Upcoming open RPU and Rectocele repair What can i expect

Hi,

I am fairly new to this forum so let me introduce myself. I am a 42 year old mother of one 10 year old daughter. I had a hysterectomy in June of 2001 and that was the best decision I ever made in my life.

Unfortunately I started sufferring from stress incontinence that got progressively worse over the past couple of years and I recently learned that I have a large rectocele as well.

I am scheduled to have an open RPU with a rectocele repair on Tuesday April 8th and am wondering if anyone would be kind enough to share their experience with either surgery and what kind of pain I can expect after the surgery. I was told I will only be hospitalized for 24-48 hours after the surgery (it is Canada up here and they throw you out often before they should due to cost savings).

It was originally suggested that I have a TVT-O procedure but after doing much research I discovered that there could be potential long term complications to having synthetic mesh permanently left inside me so I requested an alternative surgery. It turns out that it was a good thing because apparently the TVT would not have helped me much so doing my homework worked in my favour. I just can't seem to find anything on the recovery time for the above mentioned procedure and what to expect as far as pain.

thanks for your support and help in easing my mind about this upcoming surgery. It will be nice to be continent again that is for sure and it will also be nice to have the rectocele repaired as well.

Regards,

Tammy aka canadian1997

Tammy--

Personally, I think it's smart to look at other options besides artificial mesh. Because of my own experience, I wouldn't have it in me again ever.

An open RPU, or "retropubic urethropexy", is more often called a Burch RPU. You may have a little more luck searching for more posts here by doing a search for "Burch" procedures here on Hyster Sisters. A Burch colposuspension surgery probably has a similar recovery to the Burch RPU. Both are usually abdominal procedures (although some are done via the laparascope). An abdominal surgery has a little longer recovery time than a vaginal one in several ways because of having to recover from the external tissues having been cut also. You may also want check the Hyster Sister TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) recovery hints for a few tips on how to help yourself in getting into and out of bed and similar things.

I do hope this helps a little. It's been a little while since we had someone here in the Pelvic Floor and Bladder Issues mention having had a Burch procedure but there is information here on the site if you look for it.

Sending many +++ thoughts and best wishes.......