Prolapse bowel surgery: What was your recovery like?

Sorry you are having so many issues. I was told to eat more fiber and to take Metamucil to help with leakage, which in turn started hemorrhoids, sores, and constant feeling of having to go to the bathroom with very loose bowels. So far the Metamucil and increased fluids has helped. He explained the Miralax that I was told to take does the opposite and causes the stools to be soft or diarrhea. I had sigmoidectomy for stage 2 cancer 4 weeks ago, so my situation is somewhat different. I hope your surgeon has given you advice on your situation. Too many times they give you little info and send you home. I’m glad for this site to be able to share our frustrations and see what others have done. Prayers for you!

Hi Erin….well I am older!….I’m 72 now but had it at I think 60 or so. Lifetime wise, I have had over 40 surgeries to correct the demolition of EDS staying in front of each issue as fast as possible. Including my skin! I had the face and eye lift and skin removed from my arms, stomach etc. I tried to reward myself with something good, to offset all the corrective surgeries that were harder on me. That way I stayed ahead of the pity party I would have had. I look about early 60s I’m told, and you wouldn’t know I am full of titanium. I would tell anyone to fix each issue as it arises because one day you are my age and they don’t want to do the surgeries later in life. Your option can be taken away from you! This year I was flattened by MCAS so very common w EDS 40%. It came on after my shots. You might want to check to see if you do. A lot of bowel issues and gastro issues disappear when you are on the protocols they recommend. I am very pro active and went to the doctors with what I needed. They knew of the potential down the road due to EDS and at first signs agreed to go forward. Nothing with us should be left to time!. We will only be more compromised with time so I would tell you to be well studied and informed because EDS is everywhere in your body! Everywhere. And be pro active with what YOU need. Most Drs are not well informed on EDS . They tell me they got “10 min” on it in med school. But very impressed with what I know. Know as much as possible. When the eye surgeon replaced the lens in my eyes he brought in a specialist but there was no problem as I was still in my 60s. I hope you belong to all the societies for eDS. They are super helpful! I would be happy to tell you about any surgery but I would encourage everyone to look at Mast Cell Activation Syndrome if they have severe eating or bowel issues, or acid reflux. Most of us are eating foods we are basically allergic to! I sure was.

I have HSD and receding prolapse hemorrhoids. My recent genetic test said I have TNXB can this make me more prone to prolapse? Is this hEDS? I’m so concerned also my uterus moves like crazy and it’s always I’m other positions and I have hiatal hernia and mitral prolapse 😅 still dunno how so many organs if it’s HSD. But definitely I’m not looking forward on needed surgery I’m trying to get help from my team 🙏🏻

Laparoscopic biologic graft ventral rectopexy with possible posterior
I’m having surgery to correct rectal prolapse and mild fecal incontinence. Has anyone had this surgery? What was the outcome? This is a major surgery and I am a bit apprehensive and nervous. Thank you.

Hi @baz, I moved your question about laparoscopic biologic graft ventral rectopexy recovery and outcomes to this existing discussion that @tabithatwitch started.
- Prolapse bowel surgery: What was your recovery like? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hi-im-not-sure-where-to-post-about-my-surgery-and-recovery

I think you'll appreciate reading the previous posts and connecting with members like @ameriteckhuma @mp49 @willowgirrrl @terrirussell @kilh and more.

When are you scheduled for surgery?

