ih8u

Hello,

I saw you had posted on an old thread of mine when I was backing through the forum, trying to catch up on the last couple of months I've been a-wall. I also tried to locate a little bit of your history in the old threads, and saw your doctor gave a pelvic floor dysfunction diagnoses.

According to my surgeon, my pelvic floor dysfunction led to my severe constipation, which led to the full rectal prolapse. I am only 23 years old, and my surgeon actually said I was the youngest patient he has seen with the degree of prolapse I had developed. I never addressed this concern to my doctor, because I truthfully just always assumed the prolapse was internal hemorrhoids when I felt them emerge. But, in the end... My surgeon said I needed the rectopexy to fix the prolapse, and suggested the resection after removing my sigmoid (redundant) colon, hoping that this would alleviate some of the constipation problem. BUT, I had my surgery last Monday and I meet back with my surgeon in a couple of weeks, to discuss post-op business and also to decide how to tackle the pelvic floor dysfunction (which cannot be treated with surgery). So we are going to discuss when I should begin biofeedback and retraining my muscles. So, I'm not going to lie, it is discouraging to know that I had this major surgery and still have to address the original problem that led to the prolapse.

But, all I know, is that to date the only "fix" for pelvic floor dysfunction is biofeedback. Colectomies and other related surgeries are only for severe CI and other related diagnoses. I'm in no way a professional (and somebody can contend this if I'm wrong), but a colectomy will in no way fix pelvic floor dysfunction... unless perhaps you had the entire rectum removed, which would defeat the use of the dysfunctional muscles anyway, and had a ostomy bag put in place.

But, please... inform me more on your history because I'm sure I missed all of it when I was looking back. I'll try to be as helpful as I can, and maybe I can learn some stuff from you. :) Like I said, I went on a hiatus for awhile till my surgery was complete... And now that it is, I am questions galore. haha.

Hope all is well!

I just reread my post and I hadn't clarified how my pelvic floor dysfunction led to my ileostomy. When one of the mesh from my previous prolapse surgeries let go, it fell into my bowels and "grew" there.  It proceded to poke holes all through my bowels and everywhere else it had attached itself.  I even lost my poor appendix (lol) as it was full of holes also.  Long story shortened:  I had surgery in September/08 to remove all of the mesh and had to have a bowel resection and temp loop ileostomy.  That's what pelvic floor dysfunction led to in my case.  I was terribly constipated with this mesh all tangled up in there, but also from the pelvic floor dysfunction itself.  This mesh got infected and led to two fistulas which I had repaired also....Once again I reiterate:  it can be horribly frustrating when you have a surgery like you said, and realize it's not helping.  My last surgery for prolapse let go as well and the mesh from that had to be removed during my bowel resection.  Now I too am back to square one with this....I wish you the best Abby.  Keep your spirits up!! ....Cheryl

Hi Ladies,

I was just researching this forum ( I usually post in the "total colectomy part xx" thread) anyways.. I just had surgery a couple weeks ago. I have suffered constipation for as long as I can recall. 21 yrs ago, after giving birth to a large bay, I suffered with total pelvic prolapse. 8 months ago, I decided it was time I addressed things, as the falling out parts started to freak me out! I had a stage ll prolapse of the uterus, vagina, bladder and rectum, plus a rectocele. I had a sacral colpopexy, rectopexy, and tvt sling, but after surgery-it was really almost impossible for me to have a BM!

After many, many tests.. they decided that I should have my redundant sigmoid removed, revise the rectopexy (rectum was still prolapsed) and fix the rectocele that came back because of the excessive straining post op. My colon surgeon was definitely concerned about the mesh, and shared a similar story like Roddiesgirl's ... I had Abdominal Rectopexy w/ Resection & perinoplasty/vaginal repair of the rectocle 2 weeks ago, and I'm feeling pretty good! I had a stool impaction while in the hospital, and current take 3 doses of MiraLax in order to keep my stool liquid like.

So, after reading your story Roddiesgirl, I'm so scared of this mesh throughout my body! There is no doubt my surgeon was pretty nervous about the mesh, but thankfully - he found no issues.. but then again, the mesh was put in just 8 months ago. How long ago did you have your prolapse repairs? What symtoms brought you back to the doctor's?

Abby, you are young! Did you have any injury during childbirth? I was just 28 when my prolapse happened, but they didn't really start to get bad until I was about 46.. I think losing hormones played a part of things getting worse. My pelvic floor descends sooo much, but there really isn't a surgery to fix that. I think the perinoplasty that was done might help this a bit... as the removed the damaged scar tissue in the perineum area and sewed the separated muscles back. I feel so afraid to strain too... and right now it is fairly easy to go because it is liquid. When I do have to go, it comes on pretty suddenly, but I can always make it to the bathroom.. and I go around 4-7 times a day.

Whelps... sorry for reviving an old thread. Just saw this thread addressed to me... all these years later after googling my symptoms and concerns. You're probably not around this forum any more, but if you ever happen to stumble upon this thread again years later...how are you doing with your rectopexy and biofeedback?