Any experience with rectocele? No one EVER talks about this!

I have had 3 surgeries for vaginal prolapse that included rectocele, cystocele and enterocoele. How much of each I don't really know but I do know that the rectocele part of it is the worst and what I notice. Honestly I think all of it goes together and I don't know of anyone personally who has one without the others. I had one surgery in late 2013 and I could see it so obviously like a dome at the vaginal opening, then had a reoccurrence in early 2015 after a bout of the flu or a bad cold and I coughed like crazy for 2 weeks straight then one evening I felt something "give way" on the inside then felt something fall in. The coughing had created another relapse and again I had one in 2016 after only 3 months that I live with now. I have just turned 68. I do understand about the constipation issue that I manage with a very close to vegan diet. I do eat some sugar but no meat, I have switched to gluten free and a low FODMAP plan to eliminate foods that I have had trouble with in the past. I learned a lot about irritable bowels. I take Miralax daily and also Agiolax which is like the old Perdiem that I took for many years at the suggestion of my gyn doc back when I was 40 years old. I have always had a nervous system and it helped me so much it was like a miracle cure then was discontinued and I struggled for many years which I do think contributed to the prolapsing. I also drink a minimum of 1 liter of water per day. I have had some serious traumatic things happen in the last several years which don't help so I work through the stress related physical symptoms of all that as well. I am learning to live by, "To thine own self be true." I have never done that but I am slowly learning to put my own life and concerns before the rest of the people in my life. I am not a candidate for more surgery so unless they come up with a new way to fix the prolapse I will have to live with it and I can do it as long as I am careful not to become constipated for very long. It does happen and it lasts about a week when it does. Then I add Milk of Mag or the Dulcolax variety of Milk of Mag which is the same thing. The pandemic and staying in so much hasn't helped either because I don't walk all the time like I used to living in NYC - I was out and about all the time. I do what I have to do to take care of myself and to be true to me.

Girl I think I can help… it’s really not glamorous but it works for me. I’m not a fan of Drs. or surgery.I religiously take fiber supplements and after my business in the AM I find I’m still full of it.I use a purified water enema while standing up we don’t need to lay down. Hold for a few moments and then push with fingers between the bowel and the vagina and release the impacted contents of the pouch.Voila… jobs done.Hope this is helpful to all sufferers!

I have had three prolapse surgeries, uterine prolapse in 2011, vaginal prolapse in 2018 and rectocele repair 5 weeks ago. The rectocele repair was due to urinary incontinence/pelvic floor prolapse.I have also had chronic constipation issues but that was not part of my discussion with urogynocologist who did my rectocele repair. Three weeks into recovery I developed a UTI caused by gardnerella vaginalis and am currently on my third antibiotic…Leviflaxen. I’ve have the “ urgency to pee” 24/7 and have had to cancel pretty much everything on my calendar for the past two weeks and am up and down all night long. Has anyone else had experience with this type of UTI after surgery? Seems like I should’ve been put on some type of antibiotic for this just prior to surgery to prevent this from happening.

I had rectocele repair surgery 6 weeks ago for UTI issues due to my bladder not being able to completely empty. Three weeks after surgery I got a UTI and haven’t been able to get rid of it…have taken Cephlex, Flagyl and Leviflaxen, still have symptom…vey difficult to sleep at night with burning and pee urgency. It gets worse starting early afternoon and I am constantly making trip to the bathroom. I also ache and have to use a heating pad starting in the afternoon. I am starting to wonder if something is amiss with the surgery but the urogynecologist who did my surgery seems to have washed her hands of me…she did ask me to come back in a week after being off antibiotics to get another urine sample. In the meantime I have an appt with a Urolgy PA next week. I am scared I have some type of chronic issue now!

Possibly need surgery for rectocele. Mine lasted 15 years, now prolapsed again, and bladder. 72 years young and need another surgery. New love interest not happy.

Hello everyone,
I’m a 39 year old Mum of three who has suffered chronic constipation most of my life. Doctors are finally looking at my long and looping sigmoid as the cause. Last colonoscopy was abandoned as it’s so twisted now. I’m lucky I think that I’ve only had one emergency visit to hospital with a temporary blockage. Subsequently, I have a rapidly worsening rectocele and posterior vaginal prolapse. Birthing three babies has of course contributed as well. My gynaecologist wants to do a prolapse repair but the bowel problems need to be corrected first.
My question is, has anyone had surgery to the bowel and rectocele/prolapse repair simultaneously? Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Hello @cory0005 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can understand that you would like to discuss your options with others who have had this problem. On Connect, we have some other discussions in Women's Health. Here are the links to those discussions:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-looking-to-discuss-prolapse-bladder-or-any-kind-of-prolapse/
In this discussion you will meet @sandbarry @gardeningjunkie and others who have had surgeries.

Here is a link to a discussion specifically about rectocele:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/any-experience-with-rectocele-no-one-ever-talks-about-this/?commentsorder=newest#chv4-comment-stream-header
Here you will meet @aethos and others. Will you look at these discussions and then if you want to ask a question, just hit "Reply" and post your question.

What is your greatest concern as you approach the decision to have surgery?

Posted this before but what is working for me is using a small enema after my rectal poo. What is left is easily washed out after the enema.I still have to push between vagina and rectum but everything is washed out easily.All physicians I’ve talked with seem to think this is safe. They’ve offered no other solutions.Heal thyself.Hate my body but at least I get through the day.

Hi helping1. I have stage 3 rectocele and I do splinting to help get the poo out of the poo pocket. I make a cushion out of toilet paper and use that instead of my bare fingers to push up against the bulge. Hope this helps.

Hi aethos. Sorry to hear about your pains d problems. Concerning your surgery, how was it? Was it very painful and how was your recovery besides the uti?