My elderly mother just had it a week ago and now has increased bleeding and passing blood clots. The surgeons office has been notified. They said drink water--lol. Anyone else had this procedure?
My elderly mother just had it a week ago and now has increased bleeding and passing blood clots. The surgeons office has been notified. They said drink water--lol. Anyone else had this procedure?
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I appreciate you seeking help for your mom since her recent surgery. Did the surgeon's office explain why drinking more water would help with the bleeding and clots?
Here is some information from a university hospital website that explains the surgery and the recovery process.
Was your mom discharged with a catheter? Is she having any other problems related to her surgery?
I have used a pessary for a number of years. The first one began coming out, so I went without it for a while, but my prolapse was bad enough that the bulging tissue stuck to my underwear and I would have to peel it away frequently to get up from sitting, and the tissue was irritated and looking red. My gynecologist referred me to the head of female pelvic medicine at a hospital, asking that I be seen right away. She was not available so quickly, so I got a next-day appointment with a doctor in the same group. He fitted me with a pessary two sizes larger, which I still use. There have been some downsides to the pessary: there is a discharge, which is somewhat messy and odor-producing, so I have to use a light liner pad and change it several times a day; it has also irritated tissue, sometimes causing a sore or bleeding. The bleeding had to be checked out via ultrasound and hysteroscopy. A polyp was removed, and no malignancy was found. I was told to take a vacation from the pessary to let the sore heal, and it didn't heal so quickly, so I was without it for some time. Without the pessary, I felt tremendous pressure, a sense of needing to urinate almost all the time, but not always being able to do so. This seemed to inflame the nerves in my pelvic area, my arms, hands, and legs, which was almost unbearable. Also, I wasn't always able to empty my bladder completely. And I could have episodes of incontinence a short time after being unable to urinate. Out of desperation, I went back to using the pesssary, but it kept coming out whenever I went for an exercise walk. It was okay around the house, going grocery shopping, to an appointment, but it kept coming out during sustained exercise walking. A larger pessary was tried twice, but was found to be too large. Maybe I had lost my skill in inserting the pessary during the long vacation from it, but I seem to have regained the ability. I push up the bulging tissue, which the doc claims is the vaginal wall, before I insert it, and now it stays in again for exercise walking. I also use gloves to remove it, and put a drop of KY Jelly on the two fingers I use. I notice at times in the shower that some of the prolapsed tissue bulges over the side of the pessary, and I push it back up. With the pessary in, I feel like a person, but it may not be a long-term solution. Also, I may not always have the dexterity to insert and remove it. I am 83, and I have arthritis in various body parts, including some of my fingers.
During the pandemic, I was afraid to go anywhere, including to the urogynecologist who was treating me, which involved a half-hour drive and going into an elevator building. When I learned that the same medical group was sending one of its doctors to the medical center in my retirement community once a month, I opted to see that doctor in the medical center across the street rather than risk greater exposure of myself and the two people I live with before any of us were vaccinated. This brought about some confusion over who was my doctor, but that is a separate story. (Both doctors are associate professors at a university hospital and are involved in research.) In April, my former next-door neighbor, who is perhaps 6 years younger than me, just had the surgery, which essentially shortens the vagina, bringing the walls together, along with a hysterectomy done vaginally. She is very happy with the results. Now she can comfortably travel to visit her daughter out of town. Of course, this surgery is an option only for women who are not sexually active. Colpocleisis is an obliterative, rather than a reconstructive surgery. I'm sure you've heard that some unlucky women who had reconstructive surgery with a certain type of mesh had problems, infections, and even died. Several years ago, I read about a doctor in Israel who was studying the use of stem cells to treat prolapse. The problem with surgery, he said, is that it often has to be repeated. I think this whole topic needs more open discussion. It's not something people are comfortable talking about. I also consulted a retired gynecologist who is a friend, and he is encouraging. I'm supposed to have a procedure called urodynamics, to gain more information for the surgeon, in a few days. That's about all I can write now.
