Rectocele - How did you know?

I have had pressure in the perineum area since before my TAH. My doctor thought it could be endo on my pudendal nerve and wanted me to wait until after hyst to see if it went away (hyst for other reasons). Now at 8 weeks out I am still feeling the same pressure but worse - feels like I have to go to the bathroom all the time, but don't. I've taken stool softeners, etc. and can have bms, but pressure doesn't go away. I have had a vaginal/rectal exam at 4 weeks and nothing was said about a rectocele. But the more I'm reading the more I think I have those symptoms. Can anyone shed light on this for me? Are they diagnosed by colonoscopy?

I didn't know what my problem was until my gyn. told me. I had occasional constipation problems since having my kids that would come and go over the years. Then last August a 'case' came on with bad hemorroids that would just not go away. So, when I saw my gyn/surgeon for a consultation about a hysterectomy for other issues, he told me that I had a major rectocele and also that my bladder needed to be repaired with a sling. He had me recline on the exam table, inserted a speculum and had me bear down. Then, using an instrument, like a long q-tip he was able to see with slight probing and pressure, where both the bladder and rectum were protruding into the vagina and had been for years. Straining to have bm's can make a rectocele develop. Constant low back pain that worsens by the end of the day is a symptom. Inability to empty the bowel without pushing on your perinuem or inside the vagina (splinting) is a symptom. Sometimes we deal with these things and not really realize that something is wrong. There are other tests to determine these conditions, but I don't know if a colonoscopy is one of them.

After the surgery, bm's were easier if I took stool softeners regularly. Since then, if I consistently use stool softeners, BM's are not a problem. I have to be careful for awhile yet to not injure the healing site. I am very glad that I had the repairs done, though they both impacted my recovery.

I hope I have helped and not given TMI! Good luck!