Lifestyle Activity permanent changes: reconstructive surgery

I need parameters from folks that had surgery years ago to better understand what activities I should never do again IF I want my reconstructive surgery to last. Im not talking about what i shouldnt do for the first 3-6 months post-op, I'm talking about a permanent change in lifestyle. My understanding is the holding power of my rectocele and cystocele repairs are not forever and I want to avoid another surgery 5 - 10 years (or longer) down the the road. I am 60 years old, had abdominal hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, vagina tacked to tailbone, rectocele and cystocele repairs.

Pre-op, I'd load 40lb bags of mulch into a wheelbarrow and push about 150lbs around my yard. I typically carry a 10' aluminum orchard ladder (light but awkward), climb to the top with a 14' foot pole pruner and prune trees/hedges. I need to know if these activities are no longer advisable.

I need to know if I can ride or jump horses ever again. Will using a leg press machine at the gym be problematic? Should I forgot about using 40-50lb weights for lat pull-downs at the gym? Will I ever be able to kayak long distances or carry a 4 year old child on my hip or give a 6 year old a piggyback ride? Should i forgot about walking a big dog that tugs on a leash or hiking up mountains?

Advise like avoid straining is not helpful because you can't avoid what you don't know is going to be a strain and then usually it is too late. I know there are no hard fast rules, just want to come up with work-arounds if my life must change. Thanks for allowing me to benefit from your experiences.

Having had a repeat of the surgery I can tell you that lifting heavy thing (mulch bags) from the ground isn't advisable. The other stuff is negotiable.

I felt my bladder repair tear while building a stone wall. I could also feel the strain while lifting bags of dirt and mulch.

That being said, I carried my kids, ocean kayaked, and lead a rather active lifestyle.

Aaiigghh, you lasted 3 years until a repair! Well, it's nice to see that there is somebody besides me that builds walls, women in my neck of the woods think I'm an oddity ;-)

Where you ever told how much you should lift 6 - 12 months post-op or going forward after surgery? Also wondering what type of PT / physical therapy or exercise training you did post-op to build your muscles up again. My surgeon wants me to workout with a trainer at roughly 3 months and said that I can return to 80% of normal activity at 2 months (I don't think he understands what normal is for me).

While 40lb mulch bags may be history for me, how do you feel about 20lb bags or is there a weight limit that you were told is safe for lifting or carrying or pushing? Wondering if I'll need to hire somebody to pull shrubs out of ground or to dig holes to plant new shrubs? Hate to be relegated to just perennials.
How do you feel about yanking a rope on a Corona pole pruner or sawing limbs?
Many thanks for sharing. So sorry to hear of your troubles. Assume you'll be doing things differently this go around??

My surgeon told me that I will prolapse again if I continue to regularly lift my 80 lb special needs son. I try not to any more but sometimes I am the only one home and have no choice. I was not given any specific restrictions lifetime but was told not to do any more "heavy" lifting.

I'm only 34, and I am sure that I will have surgery a few times before my time here is done. And I most certainly will be doing things a bit different this time.

I too am an oddity around my neighborhood. I live where lawns are perfectly manicured, and not by the homeowners. We just built our house 2.5 years ago, so there is a ton to be done! I doubt my neighbors like seeing me out there doing it, and that it is taking so long to look pristine!

I can't see any issues with digging and pulling. I dug out some nasty wormwood last year, and it was so deeply rooted that there is no way I would do that again for fear of ripping my bits to pieces. But regular shrubs you can break the roots with a spade shouldn't be an issue. Just watch the lifting. Pruning and all that shouldn't be an issue either. I would go with how you physically feel, and go slow. You will be able to feel a pull if there is too much strain. I'd stop if I felt a pull at all. At least for the time being. 20lb bags of mulch should be fine also, although I wouldn't lift directly from the ground. If they are stacked or in the trunk of a car yes. But my doc said nothing on from the ground. I'll listen this time as I have no desire to be wetting myself anymore!

