why didn't I fix this sooner?

I had a rectocele repair two weeks ago (same time as a TVH) Why did I wait so long? I feel so much better with the rectocele fixed and BM's are now not a problem!!

Eliza,
I'm so glad to hear how well you're doing! There are a few of us here on the rectocele issue trying to figure out when to deal with ours. Do you mind giving some more details?

How bad was your rectocele? (Staged?, Actually bulging out of vagina?, that sort of thing.)

How long had it been a problem and why did you wait?

Knowing what you know now, would you have gotten yours fixed if you weren't have the TVH?

Keep up the good recovery and remember to take it really easy!!!! But it's so good to hear a sister doing well from this sort of repair.

Let us know if there's any way we can help you. LJC

I actually have had the rectocele for many years, about 3. I actually didn't know what it was until I found this site. I never mentioned it to my doctor because I thought it was "normal" LOL

The doctor never told me what stage it was but he did say during a rectal exam that he could put his index finger into the prolapse and almost straighten it into my vagina, if that makes sense. I did have buldging of tissue. Often times after a BM or removing a tampon I would have to tuck back into my vagina. As far as sex, I was used to the rectocele, but it was as though, (And this is WAY TMI), once the tip of Dh penis got past the rectocele then it was more comfortable. There seemed to be a fine line (or buldge of tissue, LOL) where Dh had to get past in order for us to get "busy" It was kinda like those entrances to some zoos with the bar that you have to push with your ab's and it goes around and lets you in, you were either in the zoo or you weren't but you had to push a bar to get in.

For years, I've had problems with constipation and after having 4 babies, my vagina was shot. I would get very gassy (but I couldn't pass gas) and bloated and uncomfortable. The doctor said alot of that could have been b/c of the rectocele. Since I've had it repaired, I've been very regular with BM's, no gassy or bloating. The first couple BM's were weird b/c I naturally wanted to splint (which I had been doing for years). If I hadn't have had to have a hysterectomy I would still do the rectocele repair. I'm tender down there, but not in pain. I feel so much better b/c I'm actually "regular" (in regards to BM's). And not to mention, now when I have a BM I'm not in the bathroom for a half an hour, it's more like 5-10 minutes! The doctor didn't use mesh, he just stitched the tissue back together. I'm very happy with the surgery!

Hope this helps! Funny to talk about BM's and something I thought was normal for so many years, but embarrassed to talk about!

Good luck

Hurrah Eliza!!!!!

I am SO glad to read this post. I feel so hopeful right now.

My rectocele has been there for years. I thought it was normal to have to splint and I certainly wasn't going to talk to my doctor about something that I thought was a normal part of getting older! Problems with my urethra brought these other problems out into the light.

"either in the zoo or you weren't" <---- That made me laugh out loud.

Again.....I am so thankful that you posted this and I read it!

Woohoo....there's hope for us all!!!!!!

I too loved the zoo gate analogy!

for best crazy mental imaging of a sensative issue!

I'm amazed your Drs didn't pick up on the rectoceles in your yearly exams. Then again, we're on our backs, feet up in stirrups, and a speculum being pressed in there. But my Dr.s always did rectal exams too. That's how mine found it now. Butt I had mentioned the sensation to her, so maybe that's why she checked for it. Unfortunately, this wasn't until AFTER my hyster. We think it was there all along and being held in place by my prolapsed uterus.

Again, it's good to hear someone having a good result from this surgery. So many of the sisters here have horror stories of repeat and difficult rectocele surgeries. I know that's because they're the ones who most need the support. But again, it's good to hear the good ones too.

Thanks and continued good recovering. LJC

Hi Eliza,
Well done! I hope you continue to recover well. You have given us rectocele sufferers a bit of hope that these things can be fixed and you are happy that you did it.
I got mine 5 weeks after the hyster. It is bulging into the vagina (more every week I think) but it is not hanging out yet!
I also wonder about my bladder as there is another bulge on the front wall but I really don't know what is going on.
I would love to have everything normal again - but it seems that surgery is the only option in my case. Thanks for posting and giving us some hope.

I would just have to add that I think those of us who had perineal repairs along with the rectocele are the ones with the more painful recoveries. My interior repairs did not seem so painful but the outside stuff just never seems to heal!

I am so glad to have normal BM's and never have to splint again!

Eliza,
Please continue to take it easy and allow scar tissue to form and hold that repair in place for a good long time. Congratulations! I hope this is the end of all your problems.
Hugs.