Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse

@kimspr3
I am glad you have your prolapse surgery scheduled. I actually have not ever had surgery on my back. Because of my scoliosis, they would have to put a rod in my back after working on the selected areas and I just did a bunch of research and decided I did not want it done. I did dance on point for 25 years and also have ankle and feet issues (I did have an ankle fused and some tendons repaired in my lower leg) but never anything in the back. I just tuff it out. I am transitioning from my Norco/Hydrocodone to something called Belbuca. It has worked wonders on my nerve pain down my legs. Not taken it away but it has sure helped. It is a tiny sticky film that you put in your mouth and it dissolves. It has allowed me to cut from 6 Norco a day down to 2 in a relatively short period of time. You might ask your pain doctor if he thinks it might help you.

You are wise to stay as many nights in the hospital after your prolapse surgery as you can. My doctor was going to have me stay one night but I asked if I could stay two since I live alone and he said fine so that is what I did. Prior to my prolapse surgery I had difficulty urinating because my bladder had dropped down so much. This is very common. After my surgery I had no problem urinating at all. I came home with a catheter in and had to keep it in for a week. But after that, urinating was not a problem at all. The surgery did not bother my back at all either. In fact it helped a little because there was no pulling on the muscles and ligaments in the pelvic area after surgery. My ligaments were very weak and that is why they had to use mesh for my surgery. Just repairing the ligaments would not have lasted as 2 different doctors told me they would not hold and I would be back in a few years going through surgery all over again. So I had the mesh and have had absolutely no problem at all. After your surgery there are a few landmarks you have to cross--one is having a BM. They assume because you have had pain meds in surgery and afterwards that you will be constipated. So they gave me something to combat constipation. But for some reason, I ended up with a little bit of diarrhea. I don't think I needed the meds for constipation as my body is very used to pain meds so the constipation medicine gave me diahhrea. I tried to tell them that but they didn't listen. I took all of my own medications to the hospital with me but some hospitals don't let you do that for liability reasons.

As far as driving, yes I do it every day. I don't like to stand or sit for long periods but that is due to my back and leg pain, not the prolapse surgery. After the prolapse surgery they did not want me to drive for a week until after the catheter came out. I took advantage of it and just stayed home and rested, cleaned out drawers and read. But I drove myself to the doctor to get the catheter out. I was so ready to get that thing out that I was 30 minutes early for my appointment.

I am happy to answer your questions. That is why we are here. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. Tell your husband he must catch some fish on his trip if you are putting off your surgery so he can go. If you think of any other issues, however minor, please send them my way.
Take care.

@kimspr3 They feel my problem in that area could be related to my tearing through my anal sphincter when my son was born. I do not have any spine problems but yours certainly must compound the situation.

I really understand your feelings, I would feel the same way. Have you asked the doctor what might be the outcome if you do not have surgery? If not, you should.

I think we can deal with pain when we know the end is in sight, but when not it’s very hard to deal with it. I wish you wisdom in making a decision, and I hope you will keep us in the loop. You are going through a lot. I hope you feel free to vent here, or to bounce educated ideas off of anyone who may have some input.
JK

@gardeningjunkie Many doctors are very reluctant to prescribe opioids these days, even my own PCP who knows me pretty well is that way. I assume an ER doctor doesn’t know the patient and is less apt to take a chance. I do have some leftover oxycodone so I tried that and it did help. I only take anything at bedtime. The tramadol bottle says 1 or 2 every four or six hours so I took two last night and that was helpful but he gave me a small number of pills so I don’t want to go through them quickly.

Being post liver transplant I cannot drink alcohol so that is not an issue.
JK

I would think giving up alcohol post liver transplant would be a matter of survival. Very motivating. I didn't give up alcohol until I learned about the white matter in our frontal lobe collects as we age and/or with alcohol consumption. At 66 I had a tonic clonic (grand mal) seisure after receiving a general for an outpatient surgery and the result was an electrolyte imbalance causing a seizure at home that night. Yes I am lucky to be alive.
I do encourage others if possible stay as long as you are allowed post surgery. You do need a caregiver present at your home for a few days while you recover, at least for 24 hours. Also you need to realize how important it is to eat and drink a sugar beverage afterwards. I was nauseated and couldn't make myself eat and I only wanted water thus low sodium, magnesium and potassium and all that water flushed out my minerals. At least eat soda crackers and sip 7-UP. Because of seizure I had several brain scans which showed this nasty white matter collecting in the frontal lobe. White matter, which will build in time with age even if you don't drink causes short term memory loss- for example, Why did I walk into this room? Once I saw the scan pictures I decided I didn't need to contribute to this part of aging. This was a big sacrifice because I loved my evening cocktails yet our will to live a good life is strong. What am I writing about? Ha, Ha, just kidding.

@gardeningjunkie From what I have read there really is no reason to have to not consume any alcohol unless your cirrhosis was due to alcohol. Mine was not, I had NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) which is an advanced stage of NAFLD - non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Even so, I think we all do respect the rules and not drinking is one of them.

I did enjoy my glass of wine with dinner but giving that up was much easier than giving up foods with lactose. I have become lactose intolerant and that really is miserable. I don’t often eat ice cream due to calories and sugar, but now every time I drive by an ice cream stand I feel a loss. I am now planning the rehearsal dinner for my son’s wedding and trying to find options I can enjoy is not easy. 🙁
JK

My kidneys and liver are perfect and my reason as mentioned was to lesson the aging of my brain and also I have other health issues, eczema, for which alcohol should be avoided.
Giving up alcohol, was easier than giving up sugar! I agree with you!!! But even after 9 months of no processed sugar, I will still allow a monthly dessert. Yet I no longer salivate looking at ice cream or sweets. I am allowed Stevia as an artificial sweetener on my anti-inflammation diet which so helps not only for my eczema (no longer need an annual cortico-steroid shot) and it solved my chronic yeast issues- gone!!! I have found Wal-mart makes a good pancake syrup and their jams are quite acceptable for when I do need something sweet. For me calories are not the issue and I have lost 15 lbs and do not want to loose more as I have never been overweight and am back to my teenage weight which doesn't look as good on a 70 year old woman's face. I eat volumes of food and except for desserts and alcohol consume as much as my 250 lb husband and I weigh less than half of that. Now after 3 months detox of all sugar- both processed and natural I can eat a small serving of fruit daily and this is thrilling.
Your sacrificing foods you love will make you feel better and stay healthier- hang in there.

Thank You!

I should have said Walmart makes a good sugar free syrup and jam.

Gail, thank you. If I don't have the surgery the bladder may move further down and muscles in bowel will become worse. I don't have a choice. Wish I did. My concern for you if you decide to have surgery please be careful. You don't want to wind up like the AA patients. Did you have spine surgery?

Baxtersmom, I apologize sending you a wrong reply. I think I've been sending to wrong reply.s Not feeling well, having bad pain day.