Bladder surgery

Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy with a mesh is still offered if there are no other options although I believe there are stricter controls and a subspecialty training programme in urogynaecology with a General Medical Council approved curriculum for clinicians who wish to do this procedure and the patient must meet the criteria.

There was a high incidence of women who had a different procedure where mesh was used as a hammock to lift the bladder. These are the women who suffered due to problems with the mesh used in this way and they had to have the mesh removed.

win

I did not think Sacrocolpopexy was allowed anymore as so many women suffered terrible consequences after having this op

My op was done through a bikini cut. You can barely see my scar. However in later years I worked with a consultant who did this procedure vaginally.

I did not think Sacrocolpopexy was allowed anymore as so many women suffered terrible consequences after having this op

Recommended Pelvic Empowerment youtube series, lots of helpful videos and advice on pelvic dysfunction [bladder, bowels and reproductive organs] by a Dr of physical therapy

also www.mypelvichealth.co.uk/en/women/urine-leakage-management/efemia-bladder-support/about-efemia/ [device requires purchase]

also ring pessary NHS - these can be largely self-managed and removed nightly/weekly or left in by the individual until 6 monthly medical check. If the prolapse is very advanced and difficulty is experienced retaining the ring pessary during evacuation of the bowels the GP can combine two smaller ring pessaries which makes for a more comfortable removal than the shelf type pessary. They can make faecal passage more sluggish hence some prefer to remove the ring pessary each night.

There comes a point, if the prolapse is too advanced, and/or the person has had a hysterectomy and/or the ligaments have stretched, the Kegal exercises become ineffective

Personally I would try non-invasive treatment first - there are no guarantees that after cystocele and rectocele surgery the symptoms will improve and there is the potential the prolapse can return time and again and require even further surgery.

Unlike Silverlady333 I do not feel I would survive an abdominal Sacrocolpopexy with a mesh - it is a very big operation especially the older one gets.

Agree with Lostmyglasses xx I shall check out her helpful advice re hypopressives [haven't heard of this before]

Best wishes that you make the right decision for yourself

I'm 62 and have had exactly the same , diagnosed about 10 years ago . I was offered a surgical repair or to first try with a ring pessary . I've continued with the ring pessary as it works for me .It's changed every 6 months at my local hospital gynaecology clinic and I'm given a thorough check up . It was a little hit and miss at first getting the right size but I perserved because I didn't want surgery. I've also recently been prescribed Ovestin cream to use intravaginally and what a difference this has made . I'm much more comfortable and im not getting up at night anymore or getting utis . My prolapse hasn't got any worse since .
Hope this helps 🙏

When I used to work in OPD there was a lot of differences of opinion between the urologists and the gynecologists. I used to work in the gynecologist clinics. I myself have had numerous surgeries over the years to correct these problems. Basically the surgeon puts a pleat in the muscle of the vaginal wall to strengthen the bulging area. Mine was cause by needing an endometrial ablation (due to extremely heavy periods) which eventually caused a prolapse. As my uterus was as the consultant described it was by then withered and he offered me a hysterectomy and the operation would be an easy one. What no one tells you is how much rest you need after such an operation and because I had a young family to look after I probably undid all the surgeons work.
I then had separate anterior and posterior prolapses and had repairs.
One day while working in another gyne clinic I mentioned to the consultant that I had this bulging sensation again, He told me my dear when the push the walls back the ceiling falls in! Yes I had a vault prolapse. So then I had to have an abdo Sacrocolpopexy. Which basically is a mess attached to the top of your vagina to the sacral bone to act like a ligament.
I then had a further posterior prolapse and another repair. by this time the kids were teenagers and had a new partner (now my husband). After the surgery he whisked me off to his home and wouldn't let me lift a finger. My kids were old enough to fend for themselves. with proper rest and recuperation this operation was successful. I still have to be careful not to get constipated or I will feel something coming down but it rectifies itself.
So good luck with any repairs and like I said make sure you do not overdo it!

