Question about gynae operation. Doctors or specialist nurses only please.?!
Question: I am going to have a partial hysterectomy soon and also a repair of a rectocele. My question is:
will the surgeon just be working on the vaginal wall for the rectocele repair or do they also trim and tighten the rectal tissue as well?
Answers: I am going to have a partial hysterectomy soon and also a repair of a rectocele. My question is:
will the surgeon just be working on the vaginal wall for the rectocele repair or do they also trim and tighten the rectal tissue as well?
Your physician will make an incision (cut) into the appropriate vaginal wall to expose the fascia and muscle underneath. He or she will then operate on this tissue to help strengthen it. In some cases, the tissue is sutured, or sewn, back onto itself in order to make it stronger. In others, a mesh-type material is used to strengthen the tissue. The doctor will also remove any tissue that has been weakened by previous surgeries, pregnancies, or age, as well as any excess vaginal lining. If you have experienced severe incontinence problems, the doctor may also perform a suspension or elevation procedure to help support the bladder. If the uterus is also prolapsing downward into the vagina(as it sounds in your case), a hysterectomy may be done.
Typically, a bladder catheter will be inserted in your urethra at the beginning of the operation to help relieve pressure on the bladder.
At the end of the surgery the medicated vaginal packing is usually left in the vagina overnight, and the bladder catheter will be removed as soon as you are able to empty, usually before discharge from the hospital.
The surgery itself can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours or more. The length depends on the repairs that need to be made.
You may notice a possibly smelly, even bloody, discharge from the vagina for 1-2 weeks, and you can expect to be in some discomfort for about that same length of time. They will give you medications in the hospital to help, and you will be sent home with something as well. You can expect to stay in hospital for between 2-5 days, and once you are discharged home I suggest you have somebody around to help you for that first couple days at least. You won't be able to do any lifting to speak of- nothing over about 5 kilos or 10 pounds as a rule for up to 6 weeks. During that first month, you will be restricted from sex as well- though I don't think that's a temptation for most ladies postoperatively. Depending on how sore things are down south, it's often worth asking for an air filled donut to sit on at home. You also will be wanting to shower as oppose to bathe while you are healing as well. They don't like you soaking in a tub, and truthfully you won't want to be sitting on a hard porcelain surface either. You will have absorbable sutures in some very tender and sensitive areas, and those can also get itchy and pull a bit. This will sound rather nasty- but the best way to heal things is to get air and sunlight to them. I know- sunshine in that spot can be tough to arrange. I wish you luck in surgery and recovery. The first few days are usually the worst painwise, and after that it's mostly soreness in the seater makes you picky where you sit. If you can, I'd suggest discussing with the surgeon beforehand exactly how he/she plans to do the repair, and then you will have answers more specific to your case.