I am interested in exploring the colpocleisis procedure as I know very little about it and am bothered by my prolapse condition. I am very squeamish about seeking out surgeons without a referral so I thought I'd try connecting with Mayo as I believe their physicians are highly rated. I thought I'd call but am not sure exactly with whom I should request an appt.
Dr, John Occhino at Mayo - Rochester has been performing this procedure for years. According to research, this procedure has an extremely high rate of patient satisfaction. I highly reccomend him.
Dr, John Occhino at Mayo - Rochester has been performing this procedure for years. According to research, this procedure has an extremely high rate of patient satisfaction. I highly reccomend him.
My elderly mother just had it a week ago and now has increased bleeding and passing blood clots. The surgeons office has been notified. They said drink water--lol. Anyone else had this procedure?
I had colpocleisis surgery on August 16, 2021, along with removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, all done vaginally. So I don't have a prolapse anymore. I came home from the hospital the same day. The instructions say to start using stool softeners and laxatives the same day, and even to be aggressive about it. They don't want any straining during the initial healing process. I was probably too aggressive, because it took me a couple of weeks to normalize bowel function. Basically, what they did was to shorten the vagina and bring the walls closer together.
The urodynamics test I had before the surgery was to determine whether I tend to leak urine when coughing or pressing down while the bladder is very full. If you do, they might plan to insert a bladder sling at the time they do the surgery. My former neighbor had the urodynamics test and had the bladder sling inserted at the time of her surgery, which was also a total colpocleisis. Initially, she was very pleased and was able to travel to visit her daughter without always having to keep an eye out for a bathroom. The last time I saw her, however, just a few weeks ago, she mentioned that she was trying a medication to help with her urinary issues.
I passed the urodynamics test and did not have a bladder sling inserted. Initially, I lost urine sometimes when coughing, sneezing, bending over, etc., but that has improved over time. I have some very slight leakage and wear a very light pad to absorb it. It is barely perceptible most of the time, and I don't need to wear anything at night. I have experienced some bowel issues, but I had irritable bowel syndrome before the surgery. I don't know whether the surgery may have exacerbated it. I got a full, step-by-step report on the surgery, and it indicates that they place something to protect the bowel. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy in August.
I don't think much of the urodynamics test. I don't think that artificial coughing has the same impact as real coughing and sneezing, so it can be misleading. I am happy not to have a prolapse anymore. I might enjoy it more if some of my other health issues would be resolved. I am completing physical therapy for curvature and osteoarthritis of the spine. I've lost more than three inches of height, and it is harder for me to maintain an upright posture, especially while walking. I have stasis dermatitis, which sounds relatively benign. My skin is more deeply pigmented between my left ankle and shin. The valves in the veins are not doing a good job of returning blood to the heart, so the blood pools under the skin, causing a deeper pigmentation and there is some swelling of the tissue. These and other health issues and the pandemic in the background prevent me from fully appreciating being prolapse-free. Looking after my disabled husband takes some energy and time, but I have maintained other interests as well. I facilitate a monthly poetry group, participate in a book club, and though I resigned as editor, I remain on our condo newsletter committee.
One of the reasons I had the total hysterectomy was that it would be harder to monitor uterine bleeding or to check the ovaries after colpocleisis.
I hope this information is helpful to some. I haven't had my 1-year checkup with the urogynecologist who did the surgery with the help of a fellow (the doc runs a fellowship program that trains surgeons). When there is more info to share, I will do so.
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My elderly mother just had it a week ago and now has increased bleeding and passing blood clots. The surgeons office has been notified. They said drink water--lol. Anyone else had this procedure?
Hello @cactus12,
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I appreciate you seeking help for your mom since her recent surgery. Did the surgeon's office explain why drinking more water would help with the bleeding and clots?
Here is some information from a university hospital website that explains the surgery and the recovery process.
Was your mom discharged with a catheter? Is she having any other problems related to her surgery?
