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rectocele repair

I have a grade 3 rectocele and gr 1 cystocele. I've considered surgery for this for a couple years now and I feel like I want to proceed..so now waiting for a surgical date. I have a couple questions.

Are there are some about my age (31) who have had this surgery done? I've only had 1 hard labour/vaginal birth with difficult delivery which is the main cause of the problem. Its caused me grief with bowel movements and otherwise made me self conscious (intimately). I've been approved for the surgery but its considered elective of course. I was told I would need to take 8 weeks off. So I have to tell my boss - which I dont know what to say, do I have to tell him what it is?. Hes an eye surgeon himself so he understands the need,for surgery for quality of life, but its more personal than eye surgery!!

I just want to hear success stories or advice,from people my age and what to say to my boss.

Thx in advance!

Laura
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Avatar universal
If you go to a urogynecogist, it will not be considered elective because of the problem you had with delivery....
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Avatar universal
Hi there.   I am so sorry to hear of your surgery problems.   It is a sad fact that we only hear from women who have had issues with thier mesh ops or ops in general.   I know several women who have had successful prolapse operations with mesh who are highly delighted with their surgery even years later, so we have no real figures to represent how many or what % of women have issues with their surgery straight away or 5 and 10 yrs later whether they have mesh POP ops or non mesh POP ops.  
Also, as you say, it is very important to find out about any surgery and about the surgeon we are choosing to do any of our operations.   Asking about success rates imediately after sugery and 5 and 10 years post op, what risks their are with the particular surgery offered, and how many of these specific surgeries the surgeon performs each week/month/yr etc.,  Getting personal recommendations from women who are happy with their POP ops could be a good idea as well even though we are all different.
Using womens own tissue is not always as option as some have EDS or other tissue strength issues that lead to their POP/s in the first place or at least played a role in developing POP and these conditions are often not spotted early enough which can lead to successive failures of POP ops.  
Some people are campaigning to stop all mesh ops which then gives a patient no personal choice and can leave some with external hanging POP/s,   rectal POP and/or intussusceptions which are very difficult to live with.
I wish you well for your future
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Avatar universal
I had a cystocele at age 39. I was fit and active, out for my daily run when my bladder prolapsed quite suddenly. 4 pregnancies had weakened my pelvic muscles, apparently. Anyway, I agreed to a POP and SUI repair with the transvaginal mesh. Wish I had known about all the problems and warnings, but I didn't back in 2010. Anyway, my body rejected the mesh, it eroded through my vagina and urethra, and caused excruciating pain. I have now had 7 operations to try to remove it (and my urogyn is one of the top in his field in the midwest, so it wasn't a surgeon issue.) I still can't sit and have permanent pudendal nerve damage. When I found out that my case is not rare, it made me very upset, because I was never warned these problems could even occur. There is a good Facebook group called Mesh Problems, with 1,500 members who all have mesh issues of some kind. Lots of good advice. If I could do it again, I would have a native tissue repair for my prolapses - using my own muscle fascia. Even the FDA agrees that mesh is not longer lasting than this type of surgery, but mesh carries with it such huge risks. I would definitely try the native tissue repair, if pelvic physical therapy and pessaries don't do the trick! Best wishes
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Avatar universal
Hi there.   It is generally accepted that prolapse operations take around 12 weeks to heal but this is a gradual process towards the end of healing.   It is very important to heal well to get the best results which means no lifting and lots of support at home to begin with especially.
Make sure you are given laxatives to avoid any constipation.   Most ladies take Laxido/Miralax etc.  
I am not sure how you will get round not telling your employer what kind of operation you are having but since 50% of all women who have had children get prolapse and a lot of women who have never had children get prolapse as well you are in good company.   Hopefully your employer will understand and support your need for time off.  
Good luck with your surgery
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