Adhesions (?) after TAVH?

Ladies who have had TAVH (or who have experience with adhesions)... I had a TAVH in January of 2004, along with anterior and posterior repairs. Other than some minimal discomfort at times from the prolapse, and some BM issues because of the rectocele, I really had no serious problems "down there" before I had my hyst. In fact, the surgery was expedited because I had severe lower back pain (which turned out to be a spinal cord tumor) and it was thought that the hyst would cure the pain. Anyhow, I have had bladder probs ever since surgery. I ended up with a foley for several weeks after surgery because I couldn't urinate, and although I have "taught" myself how to go, I do not go normally like I did before surgery. However, my biggest problem is with my bowels. As far as I know, I did not have any adhesions prior to surgery. I am pretty sure I do now even though I have not been diagnosed by a doctor. My problem is this. Whenever things start to "move" in my bowels, I get sharp pains that sometimes double me over because of their intensity. The worst pain seems to come from the area where my uterus and cervix used to be. The pain is not constant. I have the same pain while having a bowel movement, and it passes shortly after I am done. I have tried stool softeners, laxatives, more fiber in my diet, more water. It does not matter what the consistency of my stool is. In fact, I had the flu a while back, and having diahrea was so painful I thought I was going to pass out on the toilet. I have read a few articles that claim that vaginal surgery causes more adhesions because of the violent way that the uterus is yanked out of the body. Anybody have any info. I know I need to see a doctor, I just want to take in as much information as I can before I go. That way I can come up with what questions I need to ask while I am there. Sorry for making this so long....

Willow,
I have severe adhesions and my pain is there all the time but it gets worse with a BM , emptying my bladder , and sex. I have pain in my lower left side ,in my left thigh , on the left side of my groin, and my back. The achey pain thats always there reminds me of when I would get cysts on my ovaries. I've had a abdominal and vaginal U/S, endoscopy,and a colonoscopy. Everything turned out fine with all these tests so my gyn is positive it's adhesions because she knows my history of them. So she's sending me to a surgeon for removal of them. Have you had a colonoscopy done or a U/S ?

Hope this helps a little....

Sherrie

I am almost 7 months' post TVH, and I have constant, severe pain believed to caused by adhesions and possibly endometriosis. Like you, I didn't have any bowel or bladder problems prior to the TVH. Although I had several pelvic surgeries prior to the TVH, I never had a pain from adhesions (they may have been in there, but I definitely wasn't bothered by them until after the TVH). The pain I have does intensify with BMs or urination or relations, much the same as what Bumble has already told you. Sometimes I do double over from the pain. I also have pain in the middle where uterus and cervix used to be. I have pain in both hip bones and occasionally my groin, legs, and lower back. I am going in for laparoscopic surgery in 2 weeks to see what is going on in there and to remove any adhesions and endometriosis they find.

I would definitely make an appointment with your doctor to see if you can find a cause for this pain, even if it isn't adhesions. Bumble makes a good point about having an ultrasound and possibly a colonoscopy. I hope your pain ends soon.