I had a pessary ring fitted about 10 years ago which is changed every six months …. what a difference that’s made to my life . Not nice while they’re changing it …but over in 2-: minutes!!

I had bladder repair surgery using tape 13 years ago. Before having the operation, I had no control on my bladder, if out walking, I do not drive, and regularly wet myself. Sometimes it was very embarrassing. At home it was O.K. as the toilet was close at hand. Funnily I never had to get up in the night to use the toilet.

After the operation, everything was fine, a little bit of discomfort urinating for a couple of days, and I have not had any trouble since. I'm sorry that so many other women lost out on this operation, because of the ones that seemed to "go wrong"

I too have cystocele and ring pessary changed every 6 months. I get up about 3 times a night to wee, but can go most of the day without a wee. Had right knee replecment in February so that seems to be everyone's experience too, up and down to the loo.
My main problem is I can feel the bladder, especially if constipated!

I have had 2 prolapse repairs which worked well, but only for so long. I have always had a tilted womb which does not help. I tried a supportive ring for a few years but hated having them replaced. I would go for the op.
I did have the test to see how urgent my stress incontinence was but was told it was not urgent enough for the injections I now take a tablet a day instead which helps me a lot. I still get up once or twice at night but the day times are better I am not so obsessed with toilets anymore when I am out. It can ruin your life.

Avoid surgery
Somewhat of an authority sadly
I have a moderate prolapse bladder and rectocele
Certain pressure loading exercises are bad
Kegels I have been told do nothing to improve though may stop getting worse
I have discovered recently something g called hypopressives and signed up for a course - not a quick fix but look it up and read amazing reviews The pelvic floor is connected to the chest and ribs
And this is a breathing g technique
It sounds abit woo woo but I believe in it
The one I do is Moonrise ( not an ad )
Read up on it
Don’t have surgery please !

If your biggest problem is constantly rushing to the loo, I'd consider having a chat with your doctor/consultant about botox injections into the bladder.
It sounds worse than it is.
I've got MS, have been having them for about 14years and they work for my bladder issues.
Before I started the injections, I could go to the loo, walk straight out of the house, drive the 8minute journey to work, and regularly pee myself before I got there, and have to turn round and come home to shower again and change my clothes. Nighttime loo visits were practically every hour on the hour.
Since starting the injections, I can go all night without a loo visit.
The treatment is a camera passed up into the bladder, local anaesthetic gel and about 20 tiny injections around the inside lining of the bladder. They pinch a bit but the whole thing is over in less than 10mins.
Generally, each treatment lasts between 10 and 14 months, they work a bit longer than this for me.
Even after my first treatment, my son noticed within a couple of days that I wasn't constantly running to the loo, and I'd spent years terrified of going anywhere if I didn't know I could find a loo within literally a minute.
Yes, the tiny pinches are a bit uncomfortable, but I count them off and I know I've got around 16 months of feeling normal before I have to go and have it redone.

If this is possible for you, it's far less invasive than an operation, and might help enormously.
It's definitely worth a conversation with the docs.

I’ve got the same I was diagnosed about 2 years ago . I decided to do nothing but I have found exercise helps if I don’t get many steps in for a couple of days it’s worse. I have even joined a gym got a female trainer and taken up lifting weights and the core exercises definitely help and seems to draw things back in
. The only time I have to be careful is if I get a cough and make sure I don’t cough too much.
But do whatever feels better for you , I’m not one for medicines and operations so I’ll just carry on x

Thanks. It’s the night Time loo visits which are so bad at least four a night

I get so tired.

When I had a hysterectomy, my surgeon told me he had also done a bladder repair, as my bladder had also prolapsed.
I was like a new woman and in fact became a camel, no longer need the loo every ten minutes and sleeping through the night with no loo visits.

Good luck with your op.

My mother had a prolapse (but I'm not sure what type it was) when she was in her 60s. It was resolved with a "stitch" and she had no further issues.
I'm not sure how helpful this is but she was very anxious about it beforehand.
I was living abroad at the time and no internet so no more info. Someone will be along soon with something more useful I hope.