Bowel prolapse after vaginal hysterectomy?

I had pelvic organ prolapse so had a complete vaginal hysterectomy Sept 15 with bladder sling. I had bowel issues since the surgery, feeling full, cramping a bit, bloating, but the doc said that's all par for the course. Now it seems there is a bulge between my vagina and my anus especially if I engage those muscles and it also hurts when I sit upright in a chair, at the base of my spine between my butt cheeks. I had my tailbone removed after childbirth (broke in delivery) 20 years ago so thought it might be that ... But certainly four weeks post op I should be able to sit up in a chair without pain, right? I don't have pain otherwise, no fever, no additional discharge. My surgeon is on holidays til Monday but I see him Nov 1 anyway. I waited 3 months for this last surgery so I don't want to be all paranoid and go to an ER if this is just another thing that can wait a few weeks til my exam anyway. What are your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by artgal_heather But certainly four weeks post op I should be able to sit up in a chair without pain, right? I don't have pain otherwise, no fever, no additional discharge. ...What are your thoughts?

At 4 weeks... not necessarily. I've read more than a few posts from women who still had pain in that area. My own experience was that getting bowels regular is still a challenge after 6 weeks. I went every day beyond day 3 post-op, but would still have churning, tumbling and gas. Include fiber and magnesium in your diet - dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits (fresh, dried or frozen in smoothies), Fiber One original cereal, prune juice and water-water-water. I'd found on days when I had less water, I'd be more "stuffed" the day after. Walking is also good.

Hope that's all it is!

Hello artgal_Heather,

First, I am sorry you are having so much difficulty sitting. I found weeks 3/4 were the worst for sitting for me after my vaginal hyst and repairs. Make sure you are not constipated first. Since you won't see your surgeon until November 1st and possible prolapse is not an emergency you want to make sure your bowels are moving properly. Are you taking stool softeners daily? My surgeon had me take them twice daily plus I used some miralax and days I was having trouble. If the pain worsens please call your surgeon's office to see if they want you to come in to be checked.

I'm having a good cry today. What is happening? Four weeks post op from a vaginal hysterectomy after a pelvic organ prolapse and I've been having trouble moving my bowels. I was told that was normal. Then yesterday I was in the bathroom and all of a sudden it felt like before when my cervix would fall outside my body! I reached down and felt a big bulge coming from the back of the vagina and from the front, about 1/2" in the tissue where they cut off my cervix is RIGHT THERE!! My surgeon is away til Monday and I called my family doc but he hasn't called me back yet. Is this anything that can't wait til when my surgeon is back? Before they just shrugged off the prolapse saying it was urgent (3 months wait) buy not an "emergency" like ER or anything. I'm freaking out.

If you have a tear in the vaginal cuff, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to fix. So I think you should see someone ASAP- either another doctor or at the hospital.

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Originally Posted by lolo47 If you have a tear in the vaginal cuff, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to fix. So I think you should see someone ASAP- either another doctor or at the hospital.

Hubbie says the ER it is.

We went to the ER and they really took me seriously. Did an abdominal CT and found a 5 cm mass that's either a hemotoma or an abscess. At first they said they were going to have to do more surgery right away but since my surgeon is away til Monday the surgeon in call decided to hit it with two kinds of heavy duty antibiotics and see if it eases up by Monday and then get in to see my regular surgeon for accessment. That's what was pushing down on the vagina. I should start feeling better soon but I'll still go in Monday and get checked out. Here's hoping I dont need more surgery

Revisited the surgeon this week for another look and test there is rectal bulge, level 1. It's the rectum that is prolapsing but he couldn't repair it at the same time as the cervix removal on the opposite side of the vagina because the two wounds would heal together. And no one wants that. So he said we wait it out til it's interfering with my life and then he'll repair it. It's common, apparently, after pelvic organ prolapse, and it's not a rectal weakness issue. It's a vaginal wall failure. I'll have to have more surgery in future to fix it but for now, keeping the bowels regular and be careful when having intercourse and it should be manageable.

I guess I was just hoping this would be the last "fix"

I am sorry I have found it is possible to live with a rectal prolapse. I did for many years. Avoid heavy lifting, squats and getting constipated.