I am interested in exploring the colpocleisis procedure as I know very little about it and am bothered by my prolapse condition. I am very squeamish about seeking out surgeons without a referral so I thought I'd try connecting with Mayo as I believe their physicians are highly rated. I thought I'd call but am not sure exactly with whom I should request an appt.
Dr, John Occhino at Mayo - Rochester has been performing this procedure for years. According to research, this procedure has an extremely high rate of patient satisfaction. I highly reccomend him.
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3 ReactionsThank you. I was hoping a doc at Scottsdale, AZ Mayo could provide these services to me.
Has anyone had this surgery,? If so, what have been your resultdt
Hello, Welcome to Mayo Connect. I was unfamiliar with your question, so I went searching a little & found some discussions of the topic here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prolapse-surgery/?pg=1#comment-614109
If you click the link, you can find more information.
Sue
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1 ReactionWelcome @sharnie. You'll notice that I moved your question about colpocleisis to this existing discussion in the Women's Health group:
- Anyone had colpocleisis surgery? I want to learn more https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/prolapse-surgery/
I did this so you can connect with members like @luftmensh1 @lindygal @AlwaysHopeful who have had the procedure or are considering it.
Has this surgery been suggested for you, Sharnie?
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1 ReactionI had colpocleisis surgery on August 16, 2021, along with removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, all done vaginally. So I don't have a prolapse anymore. I came home from the hospital the same day. The instructions say to start using stool softeners and laxatives the same day, and even to be aggressive about it. They don't want any straining during the initial healing process. I was probably too aggressive, because it took me a couple of weeks to normalize bowel function. Basically, what they did was to shorten the vagina and bring the walls closer together.
The urodynamics test I had before the surgery was to determine whether I tend to leak urine when coughing or pressing down while the bladder is very full. If you do, they might plan to insert a bladder sling at the time they do the surgery. My former neighbor had the urodynamics test and had the bladder sling inserted at the time of her surgery, which was also a total colpocleisis. Initially, she was very pleased and was able to travel to visit her daughter without always having to keep an eye out for a bathroom. The last time I saw her, however, just a few weeks ago, she mentioned that she was trying a medication to help with her urinary issues.
I passed the urodynamics test and did not have a bladder sling inserted. Initially, I lost urine sometimes when coughing, sneezing, bending over, etc., but that has improved over time. I have some very slight leakage and wear a very light pad to absorb it. It is barely perceptible most of the time, and I don't need to wear anything at night. I have experienced some bowel issues, but I had irritable bowel syndrome before the surgery. I don't know whether the surgery may have exacerbated it. I got a full, step-by-step report on the surgery, and it indicates that they place something to protect the bowel. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy in August.
I don't think much of the urodynamics test. I don't think that artificial coughing has the same impact as real coughing and sneezing, so it can be misleading. I am happy not to have a prolapse anymore. I might enjoy it more if some of my other health issues would be resolved. I am completing physical therapy for curvature and osteoarthritis of the spine. I've lost more than three inches of height, and it is harder for me to maintain an upright posture, especially while walking. I have stasis dermatitis, which sounds relatively benign. My skin is more deeply pigmented between my left ankle and shin. The valves in the veins are not doing a good job of returning blood to the heart, so the blood pools under the skin, causing a deeper pigmentation and there is some swelling of the tissue. These and other health issues and the pandemic in the background prevent me from fully appreciating being prolapse-free. Looking after my disabled husband takes some energy and time, but I have maintained other interests as well. I facilitate a monthly poetry group, participate in a book club, and though I resigned as editor, I remain on our condo newsletter committee.
One of the reasons I had the total hysterectomy was that it would be harder to monitor uterine bleeding or to check the ovaries after colpocleisis.
I hope this information is helpful to some. I haven't had my 1-year checkup with the urogynecologist who did the surgery with the help of a fellow (the doc runs a fellowship program that trains surgeons). When there is more info to share, I will do so.
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2 ReactionsThanks for the information
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