Rectocele

[Dondi]

I have been dignosed with a large rectocele & enterocele!  Lately, when straining with a BM, I find it difficult to urinate and when I do, the urine is bloody & with debris.  I have a powerful urgency to go, with irritation. This feeling last about an hour after having the BM. And the bleeding and debris urine clears.  My Doctor is treating me with Cepro and Azo.  Has anyone had this problem?  Thanks for any info.

[thegrettonfamily]

Hi I'm seven months post rectocele and its impossible to have intercourse this was not what I expected the whole area is tight and seems to be in a different position sort of moved forward so intercourse is out of question I am very very unhappy about this any sujestions please Joanie

[nurseatrest1963]

Dondi, I had a rectocele repair about 6 yrs ago.. The Doctor never did mention that there was a good chance that it would happen all over again... I am a nurse, and have been a surgical nurse also, so needless to say, I sure didn't want to go through this procedure, but my quality of life was changing ... you know, the part where you have to push/support/almost milk the wall of the vagina, just to pass the BM along its so called natural path! Talk about a pain in the...... lol... not to mention gross! Yes, even for a nurse lol... well... 6 yrs later, Pig skin and all.... here we go again!  and quite frankly now I am dragging my feet even worse... as I remember it as being one of the most painful surgeries I have ever been through (including a hysterectomy, and open kidney stone removal (back in the dark ages they didn't have lithotrypsy (the crushing of the stones) Unfortunately I am allergic to most pain meds, so they have a difficult time helping me manage post surgical pain, especially immediately out of surgery.... I am scared to death to do anything about this.... Truthfully I hadn't heard of the tests they can do, that yall have talked about.... But, I am trying to get the courage up to do this once again, before I end up with a fissure!  Thats a tear between the vagina, and rectum, which can happen too... Has anyone had a 2nd surgery with better outcomes?

[willowlady]

I have had all of this done.  I had total prolapse.  The uterus, bladder, bowel, small intestine.  I had my uterus removed and cervix.  I had all others repaired.  Do a lot of research before having it done.  There are no guarantees you won't need surgery again if you have it done. I am still having problems 13 months later.  The only good thing is it does make you smaller again as someone else metioned.  It is a long time healing and there are a lot of restrictions, some require life long changes.

[willowlady]

I had a total Vaginal hysterectomy, repairs for the rectocele, repairs for the cystocele, and for the prolapse of the small intestine (can't remember the name). I had prolapse of everything.  I had my last child at home in an emergency situation with no help and they tell me this did most of my damage.  They took my uterus out along with my cervix.  The put a sling under my urethra to help with urination, and did all of the other repairs.  This was a painful surgery and took a long time to heal.  It has been 1 year and I am still having problems.  Please do all the reading you can before getting all of this done.  Try hyster sisters in your browser.  You can find a lot of info there.  The one good thing about it is you are much smaller when done, so that is a plus.  I never really had pain prior to mine I just felt uncomfortable because of the rectocele being so large and of course my bladder would kind of be in the way. I am mow having problems with scar tissue.  I also still have problems with overactive bladder.  I was not allowed to do anything for 3 months after surgery.  No laundry, no lifting over 10 lbs, no vaccuming, no intercourse.  And after all is said and done I am never again allowed to lift over 50 lbs.  And they don't tell you that you can have all of this done and it can all come undone.  Then you need more surgery.  I was told this after my surgery.

Good luck!

[krzeekat]

I also have a rectocele and possibly a cystocele.  I see the gyn next week.  I would like to know more about the surgery and what stage you were in before you had it.  I don't really know what stage my rectocele is but I know I have to press against the back wall of my vaginal canal to fully empty my BM.  If I'm constipated (which I frequently am) the bulge from the rectocele starts to protrude out of my vagina.

I also think I have a cystocele because I have been having problems urinating.  I feel like I can't empty my bladder completely and also have to pull up on my abdomen to be able to urinate.  I also feel a bulge in the front side of my vaginal canal, kind of high up.

I have had three c-sections and a hysterectomy and I am also perimenopausal.  Do my symptoms sound such that I will most likely need surgery?  Is there any other option? I read on another site that pessaries don't help with rectocele (plus they sound uncomfortable) but I don't really like the thought of more surgery.

Right now my husband and I can't have intercourse because of the pain.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Dondi]

Thanks for your comments!  What type of surgeon did your surgery?  How long were you in the hospital and did you have any complications? You're the first person that I could talk to that has had the surgery!  Thanks, again for any info.

[cool_nana]

Dondi,
Hi...I was diagnosed with a rectocele about 10 years ago.  You have my sympathies...lol.  I had to have surgery to repair it.  It is a VERY uncomfortable and rough surgery.  I had to have my whole vaginal and rectal area repaired and rebuilt.  You can't sit down for about 6 weeks!  LOL  But the one good thing, after you heal, you're like a virgin again!  Hang in there!