Rectum adhered to vaginal cuff

Hi all,
I am back seeking help or at the very least, some support. I am 38. I have been pregnant 10 times-6 miscarrages with DAndC and 4 children all by C-section. I have had 4 laps for lysis of adhesions. I had a partial hysterectomy 2 yrs ago after 4 yrs of abdominal pain with no apparent cause-painful nonstop periods and a uterine ablation. My Dr found my uterus completely adherred to my abdominal wall-it took over 2 hrs to remove that and my cervix with my Gyn and an GI surgeon. Complications from the surgery started after 2 weeks-infections at the vaginal cuff and pain. Two years later I hurt almost everyday-sometimes I am bed ridden for days. My Dr's have blamed over active ovaries, ruptured cysts, and now they say that my rectum is adhered to my vaginal cuff. They do not want to fix it and they do not want me on pain meds. On good days I mange alright and I work still. On bad days, I cannot work. Sex is still possible with my DH but leaves me curled in a ball afterwards most of the time. I am frustrated. I want to be fixed! I don't want to live like this. I am heading to new doctors again to see if they can help-I am just So tired of this cycle. With so many women suffering-why doesn't someone DO something to help us??!!

Godiva. I feel your frustration and pain. I am very sorry you're going through this. I'm sure you could find a doctor to operate (again) and remove your rectum from the cuff. Problem is, it is very possible the adhesions will form again It's unacceptable that they won't give you pain meds. I am a year post op and taking stronger pain meds now than I was right after surgery. I am seeing a pelvic pain specialist at the Pain Clinic at the hospital and there my pain is treated seriously. Without Percocet I would not be able to work (single mom) or do anything at all for that matter. The hope is that the dose is low enough that I won't become dependent on it but if I do, we will deal with that later. Sex is usually too painful for me to even attempt, so I empathize with you. Please see another doctor and find out if the issue can be fixed and what they can to to help you manage your pain. Hang in there honey, it has to get better one day... I am here for you if you need to talk.

Thanks so much SugarandSpice! I appreciate the support and words of encouragement. I did some research and plan to try to get an appointment with a pelvic pain doctor-I think I have to get a referral. I am so sick of doctors right now. For years they treated me like I was crazy. Now that they know something is really wrong with me-they refuse to fix it or help me cope with the pain. Tylenol just doesn't get it done!!! I am almost through this excruciatingly painful weekend and hopefully on to feeling better. I am very frustrated because the more I read the more I realize that we are out there And we need help. Your words give me some hope as I move forward-we have to use the avenues that will restore some quality of life. It just seems when I push for stronger meds they always make me feel like an addict-and I hate that because I just want to NOT be in pain. I am going to keep going And it helps to know I am not alone! ThAnks!!!!!!

I was very concerned I would look like a drug seeker, especially since I complained of pain for a long time pre op. The docs said the hyster will solve the pain problems, and now I'm complaining that they're worse! Luckily no one has treated me like a drug seeker, or like I'm imagining this. I have expressed my concern about being dependent, and my docs have seen me self-impose limitations on how much meds I would take. An open, honest conversation with the docs is always the best route. You are sooooo not alone, and I'm sending you big hugs to get thru this.

Awww!!! You are wonderful! I will definitely express my concerns at my next appointment clearly. Some doctors will take time to listen carefully to concerns. From all I have read, I believe that a pain specialist will be the best route for me to take. I do not want another surgery because of the dangers associated with the complications-I need no more issues. You seem to have a good rapport with your doctors-I hope for the same with my new doctors. I became so discouraged when they told me about the new adhesions-especially when she said they would do nothing about them. Perhaps new doctors can provide treatment without surgery. I want to work without missing days because of pain. I want to enjoy my kids and not have them worried about me feeling badly. I want to enjoy my husband without pain after. Its not too much to ask for a high quality of life. I am glad that you are finding that and I hope you continue to enjoy a quality of life that improves. Those who do not suffer do not get it-thanks for listening, for caring, for understanding-for getting it! All the best to you!!

(((godiva6)))

I am so sorry you are hurting and I hope you can find a medical team who can help you. I know adhesions can be miserable and painful.

During a laparoscopy to remove endometriosis from my bowel walls, my specialist found that part of my problems had stemmed from my bowel adhering to my vaginal cuff. He was able to separate the two and do a bit of cuff revision. Surgery may be an option for you as well, but surgery itself can allow for the creation of more adhesions. Also, it will take a skilled surgeon to skillfully separate your rectum from your vaginal cuff.

