apparently some deeper sutches will not disolve for between 6 to 12 months. These are what are causing the burning, the discomfort when sitting and slow improvement. There was no mention of those time frames before surgery or whilst in hospital. On closer, painful inspection I felt a stitch on the floor of my vagina quite high up which still hasn't disolved. Has medicine become a production line for doctors, surgeons and hospitals to recoup money from the Federal Government (in Australia)and unwitting patients not fully informed of the seriousness of the operations on offer ?
I am 59 years old so don't have a young family to attend to but I don't know how a busy mum could possible cope after this surgery, lifting and staying on her feet all day.
Hopefully a year from now I will have a cheerier outlook.
Elder

Hi, I'm in week four after my rectocele repair and anal skin tag cauterization...and I am a single mum with an 8yo boy. Initially, the skin tag removal was extremely painful, and I felt like I was giving birth from my anus..lol. It still hurts alot at the moment, and most of the time, I try and take it easy, but find it very difficult with a young one. I have been naughty and lifted something heavier than 5kgs, and I tell you, I am paying for it. Today, I got my period again, and I am in severe pain...never had painful periods before. I came home from hospital, only to be rushed to a medical clinic the next day...I developed two different infections, and have been on antibiotics twice...I seem to urinate more frequently now...the pain I feel is like period pain most of the time......Its been hard remembering my limitations.....I don't lie down for a hour a day like I've been told, so come about 6pm, I fell alot more pain......Would I suggest having it done????? Hmmmmmmmm let me get back to you on week six

I'm so sorry to hear of all your pain post surgery. I have a cystecele but it it symptom free and pain free. I'm also an acupuncturist and know that acupuncture really helps wit post op pain.

I don't think acupuncture alone can reverse prolapse but I'm looking into other tcm techniques that might and my plan is to test them and then let formums like this know or if I need to use a comlicated mix of a few techniques make up an e-book or webiste or something..

It's a little hard to motivate myself though being without symptoms or pain. But I'll try and do it for preventative measures and to help other women in worse situations than me.

Dear Mumto3, zeljkodam, patsycline, bluebell1999, domi, snowfox, mommom23, mallard, annob1 and anita 56 and Elder,

Will you please update us regarding your conditions now? Old information has limited value. Thanks.

I had the Rectocele surgery three years ago ..and to be honest I found after about 10 days I began to inprove. I took medication very day to help me go to the toilet ..This was a blessing. The internal stitches healed over the following weeks ...and dropped out !!!You need to rest and put your feet up. I found within a week of the surgery I did not need any painkillers at all...I was 55 years old when I had the surgery ...and was in hospital for 4 days...
Everyone heals at different rates ..but you must be wise ...

I just had it done February 2. It is somewhat sore for a few days, but medication helped. I now notice if I overdo it, I ache for hours. But if I take it easy I am okay. I beleive its helped my bowel movements and hope it will improve my sex life which felt too loose and sloppy for me. I remain optimistic, so what if it takes longer, its better than it was.

I had rectocele surgery January 6 and I had no problems whatsoever. I went home the same day, was sore but only took ibuprofen for pain. I felt completely normal after 10 days and went back to work in 3 weeks. I go in for my 6 week check this Friday and hope the stitches are all dissolved. I also had a bladder sling but am still slightly leaking. So I suppose I will have to have that done again. My doctor did the least invasive surgery for that but I think I may need the one he showed me but didn't do. Time will tell but I would not hesitate to have this surgery again.

I had rectocele surgery January 6 and I had no problems whatsoever. I went home the same day, was sore but only took ibuprofen for pain. I felt completely normal after 10 days and went back to work in 3 weeks. I go in for my 6 week check this Friday and hope the stitches are all dissolved. I also had a bladder sling but am still slightly leaking. So I suppose I will have to have that done again. My doctor did the least invasive surgery for that but I think I may need the one he showed me but didn't do. Time will tell but I would not hesitate to have this surgery again.

i had posterior vaginal repair with labia reduction,two weeks ago i woke up from the sugery slightly uncomfortable and pretty much pain free the doctor told me to expect pain but it never came I returned to normal activities and probably overdo it but i feel great only sometimes there is a bit of discomfort when sittng for long periods and with the stiches disolving and the swelling goes down more every day. I avoid underwear at the moment and wear loose skirts or shorts. i am wondering if anal intercourse will do any damage as i dont think i could possibly wait the full six weeks any ideas or comments in this regard would be helpful

I had a rectocele repair On April 6, 2011. Had to remain in the hospital overnight due to was unable to urinate, my doctor stated not to worry that it was very common with the rectocele surgery. Had to only use pain pills tylenol 3 for only a couple days after surgery for pain. 3 weeks out still a little vaginal irritation from the stitches. Hope that it gets better soon and wearing jeans makes it seem worst.

Rectocele Repair

Reporting back after 7 months out from surgery !! Finally out of pain and feeling marvelous. Only one doctor in a string of many repeated visits because of ongoing pain told me that it could take up to 6 months before deep sutches dissovled, and he was right. I am now singing the praises of my surgery. It has been a long healing period but I am 60yrs and I don't think us oldies have as good recouperative powers as the younger women. I did have a vaginal "facelift" too so it was probably fairly extensive surgery. Bowel great, bladder great and sex is better than ever. Feel like a young women again. There have been some dark days but it was worth having the surgery.

This was so encouraging to hear. I am 60, 3 months post op with pain and pressure with lifting and exercise and sitting. My doctor says there is not reason for my pain. I am not sure I have any sutures that will still dissolve as the surgeon said I had some that would dissolve and some that would stay.
Did you have to do anything to get better or was it just time?

Hi, Elder. Loved seeing what you wrote because I could so relate! It's been 9 weeks since my hysto/rectocele repair and I, like you at that stage, am still having pain, burning in the perineal area, and a lot of trouble sitting. What a nice thing to hear that 7 months later you're doing so well.