Let me preface this by saying it MIGHT be TMI for some of you. I'm trying to help a friend, so please bear with me.
I have a girlfriend who is in pain sometimes after she goes to the bathroom. When I went over to her house yesterday, she came out of the bathroom in obvious pain. I asked her what was wrong. She said - it's really too embarrassing. I said - try me.
She has a condition called Rectocele - it's where the vaginal wall basically breaks down and allows the front of the rectum to enter the vaginal area...she has talked to her OB/GYN about it. They can do surgery to repair it but she is afraid of having the surgery done.
What causes the pain is sometimes the rectum pushes through her vaginal opening so when she has a bowel movement, she literally has to put her fingers into her vagina and push it back to allow her to complete her bowel movement.
So my question - do you have Rectocele and have you had it repaired by a doctor - what was the change? what did they do?
Thanks!! I'm going to print out the answers and give them to my girlfriend.
She is afraid of the surgery...from what I understand, they will have to do some skin grafting or muscle tacking...from what I understand - I do not know. I don't have it, she spoke to her OB and said that the surgery is possible and recovery could be 6 to 8 weeks..
That is why I'm asking you mamas!! I could've sworn I saw a post about this a few months ago.
Thanks, Denise - I printed that out for her already.
She is 50 years old and have two grown children...I'm not sure if she is afraid of WHERE the surgery is or because it's surgery. She's never had to be put under before. Other than this - she is quiet healthy.
please keep them coming ladies!! All the more help to show her it's okay!!
Apparently this is more common than we might think. It can be so small you're totally unaware. Sounds like hers is more significant. I'd do the surgery. Here's some info from the Mayo Clinic. You can print this out and give it to her as well:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rectocele/DS00704
Then send me a flower, Cheryl!
Oh man, that stinks! I'd be in line so fast for the surgery rather than putting up with that on a daily basis.
I just attended a urethral sling procedure seminar (for stress urinary incont) by a gyne. He touched on issues of cystoceles and rectroceles. Both sound miserable and deeply personal.
She needs to find a skilled and sensitive doctor that she can rely on so that she can regain her life.
Finally, I agree with Andra's point. What would she advise her kids? She needs to follow that same advice.
***ADD*** These sorts of things are graded 1-4 with 4 being the most severe. I'd want to know what grade mine was at.
The muscle wall is ballooning - seems to me that at some point the weakened section of the wall may break. Oh my goodness - it's time for surgery. I'm sure they'll knock her out for it. It can't be much worse than recovering from a vaginal birth. I would not live like that. The surgery won't be fun - but it will be over and done. This will only get worse as she gets older - she must have this done. Yikes.
I have a small one. Didn't even know I had it till my last pap, never caused a problem for me. I've opted to leave it alone, but if it gets as bad as your friend's I would have the surgery - that's no way to live.
Oh, poor thing! Get the surgery! I have had to have a few different surgeries (two hernias, 3 c-sections, impacted wisdom tooth and a deviated septum) and the best thing she can do is NOT google too much. I got very scared when I did too much research. I trusted my docs, got the anesthesia and had them done (ok, the c-sections were different!). You come out from the anesthesia a little groggy and a little sore but it's OVER. Then you get some pain meds, take it easy for a while and you're done! I would literally faint though when I researched or talked about the procedures so I tried not to or I would have wimped out.
I think in this case I would rather have the surgery. I am not in for the long haul with pain and having to stick my fingers in my vagina to complete a bowel movement everytime would just irritate me. If she has kids and one of her kids had the same thing she would want them to have a normal pain free life and normal bathroom visits. So what is keeping her from doing the same thing for herself?
I don't know how old your friend is, but this happens in older women. Unfortunately, lots of things can begin to fall out and have to be pushed back in.
If I were her, I would have the corrective surgery. It can't possibly be any worse than dealing with what she's got every day.
I would opt for any assistance available.
Just my opinion.
Oh I feel so bad for her! I know of a W. that had that happen. I am not sure if it was the same condition but she was older 60's and her bowel movement would actually go into her vagina and she had to have surgery. She also had to have surgery to lift her bladder! She just was really weak down below. I am sorry I dont have the details but she no longer was having a bowl movement in the wrong spot! She recovered quickly too.
My answer:
The surgery is temporary. Her condition is not.... if she does not get the surgery.
Now, will the surgery, correct her problem? Or is this just a maybe it will correct it???
Or, she should, like any other major surgery, go and get a 2nd opinion... FROM a Specialist Surgeon, for these types of surgery.
NOT just from her OB/GYN. Unless he/she is a surgeon as well, with this type of problem.
When my daughter was only 7 years old, she had Hernia surgery, near her privates. And she was put under general anesthesia. I know this is not the same kind of surgery your friend would need... but just the thought of having surgery... which can be scary... my daughter handled it like a Champ. She knew, very well what surgery was. We talked to her about it. She was a real Champ, about it. And her recovery, was 8 weeks as well. Limiting activity.
Is she afraid of having surgery or because of where the surgery is needed? I don't have this that I know of. And I don’t think that anyone should have to live in pain. She should ask about any long term damage that can occur if she doesn't have it done. I would worry about feces being left behind and getting an infection or having the toxins from the feces making me sick.
She really should go over all the pros and cons. I have only had to have two surgeries in my life. One c-section which I was awake for and the other was to remove the lining of my uterus, this one I was out for. It is a scary thing to be put under anesthesia and a little embarrassing to have a surgery on your private areas. So I can somewhat relate.
My mom had this done...her condition was worsened due to an unrelated condition in her intestine, so she had to have a colostomy bag in between (which they removed), and then they completed the rectocele surgery. She was also in her early 50s. My point to your friend is: get it corrected while you are young and relatively healthy, or in case other issues arise, as happened with my mom.
One caveat: there has been considerable discussion about the use of synthetic mesh in some of these surgeries (info can be found on the fda.gov website)...but it sounds like they are not using that method with your friend. My mom did have the mesh and has had no side effects, but from what I understand many people have. The last FDA release re. the mesh for pelvic floor repair was not favorable.
You asked about the change after having the surgery: quite simply, it gave my mom her life back...she resumed all of her normal activities and was thrilled with the results. Good luck to your friend!
It's actually a very simple repair, and my goodness she would feel SO much better! Poor thing! I know she's scared, and no I haven't personally been through this, but this is going to get worse, never better.
Have she already tried a pessary? That's a nonsurgical, temporary fix.
The surgery is NOT as bad as it seems; it depends on how bad her condition previously is. If she doesn't have it repaired, she's going to have some real problems and THAT'S when the surgery gets more complex. Better to correct it now, then when this gets worse. I'm pretty sure it's considered an 'inpatient' surgery, but I'd be surprised if she's in the hospital longer than 2 days total. They probably won't let her leave until she has a bowel movement. The recovery is supposed to be easier than that of vaginal childbirth!!
Best wishes to her, I hope she feels better :)