Have you considered pelvic floor physical therapy? A physical therapist who specializes in female pelvic floor issues may be able to break up the adhesions a bit and help with some of the pain.

Not all doctors will prescribe pain meds for their patients for a number of reasons, beside addiction issue. For one, many are constipating which can then cause more pain issues if you already have an issue affecting your intestinal tract as you do. Additionally, strong pain meds don't always the source of the pain, they just try to convince your brain you don't hurt. So they don't do anything to fix the problem and they have side effects that have to be considered. If a doctor is not sure of the reason for your pain (and not all doctors believe adhesions cause pain), a doctor can be hesitate to throw pills at the issue as the pros might not outweigh the cons in their mind.

As far as Tylenol, I would suggest an ibuprofen product instead. However, I also agree that a second opinion is a wise move. But before you go, start keeping a detailed symptom diary to share with your medical team. This can help them see what you are going through and can allow them to better help you. Additionally, if your medical team can "see" your pain, they may be more apt to address it successfully.

I would suggest you look for a doctor who specializes in pelvic pain in women. You might also try a urogynecologist. You can also check with your GP for some help. Sometimes a GP will prescribe pain meds and can also help you find a specialist.

in there and know that you are not alone! There is hope and there is help, you just have to persistent!

Hello Weiser! The team I am considering does specialize in pelvic pain disorders and chronic pelvic pain so hopefully they can help. I hear you about the pain meds issues and I agree-it's just that I want some relief! Ibuprofen does help on mild symptom days, but does not touch it on days like these. I am hoping that this team will suggest a physical therapist as I fear that some of my problems stem from nerve damage and the pain is as much of a disease as the adhesions. I am grateful for the advice as it points me in a direction of hope and help. I am going to hang in there because I know that there has to be some help for me. Persistence-I will keep going and keep trying for me and for my family-I have no choice. From what I have read of other women-you just have to keep trying new doctors until you find the one that meets your need. I was ready to give up because I have been through this for so long and I am tired-but that is the very reason that I have to keep at it. I know I have support here to get me through the rough spots. Thanks!!

Hi. I hope your new team is helpful. I just wanted to say, if they don't suggest PT, ask them for a referral! Unless they have a good reason to be against it, they should be more than willing to let you try it, even if it's not their idea.

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Originally Posted by godiva6 Awww!!! You are wonderful! I will definitely express my concerns at my next appointment clearly. Some doctors will take time to listen carefully to concerns. From all I have read, I believe that a pain specialist will be the best route for me to take. I do not want another surgery because of the dangers associated with the complications-I need no more issues. You seem to have a good rapport with your doctors-I hope for the same with my new doctors. I became so discouraged when they told me about the new adhesions-especially when she said they would do nothing about them. Perhaps new doctors can provide treatment without surgery. I want to work without missing days because of pain. I want to enjoy my kids and not have them worried about me feeling badly. I want to enjoy my husband without pain after. Its not too much to ask for a high quality of life. I am glad that you are finding that and I hope you continue to enjoy a quality of life that improves. Those who do not suffer do not get it-thanks for listening, for caring, for understanding-for getting it! All the best to you!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but right now I'm still wishing I had my quality of life I am still struggling terribly everyday and the meds help just enough so I can drag myself through work. By the time I do my one hour drive home I'm often in tears. I very much don't want my son to look back and remember me this way. I spend a lot of time lying down as it hurts so much to sit. I do, however, have hope again which is something I'm grateful for. When I first went to the Pain Clinic the doc told me the pain I have is the most difficult to treat and it MAY go away one day. But I should not expect it to get better, we would just try to stop it from getting worse and I took classes to teach me to live with it. It was very difficult for me to switch my mindset from getting rid of the pain to just learning to live with it. It was a sad time. Now (thanks to my pelvic floor physiotherapist) I am back to hoping to get rid of it but I know it will take a very long time, if it works at all. Fingers crossed!!

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Originally Posted by godiva6 I am grateful for the advice as it points me in a direction of hope and help.

Unfortunately for me but fortunately for members like you, I can give that advice because of having been there, done that! I do know it is frustrating and believe it or not I ended up with the best pain control from my neurologist, not my gynecologist!

Oh, if the pain is nerve related, strong pain meds may not be the answer anyway. In my experience, even stronger prescription pain meds don't do much for nerve related pain. There are other medications that work better for those issues.

Keep that symptom diary and best wishes with the new group of doctors! Know we are here in your corner!