cystocele/rectocele repair..how effective?

i know that i have a proplapsed uterus...fairly sure i have a rectocele.....dont know about the cystocele, i am not incontinent, but can feel a round bulge just inside the vagina that i am sure is my bladder.........i do have bladder discomfort but that is from my interstitial cystitis, i've had that for years....my question is, does anyone know the success rate of hysterectomy with vaginal repairs?.........i know the possibility of a repeat prolapse is there, but does anyone know the statistics on this surgery?.......i appreciate the information from this board ...thank you all

Kate,
If you want statistics, you might go talk to Dr. M. at www.pelvicfloor.com He has most of these. WARNING...Avoid the pics of surgery! They are pretty graphic and don't do you any good anyway! You will be asleep and not feel a thing. Go directly to the forum there.

Another thing.... I had my hyster with repairs of both in 2001. Still holding and doing great. [My husband was impressed too!]
It tightens up what we have! And I have lifted, and not actually stuck to what they said to do!

Best of luck to you. Any personal story info you might want, you are welcome to write or ask here.

Remember....the nerves before is the worst part! I still feel wonderful with no regrets.
Love Joyce

Hi Katie,

I am not sure about the statistics on how effective surgery is for a cystocele or a rectocele. I can tell you about my experience, which may or may not be true for others.

I had my hyst about 2 years ago, and recently there have been times when I have thought that the cystocele and rectocele may be returning. But - my doctor was very uncommunicative about what I was allowed and not allowed to do after my surgery, and I did much more lifting, tugging and pulling than I should have done in the first few months post-op.

In my case, even if I had known that I might have to have more surgery later on, I would still have had my hyst, because the prolapses were so bad that I couldn't continue living with them. This is a very personal decision, of course, and one that only you can make, with the advice of your doctor.

I'm glad that you found Hyster Sisters.

's

Well I hope it's effective! I had to have a hysterectomy for CIN III cells but at that time decided to also have the vaginal repairs I needed - I had cystocele, stress incontinence and a rather flaccid vagina, as pointed out by my sweet doc - huh - but I'd had four vaginal deliveries and one baby was very big and my doc said what I was left with afterwards was fairly typical. Well we decided to have the vaginal repairs done too along with cystocele and blader loop suspension. I am now nearly 8 weeks post op. I think the recovery is a bit slower than just the hyst - although I have felt great for weeks I managed to over do it and give myself a slight haemmhorage from my bladder last week. (PRoblem is I feel great so probably am tempted to over do it on the exercise front) Also so far have had two silver nitrate treatments as have had a problem with granulation tissue which I imagine is more likely when there are more stitches involved...but it might just be me - but the doc seems unconcerned and that all will be well by next week. I know my stress incontinence has gone which is wonderful and although we've decided to wait a while because it was a bit sore due to the granulation I can see love making is going to be great as we tried it a couple of times and dh very impressed!! I plucked up my courage to look in a mirror and it was just so good to see a normal looking vagina, actually one that I hadn't seen for over sixteen years, pre-children and not with bits bulging, or nearly, out. I think if done by a good competent surgeon it should be pretty effective and I certainly have no regrets at all - the incontinence that comes with prolapse is no fun at all. I must admit I never had an epiosotomy with my deliveries and didn't realise how sore the stitches at the perineum would be for the first few days post op - but it was only for a few days. If you have to have a hyst and need help with retrocele and cystocele I'd go for it... Hope this might help a bit. Best wishes Debby