Hi Erin…! I am so sorry it’s January and just answering you! My bad!….as to Surgery, I’ve had over 40 in my life and glad for every one of them. Sometimes it’s the doctors who don’t know enough to “risk ‘ surgery. Not informed or comfortable. I am very pro active and go and get each one that I want. Including that one!….go get yourself fixed by a doctor who gets us and who is not afraid . I got that run around from a young doctor once and just went to a more experienced one. There is appropriate risk for each of us that renders us a quality of life that we are happy about and each one of us need to decide. I do my research on doctors and then add in my instincts when I meet them . I am interviewing them and if they are not informed on EDS then I’m out of there. When I had lenses put in my eyes, they brought in two of the best in Fl. I never had any problems so that will help the next person and now I see 20/20. I looked down at my elderly mothers 10 toes that were all hammered and thought….ahhh no thanks! As he had terrible balance because of them. Looked at my own and went in and had all 10 done in 4 surgeries as they had already started to curl. As I got knees and hips replaced I was so glad later for my perfect balance. Project ahead and if you see a need , don’t wait until you are in pain or dislocation to get the correct surgeries done. There is only more of the same ahead for us. Also, I can’t say enough about Oxalate overload eating and what a huge problem that is for we who suffer inflammation! Stay away from high oxalate foods, high histamine foods and high lectin foods, as well as gluten. We are overly sensitive to all of that and swell easily. And yes!! There is a lot of food still to choose from . You will be rid of the gas of all the things you can’t digest easily. Dr Becky Campbell on line will help you sort out all the lists of food that I’m mentioning, and Dr. Beth O’Hara……and many others who suffer the same but forged a better way. Campbell has her own vitamins that I used to get well called Optimal Reset. there are so many vitamins that she organized them into a valuable thing for others. I also have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and very possibly you do too. I’d check that out. 40% of EDS folks have some form of it. That could be a huge culprit for your agony. I would love to hear from you and that you are finding a way!….God Bless……Terri

@colleenyoung, @baz Good Afternoon, After waiting for a cardiac release to see my Obgyn about my surgery which was canceled for April 15, 2022, I got an appt. for Dec. 5th (waited two months for this), and now I get to wait again for the surgery now booked for April 13, 2023. My fingers are crossed that nothing gets in the way.

So for now, I get to live with the pain, pressure, fluid retention, and not staying in sometimes for a day or two. Then on top of all that the vagus nerve decides to join in and causes more pressure, lower BP, and wobbly legs. April is a long way off and I have been dealing with my RP for over two years now. In the beginning, I just had surgery to lift my bladder up and to have a rectal anterior and posterior rectocele. The bladder was fixed and the anterior rectocele also but my tissue was too thin for stitches to complete the posterior. I have been building up my tissue wall with medication and hope now the posterior rectocele (April 13) can be completed and my prolapse fixed for good. With the surgery, I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next day. The day of the surgery, the staff told me see you later and the next thing I knew, I was in recovery. I had no pain at all and no incision, done through the vag. I just had to rest and no lifting for a few weeks. For me, this was easy.

As for my weight loss, it started in Feb. 2022. During that time I was also giving myself Tymlos injections each night (which has a black box warning). For months going forward, I have no idea what was the cause of all that happened next. I started losing weight (106 down to 93) in about three weeks. By the first week of March, my body was in total fatigue, with wobbly legs. I could not get much done. On March 5, 2022, I went 911 to the ER (stop Tymlos 2/15). My journey started that day, I returned home on May 5, 2022. My weight coming home was 98 and my ICD codes for CHF and Afib. I was just fine up till then and planning my garden for Spring 2022. I have been trying to gain weight with a goal of 108. Everything today is for losing weight not gaining. Now it is 2023, I am weighing between 104 - 106. Then maybe back to 103 for a day or two. My BP runs on the low side, so some days I do not get much done. I have a tablet through Mercy Virtual and a team of a PA, an RD, and a PT, available 24/7 by phone.

I have rambled on long enough so if I can answer any questions, please send me a reply. This is a new year with new situations that we will have to face. I am so glad there is a Mayo Connect where we can ask questions and find answers from a wonderful group of caring people. Take care and stay healthy. KLH

I am scheduled for rectal prolapse surgery on February 23 if I can get my cardiac clearance. I’m hoping that my A-Fib doesn’t become a factor in getting it.
I’m so happy to see a response on this thread since I haven’t heard from anybody who has had this diagnosis or surgery. I was thinking I was the only one out here…
I am nervous because of my heart condition and the seriousness of the operation. I would just like to know how other people did and what their recovery was like.
Thanks again for your input. Please keep me informed of your progress.

I wonder if you had the same surgery that I am scheduled for. I’m having “Laparoscopic biologic graft ventral rectopexy with possible posterior dissection”. Quite a mouthful. Apparently they take the receding intestines and pull them up and attach them to a ligament in my back. It’s not through the vagina it’s laparoscopic through my stomach.
Was your procedure anything like this?

February 23 if I can get cardiac clearance.