Anyone had colpocleisis surgery? I want to learn more

I too did not pass the urodynamics test for stress urinary incontinence even though I only need a panty liner. I am planning on having a total colpocleisis with hysterectomy at the end of October. My prolapse is severe. I am 76yrs old and having angst about whether or not to do the mid urethral sling for incontinence. Also wondering if it can be done later if I choose not to add the sling at time of hysterectomy and colpocleisis. Looking for anyone's thoughts or experiences with this.

I had the urodynamics procedure and it was more of a discomfort than painful. The PA and nurse who performed it were so nice and made me comfortable. I did not have it done lying down but rather on a special chair with a cutout so if you gush, which at a point I did, it goes on the floor onto towels. It's sterile water that they keep putting in to see if it comes out when you cough. Although fake coughing is nothing like real coughing. But I eventually failed the test and the water came flooding out. So now the surgeon is wanting to put in a mesh mid urethral sling at the same time as my hysterectomy and colpocleisis surgery. I'm not sure if I want to have mesh put in due to it's ability to corrode. Hoping some women will post if they have had to make the decision to have the mid urethral sling and how long has it lasted.

I had LeFort type Colpocleisis surgery 3 weeks ago. (I am 75 years old.) The surgery has already helped several of my problems that I had prior. I was wanting to know from others who might have had this surgery approximately how long I might expect to have discomfort from the stitches and the surgery itself? Other than my very sore "bottom" I feel very good!

@csues

Not sure if this is the right way to do this, but I'm trying to decide whether to do the Colpocleisis or another Sacrocolpopexy. I did my first surgery with a hysterectomy with both a bladder and rectal prolapse repair without mesh. It didn't hold for very long and it was terribly painful given the fact I wasn't able to use pain meds. I recently learned that the stitch that was used actually caused my sense of urinary urgency, which I never had previously. I recently was given Gemtesa and the estrogen cream for my vagina to see if that helps with urgency, although Gemtesa is outrageously expensive and causing constipation. I suffer from bouts of diverticulitis, so having constipation can lead to more problems. I also have a theory that the fact my colon isn't in the proper place exacerbates diverticulitis.
I've read about all of the problems with mesh and am dubious a second surgery will be sufficient to handle my problem given the fact the first didn't work. Magee Women's Research is working on stem cell mesh, but I don't think it's in use yet. I've read that it is a chronic problem and there might be a need for a third surgery down the road. The thought of needing an additional surgery for this is unbearable. I used a pessary for a number of years and it no longer works for me. Everything I've read states the Colpocleisis procedure is more successful, but it's permanent and I'm a young 70 years old and making a decision to give up intercourse for the rest of my life is a big one.
I would greatly appreciate any advice and am very curious to hear from women who have been living with this procedure for many years and whether they have subsequent problems. The doctors quote percentages of success, but does that reflect a few months after surgery or years after?

@luftmensh1

I use a layer of thick cocoa butter vaseline on a pad to stop any chafing or bleeding. I've been doing that for a couple of years now.

I had the Colpocleisis surgery on March 16. I’m now 3 weeks post-op. My bladder prolapse had progressed to the point I was not leaving the house much, and spent a lot of time sitting down. Was getting pretty depressed. Prior to this I was very active, working outdoors, riding horses and bikes, and traveling. My life pretty much ground to a halt. Last spring I could use a Gelhorn pessary, but then it came out and somehow it never fit or worked right again. I was told I also had a rectocele, though I wasn’t aware of it. Very uncomfortable to stand or walk because of the pressure and pulling and sharp friction at the vaginal entrance. I did 3 months of pelvic floor therapy, but the prolapse just dropped even more during that time. I’m 73, and though my husband and I have a lovely sex life, we agreed quality of life is more important, and sex is about more than penetration. I knew I wanted this surgery rather than having reconstructive surgery fail time and again, plus the safety of this surgery and easier recovery time. And mostly I just wanted it FIXED once and for all so I can get my life back. I did opt for the transobdurator sling due to leaking slightly during the pre-op test — although I’ve never had incontinence in my life! Woke up after surgery feeling great. Peed fine, so they took out the catheter. Went home and recovery has been easy. Bled quite a bit at first, but by morning that was just spotting. Burns at first to pee, but that only lasts 48 hours. Have to be careful how you sit, but that’s way better by day five. Didn’t even need Tylenol by day five. It’s a miracle surgery, it’s amazing to feel like all your organs are actually firm and secure up in your body! That there’s a “floor”, and everything is being held up. I find myself walking around just for the joy of it, just because I CAN! Now at three weeks I just feel very slight discomfort, which I’m sure is just the stitches and healing process. Looking forward to being able to do things again once healing is complete! Hardest thing is reminding myself not to lift anything or exercise. I did have pretty significant incontinence in the first 2-3 days, but that’s gotten a lot better. Just wear a light pad now “in case”, and for continued very light spotting. Very happy with the result so far!

In a recent program on incontinence from Stanford University health library, I learned that some degree of incontinence afflicts about 50% of women. Even among my friends and neighbors, it seems fairly common. I completed a physical therapy program specifically for those with pelvic organ prolapse. Then pessaries worked for me for a while, but ultimately I needed colpocleisis surgery. Unlike reconstructive surgery, colpocleisis is obliterative. It makes the vagina shorter and narrower, which means it can no longer accommodate a penis, so you can't have intercourse afterward., though it's still possible to experience clitoral orgasm. The reasons I chose this route: I was 83 at the time, and my husband was significantly disabled. Also, I was aware of a number of cases of reconstructive surgery in which mesh had been used that resulted in suffering for women because the mesh grew into the flesh and caused infection. In some cases, women even died. My vagina was partly descended out of my body and sticking to my underwear, and I was having unpredictable episodes of incontinence, so that was when I started with the pessaries. The surgery improved things so that I could live a more normal life.

This is luftmensh1 again. I feel I should add that I had a complete hysterectomy at the same time as my colpocleisis surgery, all done vaginally. I chose this partly to avoid the mesh problems, but also because I thought that if I ever had bleeding from the uterus, they wouldn't be able to do an ultrasound vaginally to check the uterus., so I might as well remove the uterus along with the ovaries. Also, I was under the impression that the colpocleisis had a better chance of success if I had the hysterectomy. I don't know if this was actually true. I think that sometimes, in discussions with doctors, not everything is understood by the patient. I think the ovaries continue to provide some estrogen even after menopause. I was prescribed Estradiol (aa vaginal cream) to apply twice a week, which I am still using. I think I do see some signs of aging that have appeared, such as more facial wrinkling, etc.