The only reason I had the repair done again is because I was having pelvic surgery already, and I didn't have incontinence issues, but felt like I needed to pee during intercourse. It drove me batty and made me paranoid. I thought it was just me until my doc told me that I had a prolapse again. Before the first surgery though I was wearing incontinent pads. I couldn't do much of anything without peeing, and forget it if I started a stream, there was no stopping it. So I found myself in my 20's honkerblonking myself constantly. I wouldn't have had the latest repair if I wasn't having a hysterectomy.

It's the heavy lifting advice that doctors give that's problematic for me. What constitutes heavy? My surgeon said to strengthen my core but I don't quite believe that is sufficient to avoid injury.

I can definitely see where managing an 80lb special needs son is difficult on multiple levels. Wishing you the best with your recovery and your son.

I think it all depends on HOW you lift. Lifting from waist or even thigh high is so very different from the ground.

I didn't get PT either...maybe I should try that this time! My kegels are ridiculously strong though.

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Originally Posted by milkmachine1 I'm only 34, and I am sure that I will have surgery a few times before my time here is done. And I most certainly will be doing things a bit different this time. I too am an oddity around my neighborhood. I live where lawns are perfectly manicured, and not by the homeowners. We just built our house 2.5 years ago, so there is a ton to be done! I doubt my neighbors like seeing me out there doing it, and that it is taking so long to look pristine! I can't see any issues with digging and pulling. I dug out some nasty wormwood last year, and it was so deeply rooted that there is no way I would do that again for fear of ripping my bits to pieces. But regular shrubs you can break the roots with a spade shouldn't be an issue. Just watch the lifting. Pruning and all that shouldn't be an issue either. I would go with how you physically feel, and go slow. You will be able to feel a pull if there is too much strain. I'd stop if I felt a pull at all. At least for the time being. 20lb bags of mulch should be fine also, although I wouldn't lift directly from the ground. If they are stacked or in the trunk of a car yes. But my doc said nothing on from the ground. I'll listen this time as I have no desire to be wetting myself anymore! The only reason I had the repair done again is because I was having pelvic surgery already, and I didn't have incontinence issues, but felt like I needed to pee during intercourse. It drove me batty and made me paranoid. I thought it was just me until my doc told me that I had a prolapse again. Before the first surgery though I was wearing incontinent pads. I couldn't do much of anything without peeing, and forget it if I started a stream, there was no stopping it. So I found myself in my 20's honkerblonking myself constantly. I wouldn't have had the latest repair if I wasn't having a hysterectomy.

Thanks for the speedy reply. Dealing with my surgeon has been beyond frustrating. He REFUSES to answer questions that don't fit his agenda. His surgical skills are superior but his people skills are sorely lacking.
My surgery was a 60th birthday present and I don't want to slow down. I was very fit / active pre-op and am having difficulty wrapping my head around fear of another surgery and a balance of how I want to live. Appropriate medical counseling would go along way to peace of mind.

Milkmaid: re PT
I worked out with a trainer to strengthen my core before I had surgery, knowing that it would make recovery easier since my muscles were going to weaken but wouldn't weaken to nothing. My surgeon wants me to workout with a trainer that he uses and doesn't like PT. I've been walking a 1+ miles daily with an increasing pace. Running will never be my thing, 2 knee surgeries from old skiing and horseback riding injuries.

If you are going to lift, be it kids or mulch, it's important to use the right muscles in proper condition and not to compensate with the wrong muscles. I got into a heap of neck and shoulder trouble because my back was too weak for what I was doing.

Even with building muscle tone and flexibility, I know that there is still potential for relapse because kegels only go so far to strengthen a weak pelvic floor and prolapsed organs (along with varicose veins) are indicative of weak tissues with the propensity for additional prolapses. 3 years ago, I went to a specialist in vaginal physical therapy to hold off surgery (my surgeon told me I'd be back) and despite minuscule shrinking of the prolapse, I still needed surgery. A combo of kegel and core strengthening exercises will always be desirable but often aren't sufficient which is WHY I want to know the specifics of what to avoid forever.

Wow! Thank you for bringing this up. I don't do the physical work you mention but my job has me lifting heavy charts, so I need to adjust how I do things at work. I am looking forward to more exercise when the doctor says ok (hopefully in about 2 weeks). Wish I had done core strengthening exercise pre op...But will look to the future, can't wish for what didn't get done before.