Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Problems with bladder - yes, but I already had the problems beforehand, so my difficulties in this department are not really relevant to recovering from this particular surgery.

No, they don't do anything at all with the bladder during LVMR surgery.

But - remember that the pelvis is all occupied solidly, everything is leaning up against everything else. You move one thing to a different place, everything else is affected too, to some degree.

Right now, you've got the bowel back where it ought to be - where it hasn't been for quite a while. Your body has got quite used to things being in wrong places, and it doesn't necessarily feel right, now things are back where they ought to be. And bearing in mind that you've got pudendal nerve problems as well - it perhaps isn't surprising that bladder function isn't quite right, not just yet at any rate.

I know I keep banging on about it being early days, but truly it is.

And yes, it is worth it! I really don't know why LVMR is not standard procedure for dealing with female pelvic organ prolapse. But oh, if it was - if I had been sent to Mr D when I had my first prolapse, and he had done LVMR, then I would not have had repeated prolapse (5 ops), and would not now have PN.

You won't have any more prolapse - nor will I. Mr D has made sure that we won't have prolapse again - just not possible. So yes, very much worth it.

How excellent that you are seeing Mr D and Dr G on the same day!

I am still waiting for Dr G's secretary to call me back. I do want to talk to him about pain management options - I now know that Mr D was not able to get all the mesh, and that what's left is there to stay permanently because if Mr D can't get it, nobody can. So that means I'm stuck with this pain for the duration. How it is now, is how it will stay - it won't get better. But of course it might get worse. Ho hum...

Good luck with the nutritionist. I do hope that she is able to help you and can make some helpful suggestions. It is always good to have support.

We are now eating, hmm probably best described as Paleo diet. Or Primal. It tends to have a normalising effect - underweight people gain, overweight people lose. I've lost a stone and my husband has lost 3 stone, that's since the end of February, slow and easy. More still to go though. We're not doing it for weight loss though - it is about getting to the best state of general health that we can manage. It works for us, anyway....

congratulations on the weight loss thats really good and thanks for the ADVICE AS WELL, did you have bloating for a few months as its really uncomfortable and depressing and makes you feel pregnant. my poor bowels really dont know whats happened, one minute i have the dreaded d and then next minute i have the c were you like this and if so how long for, sorry to keep asking but you have been through it

andrea

Yes, one extreme to the other after the surgery. My bowels did not know what 'normal' was any more! Poor you though - hang on in there. It does settle down in the end, and you will be seeing Mr D soon, and he knows all about stuff like this. Can your nutritionist offer any advice?

Bloating from wind in the gut - no. No problems with that since we stopped eating wheat and other grains. (That's part of the Paleo thing.) Bloating from the surgery - gas in the abdomen, not in the gut - my goodness yes. It took ages to go - I can't remember how long, sorry. But it was a lot longer than I thought reasonable.

(Dr G's secretary has still not returned my call..... )

hello,
I've heard of Mr Dixon and getting mixed reviews. Was everything sucessful its hard picking the right person.

HI
i am sorry i havent posted for a while but i have not really been well enough to concentrate on posting. well just to say that the surgery hasnt worked for the pelvic pain, in fact it is now worse!
it has been 12 weeks since the surgery and i am very unhappy that i am in more pain than before. as well as still not being able to sit with the burning vulval pain i now also have problems with bikini line pain and also more pain when i wee. i just used to get burning pain when i had a wee but i now also get stabbing dragging like sensations all the way up to my clitoris, which makes me wee very gingerly so that i dont have to push for a full flow, the bikini line pain seems worse when i have a full bladder or when i have pressure from constipation etc.
my bowels are still not back to normal and the ibs flare continues.
i have my next appointment with dr greenslade on tuesday 14th jan and also i will see mr dixon on the same day so i will let you know what is going to happen now, every time i have had surgery for anything in my life i have come out of it with a new problem, i must be soooooooo unlucky!
as for mr dixon i do really like him, he is very down to earth and tells it like it is (not that he told me i might have more problems) if you are easily offended this is not the surgeon for you
i will report back when i have been to bristol next week with an update, hope you are all well and a happy new year


andrea

Tons of good wishes Andrea.
I know from hanging around here for so long that there is still a long way to go for you so try not to get too despondent. Easy for me to say I know. Please do let us know how your appointments go.
Good luck and take care
Helen

hi everyone
just got back from my trip to bristol to see dr greenslade and mr dixon, mr dixon is very pleased with my progress and also said he is hopeful that it should improve further, but he now also says he thinks that the problem i am left with is the pn nerve., so he and dr greenslade have decided the next way forward is a ct guided nerve block which gr g will do, they are not sure at this stage of how many i will need and if i am then still having problems mr dixon is quite happy to do decompression surgery to the nerve and if all else fails than dr g will fit a neuro stimulater for the pain, so this is my news so hopefully still travelling forward to some semblance of normality

Do you know what is so refreshing Andrea. . .the fact that they really take peoples problems on board and actively discuss options for a solution. In an area of medicine where many doctors won't even accept there can be a problem.
I hope things go well whatever option you decide upon.
Good luck
Helen

hi helen
i must admit i am a bit more hopeful that eventually i will get my life back even if its only a bit!, but i do find all of this quite daunting and i am really appprehensive about the decompression surgery, but i know if it comes to that i am in capable hands with mr dixon, but he wants me to try the nerve blocks first.
having read about pn surgery it doesnt sound like a walk in the park and its a bit off putting when people have said its all a waste of time and will just make things worse, thats something i dont want .
how will they know where its trapped? will i have to have a scan or something like it
will anyone with any info on the pn surgery please give me their opinion or experience with it
thanks
andrea

Hi Andrea,
I am in the U.S. so left TG decompression nerve surgery by Dr Marvel. My location of entrapment was found by PT because the nerve was being squashed by the two main ligaments ST and SS which were extremely tight. The Dr had that, his exam, my history and I had unguided then guided nerve block on the left that completely removed the pain for a few hours. The MRN scan did not show anything. The surgery hashelped me. I was going downhill before surgeryworking less and less time able to sit. I now work generally 33 hours per week one day Ileave early for my psychology appt and the others work 6-8hours,although I am not doing the 8 to just not push it. I am able to sit an hour without issueand can do longer but thenneed to get going some from stiffening the thigharea? Generally at work I use a custom Rohocushion and getup every 30-45 minutes for a walk at least to the end of my aisle. I can cook after moving some heavier pans ogf the bottom shelf of the botton cupboard. I am having SIJD pelvic instability since surgery so eearing a beltfor cooking and dfiving helps to keep me from throwing myself out of alignment. I agree surgery is not a walk in the park. I could not even attempt working until after 3 months and then started with 2 hours by Christmas was up to 6 then 8 after a year but could have done sooner, just decided to take it zlow. I would hope you could get a bit betterasyou said or even abit more! Best of luck keep up any questions I am glad to share my experience.
janet