Something weird is going on

Went to the castle way back on 8/1 and returned to work on 10/1.

Had about five hours of surgery: subtotal abdominal hysterctomy (kept ovaries), repair of rectocele, enterocele and cycstocle. Recovery fairly smooth (usual problems nearly everyone else has had with weird pains as internal stitches dissolve, swelly belly, gas, bowel issues for the first 4 weeks or so and discharge that seemed to never end until the past couple of days).

Had a great 6 week checkup with doc saying all looked great.

And then, suddenly over the past week or so, I've felt a fullness at the bottom of my vagina -- not as bad as before surgery, but definitely something. When I'm upright and walking around, it feels like I've got a tampon badly inserted and though I can't see a bulge, I can feel swelling.

I'm waiting for my doc to return from a trip -- and lord knows how long it will take me to actually get an appt -- but, have any of you ladies gone through a similar experience?

I've been really, really good -- no lifting, not too long on my feet during the day (ok, maybe a couple of times...), no straining during bm's.

Yet here I am with that terrible feeling that somehow I've prolapsed some part of the remaining anatomy...

Would love to hear if anyone else knows what I'm talking about.

Thanks all -- this site has been an absolute goddess-send, so to speak!

Best,
Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

It sounds to be like you should see your doctor as soon as he gets back. You had an awful lot of repair done at the same time as your hyst, so you had a lot more healing to do than some of us.

Please also continue to take it easy --- a lot of us aren't completely healed until 6-12 months after the surgery!

s

Maybe you could see dr on call for your gyn. If it was me I would not wait. I would really want to know what was causing that feeling.

Punkie

Hi, I too have had a weird sensation that began about 5 days ago when I was at 3 1/2 weeks post op....feels like something is about to fall out...when I called my doctor's office, the response I got was that it was probably just the healing process...hopefully it's not the start of some type of prolapse for me. Take care!

Lisa

I had a TVH/BSO on 8/5/02 and felt as if something was coming out or needed to be pushed up into the vagina starting around week 4. The DR said he saw nothing unusual during pelvic at 5 weeks. Once I started HRT (.05 Vivelle dot) and resumed my kegels, I slowly started to feel better. I had a horrible sensation when I was on my feet for long. Things seems alot better now, although time will tell. Are you doing your kegels? I try to do 3 sets during the day, 15 at a time, holding to the count of three and releasing to the count of three. Somewhere on another thread is a great website that explains how to do them correctly. I would check with your Doc and be sure they are okay for you to do. Good luck!

Appreciate your concern and your sharing. Still no luck in getting in to see my doc -- my 12 week appointment on 11/4 is likely to happen before there's an earlier opening!

Symptoms haven't gone away -- though sometimes it's there first thing in the morning and sometimes not until I get home from work.

Am hoping it's just internal swelling --imagine by now most of the internal stitches have dissolved-- and the repaired ligments, grafts, etc.etc.etc are now "on their own" so to speak.

Believe me though, I plan on asking lots of questions and maybe even asking for a mirror so Dr. Welgoss and I are on the same page about what's visible (since all the "celes" have been repaired and my uterus has been removed, nothing looks familiar!)

I'll check back in once I've been seen.

Take care all -- thanks again for your concern and assistance.

Best,
Cheryl

Well, if "misery loves company", then I was glad to read your thread. Our cases sound similar as I had 5 hrs of surgery for TVH, rectocele, cystocele, and Burch. Three months later, something had already uncomfortably "fallen". The disappointment was the WORST!!! Doc says it's either vaginal vault or enterocele. Have an appointment to be fitted with a pessary as I don't want to have another surgery so soon. Somehow I date the word "pessary" with my grandmother though ...
My question: How does one find a good uro-gyn somewhere at least within driving range? Any opinions on the vaginal vs. abdominal surgery to correct this? As I understand, there is faster recovery with the vaginal surgery, but with a higher rate of complication due to the surgeon "feeling" what needs to be done rather than having a more visual approach with an abdominal incision.

Kajsa