Hi Catalina – So sorry you are suffering. I have not yet had any surgery, although I’ve been trying (without success) to get a consult with the Florida Mayo urogynecologist to get a consult about it. I’ve learned to do some difficult splinting that is working for me in my 50s, but that I can’t imagine doing in my later years. I still don’t know what I’ll do.

I started making progress diet-wise by eating lots of bok choi and spinach, daily red-cabbage sauerkraut (lower fodmap), and roasted pumpkin seeds, in addition to Fiber Choice tablets, psyllium husk, and Sunfiber (guar gum). The sauerkraut helps with healthy gut flora, the bok choi and pumpkin seeds help move stools through, the fiber tablets and psyllium husk give them good form, and the guar gum helps things flow more smoothly through my digestive tract. (Collard greens are also good at moving things through, but I really dislike them!)

The most important thing I had to learn the hard way was to stop taking miralax. At first, that seemed important to avoid obstipation, which caused some serious internal damage for me. But after about a year, I realized that it wasn’t helping me because I couldn’t form hard enough stools to make it through my challenging vault. Stools need to be firm enough to make it all the way through without pooling in the rectocele, but not so firm as to get stuck on the way out. It’s a complicated dance, and it’s tiresome to manage, but you get used to it. I hope this is helpful to you! Best, --Erin

@ina9 Catalina, I did have the surgery and in a post dated recently I shared that my “fix” failed. It was done by suspension, I now will have to have another try using mesh. The colorectal surgeon feels this failure may be due to bladder involvement, so we are going down that path now.
As far as diet and supplements…my husband and I eat a whole food, 98% plant based diet. Minimal salt, sugar, oil (no seed oils). We occasionally have salmon, and I occasionally will have chicken. I take supplements due to age, diet, and inherent nutritional or genetic deficiencies. I am an active 70 yo, in good health with no chronic diseases. I have recently learned I have food sensitivities. Dairy causes head congestion and coughing, gluten/wheat causes anxiety. I hope this answered your question. I wish you the best of luck along this journey.