Prolapse bowel surgery: What was your recovery like?

I have a prolapse as well. I really don’t know if it is cystocele or rectocele since I haven't found a doctor in my area who will do anything for me. One told me that more than 50% of women my age (66) have some sort of prolapse as if that makes it okay to just leave it. I am uncomfortable, sometimes unable to urinate…and other times the urge to go is so imminent that I must hurry to the toilet or risk an accident. My urologist is sending me to a gynecologist for pessary fitting but I’m afraid that it will be too uncomfortable to deal with. The urologist said surgery to repair the prolapse would require an extensive recovery. I feel like I’m not being taken seriously but live in a smaller city with few options for medical treatment.
I would be interested to hear from any women who have some type of prolapse. How are you dealing with it if you’ve had surgical repair, how did it go?
Thanks.

It is what I had for Rectal prolapse. I was one solid week in hosp. The bowel worked on the 7th day and I went home. It remains perfect daily with daily use of probiotic after 7 years.

I am not feeling well today. 10th day on nitroflutoin. Excruciating upper abdominal pain and rt flank pain. But UTI and kidney infection were quite severe. Had to finish the medicine. I too do suffer with prolapse, severe bladdere incontinence. I refuse to have bladder surgery , because the mesh that surgeons use adheres to the organs and causes, life threatining complications and no cure to correct. Also had total hysterctomy 25 years ago. It sucks getting old. Going for acupuncture in a few days. NO MORE MEDS.
Vegetarian diet.
Good Luck to you.

@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

Thanks for your reply. I’m sorry you have such pain.
Where do I find information about the mesh they will be using?
I never heard that it’s an issue and I want to check it out. Sounds scary.

Thanks for replying.
I was told I would be in the hospital one or two days only. Why were you in for seven days? Where did you have your surgery?
I’m scheduled to have my surgery next month at Stanford in Palo Alto California.

I hope your next surgery gives you relief from RP.
Where are you having the surgery?

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.

@baz, @collenp I just saw your message. I will have the surgery @ Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Missouri. I worked for Mercy in Laboratory Services for 15 years before retiring over 3 years ago.
Both of my OB/GYN Drs. would never use mesh and they told me to stay from having any mesh used. My bladder was lifted up and attached. That was several years ago and it is still in place where it belongs. Now my rectal prolapse just needs to be pulled up, straightened, and attached (no mesh for support). I was told all done through the vag. Hopefully, by now my tissue wall is thick and strong enough for stitches.
I would ask if they were going to use mesh or if there was another option. I would hope you have a choice since you are the one having surgery.

Stay in touch and let me know how you are. Your date is way before mine. In the meantime take care of yourself and stay healthy. This is important before surgery. KLH