Discussion Board

I went to the doctor for a prolapsed uterus and found out I had multiple problems including a cystocle and retocele (bowel and bladder prolapse)and was told I needed surgery. I suppose if I had found out about this before it got so bad I could have avoided surgery, but now I have no choice. I will have a team of doctors including a gynocologist and urologist. It's a complicated operation and the doctors are using a robotic machine. The bad thing is the surgery takes 4 hrs. barring any complications. The good thing is because it is laproscopy, I will be out of the hosptial the next day. One thing that makes me nervous is that I am still obese (weigh a little over 200 lbs) and have breathing problems and they practically stand people on their head to do this operation. Has any other woman here had this type of operation? If so, could you share your experience or pm me? Thanks.

I've gotten 3 opinions already. I could get a device that would shove everything back into place. That is what Dr. McDougall suggests for simple uterine prolapse, but I have more than that. I have been getting infections because of this and my pap smears have been abnormal because of the infections. I also have both urinary incontenance, terrible constipation (despite eating lots of fiber) and back pain. No amount of pelvic exercise will work either. I've had 4 babies, am now menopausal and have been very overweight for many years--all which contributed to the pelvic prolapse. So my choices are to live with this and maybe get an operation later or have it down now while I am still pretty healthy. Drs. typically don't like to do it for women over 75. As far as going home the next day, that's to save money for the patient as well. I don't have to have laproscopy. I chose to have have it because the recovery time is quicker and there is less chance of infection.

As far as my sleep apnea, I've already informed my doctors about it. They said to bring the CPAP to be used at night. I am sure the anesthesiologist and nurses will check on me post-surgery. I am not sure if I am having general anesthesia or a spinal. I was without power last week and didn't use my CPAP then and did OK and my husband will be right there with me after the surgery.

I will say that the surgeons are top-notch and I have a great deal of confidence in them. Both the urologist and gynocoloist explained the surgery, drew pictures and gave me literature to read. I've also looked up as much as possible on the Internet as well as websites with videos.

What I am wondering is if anyone else here has had this type of surgery and could share their post-surgery recovery experience.

Thanks.

I was surfing the web and finally found this:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/

http://www.davincistories.com/

I think I can get the answers I need there.

Jackie, I don't have anything useful to offer but I just wanted to say I'm sorry you have to go through this. You will do great, though, because you have done your research and are prepared.

Your posts are an inspiration to me and I'll miss you while you are gone!

Thank you so much. I was hoping to put this off until I was at my goal weight (I still have at least 40-50 lbs. to go), but it's impacting my lifestyle a lot. I feel however that I am in much better shape for the surgery since being on the McDougall Program. So that's a plus.

p.s. I thought I wouldn't have time to get online because I have been going to the doctor a lot and because I thought I would be out of comission with the surgery. However so far that's not been the case and my husband can just put his laptop downstairs so I can get online w/o having to climb the stairs the first week. The only downside I see (barring any complications) is that I won't be able to pick up my little grandbaby for a couple of months, but at least I can hold him if someone puts him in my lap while I am sitting down.

I had surgery for both bowel and bladder prolapse about 2 years ago. I had the mesh sewn in. It is still in place and functioning well.
HOWEVER I have had another part of my bowel start pushing into the vaginal wall. This was directly caused by lifting too much weight. So the bottom line of recovery is to take VERY SERIOUSLY not lifting more than 5 to 10 lbs. Also straining with bowel movements is not good either. Sorry you have to join the club...at least you have quite a lot of company!! (I refer to childbirth as "the gift that keeps on giving... )

Thanks so much for responding Ginger. I am hoping I will not have to have further surgeries, but you never know. I have always been one to move the furniture around, pick up kids (even when they were really too heavy to lift),etc. I also do a lot of yardwork and have lifted quite a few big rocks! So I guess I will have to change all that since that probably exacerbated my problem. On a side note. I think that being a former low carber may have added to my problems as the Atkins diet made me very constipated, to the point that I almost had to go to the emergency room. So that may have caused the retocele.

Hi GJ

I don't have any info to offer I just wanted to say I hope everything goes well with your surgery and I am wishing you a speedy recovery.

Hi Jackie,

I'm sending you a p.m.

Thanks you. I appreciate your kind words.

Thanks. I sent you a reply.

Actually I think I got the name of the procedure wrong. The first gynocologist talked about that (I've been to 3 drs. and had 4 appts. in the last month, and although they thoroughly explained it, I can't remember it all), but the actual surgeon decided to do a total hysterectomy and the urogynocologist will be attaching a mesh sling to my plevic bone to fix the bladder and bowel problems. I am not sure what the whole thing is called in medical terms.