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rectocele and cystocele repair surgery

I am scheduled for surgery, but haven't had my pre-op visit yet.  I have read some stories about restrictions on weight lifting for long periods of time.  Is that true?  I knew there would be a 5 pound limit for 6 weeks but thought that would be it.  Has anyone had this surgery with mesh reinforcement around the vaginal wall?  Are you glad you did it?
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Avatar universal
You might consider yoga and walking to help with the weight issues as these are safe for us pop gals..this is what I do to stay in shape...and a clean vegan diet free from pesticides and preservatives (for the most part...lol...I am human) but seriously Yoga is my main form of exercise! It can be so challenging on us as we watch our weight sneak up...:(
Helpful - 0
1727909 tn?1314845210
I had heard that also... now here I am 20 years later and gained the 20 pounds just like they said.  I started out under weight at 104 so 20 pounds actually brought me up to looking more "normal".  I have found that hormones cause your body to process carbs differently....turns them straight into sugar which makes you gain weight.  If you cut out everything with sugar or flour in it (I know- that's practically everything) you'll keep the weight gain down. I allow 2 cheat days a week. Wednesdays and Saturdays. I eat one bread item and one sweet.  Complete deprivation is NOT the way to go for me! lol  I'd still do it again in a heartbeat.  The nightmare of what I had going on in there was worth getting rid of.
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Avatar universal
yes ~ I had urge to urinate even when I did not...with pelvic organ prolapse or pelvic floor dysfunction it can be the same issue but presenting in a different way depending on what nerve/muscle or what area of a specific nerve/muscle is being irritated/impinged/stretched or stressed in any other way...will cause the symptoms to very...as now I have some numbness that I did not have before but I have had recent (3 mo) vaginal repairs so it is probably still the nerves have yet to awaken..so I did have the urge to a point of distress...but I can also have times when I didn't realize I needed to go and then I sit down to go and it is A LOT more then I realized...so it just depends on what is being pushed on to what your symptoms will be...and this can vary with how much urine/gas/stool you have in your body as this will change how everything is sitting in your pelvic floor as well...so your best bet is to get checked by a pt and uro/gyn to get at least some idea of what is going on and move forward from there to figure out the "why's"
Hope that helps...
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Avatar universal
Hi, I had a hysterectomy and mesh repair done 9/11/14, my question for you is did you have the urge to urinate? I have pressure in my upper abd but not urge to void.
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Avatar universal
Sherrie has given you good and sound advice! I too had mesh repairs mine were done abdominally with Davinci (almost 2 years ago) I had entrocele, rectocele cystocele and vaginal vault prolapse...I also had a mesh rectopexy for rectal prolapse (intussusception) the lifting restriction does take a good 3 months, but I now lift up to 40 lbs...not on a daily basis as I don't want to risk my repairs, so I try to keep it at no more then 25 lbs...but both my uro/gyns say after the initial healing (3-6 months) use common sense and you should be ok to lift that much occasionally like yard stuff...but not at a repetitive manner such as a job or weight lifting...
If my repairs were to fall today I would be rescheduling to have things repaired with mesh again as it gave me back my life...surgery is definitely NOT a quick and easy fix...so I always recommend trying everything else first (pessary, physical/physio therapy) but when your reach that point and you will know it...see the best urogynecologist you can find and know you will have anxiety...we all do..but if your quality of life is poor then move forward don't stay stuck...I am so thankful I trusted my surgeon and had my mesh implant because (after the healing time) it has allowed me to continue almost everything I love to do...Good luck on this journey and feel free to ask me any questions in here or in a pm...hang in there...you will get there!
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Avatar universal
I am scheduled to have a vaginal hysterectomy for cystocele and rectocele. However, everything I've read says they've gained 20/30 pounds as a result do the surgery. Did you?
Helpful - 0
1128665 tn?1269273471
If you are having doubts you should hold off on surgery. Often women with minimal symptoms opt for non-surgical treatments rather than surgery. I feel it is important for women to seek advice from a specialist for pelvic floor procedures, a urogynecologist is the physician of choice. A good pelvic floor surgeon will advise you in both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

It is always a woman's choice whether or not to have surgery for repair of POP. Some women never have surgery no matter how much their POP progresses; more typically women get tired of dealing with the symptoms of POP which can become quite invasive as the condition progresses.

I'm going to send you a PM which will point you to an article that addresses classic symptoms, many of which women don't recognize if they are not pointed out. If you have additional questions after you read the article, shoot them over!
Sher
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the information and sharing your story.  I'm beginning to have second thoughts and I'm not sure why.  I'm not sure when this type of surgery goes from being elective to a good idea.  Right now I don't have any pain or incontinence, just some difficulty with bowel movements.
Helpful - 0
1128665 tn?1269273471
There will be a weight restriction, could be 6-12 weeks depending on what you are having done. It is vital to adhere to your drs orders, lifting weight too early can damage surgical repairs done. I had surgery for 3 of the 5 types of POP, grade 3 (of 4), for me it was a 12 week heal curve. I have mesh for 2 of the 3 types of POP repaired; concerns with mesh are not typically from the mesh itself, it's from physicians who are not specialists doing the procedures-this is intricate surgery and it takes a specialist to get it right. (Urogynecologist.)

I have not regretted my surgery for a minute. It is important to have a good relationship with your physician, I'm hopeful you have that. You will most likely be on the couch for a week post surgery and go home with a cath. Icing is very important post surgery, it really helps with pain and swelling (you will have pain pills as well).

I'll be out of town from tomorrow through Saturday, so if you send in additional questions, it will be late Saturday or Sunday b/4 I can answer them.

Good luck with your procedure!
Sher
Helpful - 0
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