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

@mcmurf2 Welcome to connect as I have been reading all the post on rectocele The symptoms sound like I might have this also joy joy . Think I,ll talk with the Dr when my apt. I have been on the fiber pills but will switch to the liquid .

i"m here! have the same thing. and do the same thing to evacuate my bowels... with the fingers.... I get to the point that if is doesn't come out when I"m on the toilet,, I get frustrated and just get up and leave.. figure it will eventually come out. My bad back is making it difficult to use the finger technique at times... so,,,, I just get off the toilet and wait till later. I visited Mayo and the Dr told me to increase my orange fiber drink to 2x a day and with more spoonfuls in each glass. ( and lots of water). This has helped when I remember to stay consistent with it. He did say that he would do the surgery IF this did not work. HE also said NOT to use the fiber pills as the amount of fiber actually in them is not enough. ( I did not know this). Look at the label and see for yourself. it has to be the kind you mix with water. ( more fiber). I am 56,, and never had kids. I also had a bladder sling put in about 8 years ago for incontinence issues. I was told this has nothing to do with my poop problem. ( FYI). Your not alone!

@flind I agree wholeheartedly with @baxtersmom that your best bet is a urogynecologist. My regular gynecologist actually referred me to a urologist rather than take incontinence on himself, but I chose to go with a urogynecologist. Since there is only one here in NH and she was booked quite a way out I went to one in MA who is on the staff at Mass General. I also had large babies -- 9 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 4 ounces, so that may have been the cause for me also.
Your issue is more complex than urinary complex so I would definitely go to a urogynecologist, but I wonder if this is something that proctologists treat also. I never pursued that route.
JK

Thanks @bill54321 but not really. The substitute doctor I had was just an idiot - my doctor was on vacation. Due to mistakes made in the birth of another child he was sued for a fortune and I believe he lost his license.
JK

@flind
I had surgery for bladder prolapse a couple of years ago. I was also told that I had a bit of a rectocele and it was repaired along with my bladder prolapse. I did not know about the retrocele until I went to the urogynecologist that did my surgery and when he got to deciding on the precise procedure he told me he was going to repair the retrocele as well. During this time I talked to a few female friends and one of my friends told me that she had a rectocele several years prior and that it was repaired. Hers was due to having had 3 rather large babies. She has not had any problems since the repair and I think it has been at least 20 years ago. I found that if you really want to have a conversation with a doctor about any of these issues, seeing a urogynecologist is best. A regular gynecologist just doesn't really know enough about the procedures in order to speak to you in the level of detail that you will want in order for you to get the information that will allow you to make decisions that are best for you.

A couple of things that you might expect is that the surgery that is suggested may be with the DaVinci robot which allows for faster healing and makes the surgery less invasive. I don't know for certain, but it is likely that hysterectomy will be a part of the surgery. Why? Only because of logistical reasons if the uterus is "in the way" of the area where the repair needs to take place. If your doctor wants to use mesh for the repair do not be immediately turned off to it. The mesh they use today is not the same mesh they used that caused all the lawsuits you may have seen on TV, It is a totally different material and is used when your doctor believes that simply repairing the tissue by stitching it up will not hold for the long term. My doctor used the newer mesh and I have not had any problems. I was hesitant at first but once I realized that my tissue was not going to hold without it and that I would likely end up having to go through the surgery again, I decided the mesh was the best procedure for my case.

I also understand from talking with people who have had rectocele repair that sometimes urologists and/or colorectal surgeons may be involved as well as urogynecological specialists. I do recall my surgeon who was a urogynecologist asking me if I had any problems with fecal elimination or any fecal incontinence. I did not have either but really did not know I had a rectocele until I went in to talk about surgery for my bladder prolapse.

Any procedure you will have will be done as an inpatient procedure and you will be in the hospital for at least one night. I live alone and requested to stay an additional night so I was there two nights. My advice is to stay as long as you possibly can because you will probably have a catheter and having your first BM after the surgery may or may not be painful or uncomfortable. But either way it is an important milestone for your recovery and you may want help available until you have it.

I wish you the best of luck. Do not be embarrassed at all. While it is not a conversation that is easy to have, I have found that it is increasingly common and if you get to the right specialist they will be able to discuss it with you thoroughly. What is more, they should have the ability to do so in a way that puts you at ease and invites your questions.

You are a real hero

@lisalucier @flind During the birth of my son I ripped right through my anal sphincter which is what they suggested may have caused my problem, even though it was many years later. I had pain similar to you, Lisa, when I had BMs. It was terrible, and every time I had one it of course made the problem worse. It took three months for me to heal. I could not ride comfortably in the car as a passenger so I would lay down in the back seat. Interestingly I could drive, maybe because I could anticipate the shifts in the car better and prepare for them.
JK

I had this condition, @flind, and I had surgery for it along with a repair for bladder prolapse about 8 years ago. I had no idea I even had it till it was pointed out to me. So, I would be another combination surgery situation. However, I can say that I do remember specifically having pain after the surgery right in that area, and that it did not feel too good. I was given painkillers, though, which helped make it at least tolerable. The other thing I remember is that having a first BM after surgery felt absolutely traumatic, like I was going to just pop my stitches right out. Scary, in a way. I was prescribed stool softeners, and finally I just had to go for it and try it out. It did hurt, then caused soreness for some time after my surgery (maybe 2 weeks?), but finally got better.

I did try a pessary before surgery (for all the fallen parts), but I was not a big fan. I know some women who use them for many years and are fine with it, however.

The difficulty is that now I know what a rectocele is, I think mine may be back again.

Thanks JK. You got it! This is exactly what I'm talking about. I do not think I can spend the rest of my life manually pushing poop out my patootie! I'm just not gonna be able to sustain this! I may be developing arthritis related to arm contortions... I will def post after my appt. Ty very much for your caring and interest!

@flind when I went to a physical therapist for urinary incontinence she suggested that the rectocele could be causing what I felt was fecal incontinence and told me about putting a sterile glove on and pushing it out manually.

This does seem to be a problem that doctors are loathe to bring up. I hope your appointment goes well and presents some solution. I hope too that you will post about it. I am very interested.
JK