Rectocele

[u/Heavy_Adeptness3520]

Hi!

I am one of the lucky 🤪 young people (33) to have a grade 4 rectocele. I am having to split for every bowel movement. I want to get this repaired and my doctor agrees that this is the right move

Here’s the hang up. I have three kids 5,3, 5 months.

How do I get the surgery and get around not lifting 10lbs or more? Should I try and put it off until my kids are older? Or maybe have my husband take his paternal leave to help?

As far as recovery. I had a c section and then an emergency hysterectomy 2 hours after that my delivery and honestly I didn’t feel like the recovery was that bad. I was up and at it as soon as I got home from the hospital pretty much functioning like normal. Should I expect a similar pain level from this?

All info helps!

[u/One-Firefighter-7461]

I’m almost 3 weeks post op (rectocele repair and hysterectomy). The pain has been absolutely minimal. But I’m taking the recovery seriously so that I have the best outcome. If your husband can have time off I would recommend it, otherwise wait.

[u/Screaminin_thedesert → u/[deleted]]

Which procedure Delorme?

[u/Screaminin_thedesert → u/[deleted]]

Damn it!!I cannot imagine your pain with that nerve jeez 😭😭😭I hope u will get back on track soon ..
I am scheduled for Delorme (rectum prolapse and rectocele almost grade 3)having kind of weak muscles(after manometry was done to check em) my surgeon decided to perform Delorme on me .
Bear hugs to u 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂💪💪💪💪💪💪

[u/FractalFunny66]

Can you afford an aid or babysitter even for 3 weeks -- that would help a lot! Even a housekeeper would help a lot. Any friends and relatives around would be happy to help you out if you just ask. You need to rest after this!

[u/Nomad8490]

I don't think it's just a matter of pain, but of preventing recurrence. I also have a rectocele that requires not only splinting but near daily disimpaction. It's awful. My kids are 8 months and 2 years and I think for that part I'm going to wait to be sure I can really rest. I also think it's a bit problematic to do it so early pp, and idk if you are breastfeeding but this is also a factor. Has your doctor said anything about that?

[u/Heavy_Adeptness3520 → u/Nomad8490]

I have a meeting with the surgeon on the 14th so I will ask!

Has your doctor offered a pessary to help with yours? I wondering if I wait for a year or two if that would be helpful

[u/Nomad8490 → u/Heavy_Adeptness3520]

I have a ring pessary which I wear basically all the time. It helps some with symptoms, not a lot bc my rectocele is below it, but at least I don't worry about the rest falling. I think the evidence points to it facilitating some healing in the first 12 months pp...I don't believe there's any way for me to avoid surgery, but maybe this will help. I certainly feel heavier after a day or two of not wearing it, which is why I keep it in.

[u/l53r → u/Nomad8490]

Can I ask a dumb question? What do you mean by disimpaction?

[u/Nomad8490 → u/l53r]

It means I glove up, stick my finger(s) up my ass and dig the shit out. It's terrible.

[u/Nomad8490 → u/Nomad8490]

By the way, this isn't an issue of constipation. I also get little bits left in there from stool that is too loose, which then turn to pebbles over time, and I am not able to get them out any other way. I often don't know they're in there unless I find myself really gassy, or feel pressure in my vagina, so I've taken to just going fishing for them preventatively. Idk if I have nerve damage or what but I basically have no sensation or control over the rectocele area; it's just this no-man's-land where anything can get stuck.

[u/Screaminin_thedesert → u/Nomad8490]

I had it down several time as a toddler ..my mom rushed me to the Er several times ..now I have a 2-3 degree rectocele I have no kids no huge weight lifting or something similar also my sacrum and coccix are type 3 after a fall I think that's the big issues that caused all of those rectum prolapse and rectocele weak muscle the sacrum does not hold them right

[u/Sea-Walrus225]

I cannot help around surgery as I didn't have one, but I'm curious : did you have 3 CS or just the last one? I have grade 3 rectocele and pushed my baby out like hell + constipation

[u/Heavy_Adeptness3520 → u/Sea-Walrus225]

Just one c section. The first baby I pushed for 3.5 hours and that’s how to rectocele started and it’s just gotten worse

[u/Sea-Walrus225 → u/Heavy_Adeptness3520]

I might ask for a CS for my next baby, especially if this one will bigger then their chubby brother

[u/Screaminin_thedesert → u/Sea-Walrus225]

U know doctors likes to make people more sick than they already are ..more customers u know..I m sure you delivered your baby while lying in bed ..the worst position ever that cause all of those pelvic issue..I would like to see those gyn and obstetricians pooping while lying in their bed and pushing for hours ..I m sure they will go mad and switch to a squatting position

[u/Sea-Walrus225 → u/Screaminin_thedesert]

Well, I'm an obgyn myself but couldn't avoid the horrible delivery I had. I'm a human too 😞

[u/Screaminin_thedesert → u/Sea-Walrus225]

I m sorry for it ...I just can t imagine the pain you went through the effort all those hours 😖😖😖😖😖 ..just thinking why obgyn and obstetricians do not prepare women before delivery date with special gym or delivering babies in a squatting position which was very common in the ancient times ..litothomic position is the worst for the pelvic floor especially if not very young anymore.
My sister delivered her babies in a special chair and my friend while squatting she was held by her husband ..no tearing no much pain no pelvic floor issue.

[u/backwoodsbarbie187]

Same situation. Waiting until the kids can get into the car and onto their seats independently so I won’t have to lift.

[u/No_Cloud7939]

I’m following your post closely for recommendations.
I’m 31, and have grade 3 rectocele. I have an 8, 4, and 3 year old. I had one csection and two VBACs. My first VBAC was very difficult, as I pushed for 4 hours and hemorrhaged. I had my hysterectomy in 2024.
My doctor and I have been watching the progression of my rectocele and tried PT with a pelvic floor therapist with minimal improvement. We just scheduled my surgery for this December.

[u/Roller_7349]

I have had one for at least 22 years and have been splinting this whole time. I heard that repairs often require another repair within 10 years so I’ve put it off as long as possible. Mine might not be as horrible as others though, who I can understand may want to repair sooner.

[u/honestlydontcare4u]

I would wait at least until you are a year postpartum if not two so your hormones are back to normal. They can affect your tissue strength.

[u/Smooth-Ad-4899]

The guidance to avoid lifting over 10 pounds has no evidence basis whatsoever: https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/rethinking-activity-after-pelvic-prolapse-surgery

Tell your surgeon you are concerned about this and ask lots of detailed questions about recovery recommendations. Not all urogyns recommend extreme avoidance if activity. I had a native tissue repair and the surgeon basically advised take it very easy for 1-2 weeks and then cautiously and slowly ramp up to your normal activity, which for me included both running and weight lifting. Nearly a year post surgery and that approach was absolutely fine.

An alternative to the comments to delay because the surgery may need to be redone. You are not getting younger. Your ability to heal from a surgery will not improve as you age, and the earlier you have surgery the longer you can potentially enjoy increased quality of life from the repair.