cystocele repair

Dr. recommended that I have cystocele repair work done along with hysterectomy. I have a grade 2 cystocele but my pelvic muscles are in good shape. Does anyone have any advice about whether or not I should have repair work done if I don't suffer from any incontinence problems at this time?

I've read that sometimes the repair can actually cause incontinence or puncture to bladder. I don't want to "fix something if it ain't broken". Thanks for any advice.

I had a large cystocele. I also has stress incontinence (leaking when you laugh, sneeze ect). A cystocele (bulging of the bladder in the vagina) can also cause other problems, like not being able to empty your bladder well. Urine retention can cause a host of other problems such as UTI and stones. It can also interfer with intercourse. Such was mine. Since I had multiple prolapse (bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, I needed to have all of them fixed. My doctor also sewed mesh onto the vagina so that the prolapses don't occur again.

This past week at my 4 week post-op, I found out that I am empting my bladder. I was so happy! I have no regrets about the surgery. All surgery has it risks, something each one of us has to figure out, as we are all unique and our surgeries can be slightly different.

Hope this helps
Levanah

Is this dr. that recommended you have cystocele repair done a urologist? It's always a good idea to get another opinion if you aren't sure.

Hi Levanah and Happy: Thanks for your help.

Levanah: I notice you had abdominal surgery. Does that mean you had abdominal incision to remove uterus and vaginal work to do AP repairs? Why didn't your Dr. just do vaginal surgery to take care of both?

First thing to note, was that I had several prolapses occurring, bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum.

My doctor informed me that the only way she could have enough access to do the suspension (of the vagina - sacracoloplexy -sp?) was with a vertical adominal incision. she also sewed a mesh onto the front and back of the vagina through the adominal incision. She wouldn't have access through the vagina. She also told me, that this way she could preserve the length of the vagina with out shortening it (when she took out the cervix). Hope this helps. The technique used depends on the type of prolapse and the degree.

Levanah

my gyn diagnosed my cystocele...NOT my urologist. i have to see my urologist at least once a year due to having a history of kidney stones and problems with my right ureter but i can talk to my gyn lots more easily than i can my urologist (and they're both males too). my urologist was totally p***ed off because my gyn diagnosed 2 problems that he should have diagnosed (if i had felt confident with my urologist i would have told him i had these problems right from the start). trust me....my gyn would be doing my cystocele repair and not my urologist!!!!

debbie

Thanks again, Levanah and Debbie! Did you have to take urodynamics test? Am I taking this test because of my cystocele? What more info can it give the Dr?

I am coming on up my one year hysterversary. I had a total vaginal hysterectomy with rectocele and cystocele repair. I, too, did not have any incontinence difficulties prior to surgery. I chose to have the repair as suggested by my physicians (gyn and urologist) I had the same question. why do I need the surgery if I was not having diffiuclty. Simply. . while they were in there it should be done (Level 2). . I was fine post operatively, however, I did suffer with urinary tract infection post surgery for a couple of weeks. .. antibiotics took care of it. I have not had any difficulty with incontinence, leakage, urgency post operatively

Hi CMHD: It sounds like you are saying that you didn't have any incontinence problems BEFORE surgery and none AFTER, right? If so, did the cystocele repair improve your bladder in any way (I realize you had all other kinds of repair and probably in total, your system probably has improved).