For Donna

[Traysmum]

Hi Donna

I know you had a rectocele repair a couple of years ago, and I wondered if you ever thought of it returning?

I had a rectocele repair done 2 weeks ago and I am still in agony from the stitches and I can't sit down very well. I am also very afraid of doing anything at all incase the rectocele comes back. I know I am not to lift anything for 6 weeks and no heavy lifting for 12 weeks.

I also had problems with pain killers,. They stopped my bladder from working and so I am trying to manage without which isn't very nice.

Anne

[ICNDonna]

I had my rectocele repaired in December of 1997. As I recall, I sat on a pillow for a while and wasn't allowed to lift anything for something like three or four months and told to absolutely not strain for a bowel movement.

I thought the rectocele was back last year, but it turned out to be a cystocele, which I had repaired in November of 2003 --- so far everything is staying where it belongs.

Be sure to give yourself enough time to heal --- and follow your doctor's advice about lifting. There are many pain killers available --- if you still need some pain control, I suggest you talk to your doctor about trying something different. It might be that taking something to help relax your bladder muscles would help you be able to take pain meds.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[Traysmum]

Thanks Donna for your reply. I have to be careful with bladder relaxants too because they stop my bladder from working altogether.

At the noment I don't feel like the rectocele has disappeared but the GYN doctor assures me he has cut it away so it has gone. Before I had the repair he checked my bladder and uterus to see if they had dropped any and he said they hadn't. I would hate to have another op like this again.

Anne