Vaginal prolapse? Prayers please. (TMI)

clinpic, scriv, anne and Cindy - thank you so very much for all of your kind thoughts and prayers. It means more than you know to have others to turn to that are going through similar circumstances. I was really afraid, and am still a little worried, but I know that God will see me through whatever is to come. I'll just continue to pray that this heals itself. Other than making a crock-pot full of soup and walking outdoors for 15 minutes, I've been taking it very easy today. I napped mid-morning, and again this afternoon.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement!

wistful-- You are still so early post-op that it could all still be initial irritation and swelling that your doctor seems to suspect. If constipation is aggravating your condition, following your doctor's suggestions will help more than anything else. It's not a good idea to be constipated after a HYST anyways whether or not you have any type of prolapse.

Just for your information, when your bowel prolapses into your vagina and you can see it right there, it's usually the rectum and it's called a rectocele. [When it's the bladder and it's on the front wall of the vagina, it's called a cystocele. An enterocele is when a higher part of the intestine prolapses into the vagina but you usually cannot see it--a doctor usually finds it when doing a pelvic exam.]

Rectoceles can be 'graded' by their degree of prolapse. Usually a 1st degree and sometimes a 2nd degree rectocele do not need correction. It depends on how much the rectocele is bothering you. Usually 3rd degree--at the genital hiatus and definitely 4th degree--outside the vaginal opening, DO need surgical correction. Often women who do not want to go the surgical route try pessaries first which are devices that can be inserted in the vagina for support. some women are very happy with these and avoid surgery for years. They often only have to remove pessaries for intercourse or at the intervals recommended by their doctors or the manufacturers.

The best thing to do is wait it out and try what your doctor suggests. For now, it won't add to your recovery. Most women with rectoceles do not find that they add to pain during intercourse. However to read more about them, I am including the link to the Emedicine About Rectoceles article that is quite thorough. You can also find more about women who have had them and had them repaired over on the Pelvic Floor & Bladder Issues forum right here on HysterSisters.

Keep Remembering to follow all the rules about letting your loved ones for now. Sending S and gentle healing vibes.......

Hi wistful,
I am glad you have been to the Dr, and the news was not as bad as you thought it might be.
Take Care of yourself. I only read this thread today, but I am so pleased you had such kindness and support from the other ladies here.