Questions regarding possible prolapse

Girls,

I have a question or two for you. I posted on the Post-Op forum, but it looks like this may have been a better place. I'm 6.5 months post-op and I do have an appointment set up for next week, but I'm a bit anxious because I'm supposed to be looking for a job and I'm afraid I need to wait until after this appointment to accept an offer in case more surgery is needed. It's weighing heavily on my mind -- because i can't really afford to wait. So I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself in some form or fashion.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy in January and as early as 6 weeks out I had fullness and heaviness set in, but the doctors said everything was just fine. Since then, more things have gone wrong. Sex hurts. Now I bleed a lot during sex and I've started cramping afterward. I still have a bowling ball feeling sitting in my pelvis more often than I care to have, but I don't and haven't tracked what makes it worse. (other than the yard work I did last week). I'm also leaking urine after I pee, when I stand up. At first I thought I had grown lax in wiping properly after 30 years... but I can be dry as a bone and then stand up and dribble.

Being inquisitive, I explored a bit. My cuff is just a finger length into the vagina -- whereas before the surgery I remember the cervix being much deeper. It's also extremely painful to touch, and very 'lumpy'. The walls are sore feeling, but the wall between the bladder and vagina feels like it has a tennis ball there. It's squishy, not hard, but I don't recall it ever being there before.

It can also be very painful when a BM/gas moves in the area right near the vagina -- I get that bowling ball feeling and sometimes some cramp like feelings. It doesn't hurt to pass them, only when they are right there before it passes.


So, all that said, I was originally thinking I had some granulation that is causing the bleeding, but now I wonder if I have other issues as well. Do these symptoms sound familiar to you ladies, or is it 'normal' and I'm over reacting?

Thank you very much if any of you have some input,
-Lynn

Dear Lynn,

I'm so sorry to hear about your problems. Sounds identical to my symptoms when I had bladder prolapse and vaginal vault prolapse, but that's for your doctor to determine. My symptoms, too, increased after yardwork, especially pulling up weeds and yanking a shrub out of the ground! Then I pulled up a carpet and my "bulge" got ridiculous, so that's when I went to my urogyno, the rest is hystery! (A&P repair, vault repair, etc). So....hang in there until your appointment next week, I know it is very stressful worrying about work, but take care of your body first. If you do need surgery, remember these surgeries are not uncommon, there are so many women who have been through them, so keep posting so we can support you! You will get through this-(Women are strong like that!)

Best to you,
Sally

Sally,

I had to laugh when I read your post, because weeding and pulling up a row of philodendrons is exactly what I was doing. I thought I pulled something in my back, but muscle relaxers didn't help and now my back still hurts, but it's that lower back ache very similar to my back pain before the hysterectomy.

I guess I'll still have to wait and see -- it just bugs me because I'm a planner, and this is making all my plans go out the window lol

thanks for your reply!

Lynn
I am sorry you are going through all this. A lot of the symptom you are experiencing I have with my prolapses.
I agree with Sally that you should contact your
Just wanted you to know that I am thinking about you and sending up prayers.
Hugs,
Suzanne

I wish I had been weeding and pulling up plants when my prolapses came on... I got mine after mega barfing/diarrhea with a 24-hour stomach bug that tore through the house one week last March. Within days I found everything falling out. I'm sure it was weak from all the childbirth and lifting over the years, but that was apparently the last straw. It can and does come on quickly.

Update:

I just have to say, I love my doctor.

I went in and she said she'd take a look-see but had the silver nitrate ready because it sounded like granulation. But once she looked in, she said it looked like the tube had prolapsed. I about came off the table when she pulled on it though -- it hurt like hades. It was one of those things she had read about but had never seen. So she went and got one of the other doctors to get his opinion. He agreed with her. But the silly thing was just dangling out of the cuff...

I was the special anomaly in the office today. The three doctors there thought it was pretty cool - which is funny to me, I wish I could see it too. But the best news is that it 'should' be a quick fix, with just an outpatient visit.

Good news is there doesn't appear to be any other prolapse or issues with anything else, which means I may still be able to get a job soon.

Surgery is set for the 21st.

Lynn
Great news :
Will be thinking about you on the 21st.

Suzanne

What do you mean it was dangling out of the cuff!? What was hanging? I am having pressure and the feeling like something's falling out (like I did pre-op with utero-vag prolapse) I'm scared! I go to the Dr tomorrow and am hoping all's ok!!!

Good luck with your surgery. Do they have to make new incisions?