Bowel and Bladder problems after Hysterectomy

[susannah100]

I had a Sub Total Hysterectomy in March 2012 due to fibroids and a uterus that had grown to 4 months pregnancy size. I had gone to my doctor the previous September because severe bleeding pain and dizziness. She detected multiple fibroids covering the entire lining of the uterus that was already 3 months pregnancy size. At the time I was getting compression symptoms on the bladder and spine. I was put on Utovlan and the maximum dose of iron pills. I came of everything after two and half weeks because I was getting so many side effects and my symptoms were worsening. I was seen at the Leicester Royal Infirmary at the beginning of October. I recounted what had happened and said that my compression symptoms were worsening and that I was struggling to wear trousers. They refused to do a Hysterectomy. They said I had to have hormone treatment and the Mirena coil. I complained about this because they did not offer me any pain relief and I was suffering severe constant pain. I later found that they had not put in there notes that I was suffering from pain or compression symptoms and that this had continued all way though till I eventually had the Hysterectomy. They prescribed Transexamic Acid till I could be fitted with a Mirena coil and have a Hystroctomy. My symptoms continued to worsen particularly after the Mirena coil was fitted. Immediately after the surgery I developed severe continual pain by my left buttock this increased slightly when I had a bowel movement. It also felt like something was tearing when I was moving. I went to my doctor who dismissed this as period pain and said I could have continually periods for 6 months. When I went to the outpatient review I had hardly had any sleep for eight weeks I was in agonising pain for which I had been given no relief. After a meeting lasting 1hour and 45 minutes the consultant agreed to remove the coil and do a hysterectomy. My period eventually stopped a week after the coil was removed as did the pain in my bowel and spine.
After the hysterectomy my bowel movements were normal shape and occurred about once or twice a day within a week of the operation but I suffered severe pain and faintness and dizziness after every bowel movement. I suffered very poor care in hospital and a very threatening incident where a nurse went berserk and shouting and screaming at me so I returned home after two days in hospital.
My doctor diagnosed me with haemorrhoids and prescribed Anusol and Lactulose my symptom eventually eased somewhat after three weeks. I continued to have recurrent problems through 2012 and my doctor refused to refer me back to gynaecology to see what was going on. I could not sit down easily and all my activities were severely affected. The Lactulose made my bowel movements to loose and windy so I only took this sparingly in April and November last year. After seeing several doctors at the practice who did not listen to me when I said I felt the bowel had been nicked after the operation and that I did not have constipation and that my diet was good. A different doctor detected an anal fissure in December. I was prescribed Rectogesic but suffered severe reactions and could only take it for a week. The doctor also referred me back to gynaecology to see what was going on. My bowel has almost recovered now after this treatment.
The consultant thought I could have developed ovarian cysts and endometriosis and that this could be causing the bowel and bladder problem. The MRI scan found Cysts the size of Satsuma’s and severe endometriosis. I found this strange as it had not been detected during the operation or on previous scans. I said that my ovaries were not painful. She said that nobody in the department had a particular speciality in bowels and compression effects but she would refer me on to somebody who has more of a specialty in bladders. I am still awaiting this referral.

[Julie Thompson]

Hi, you sound like you have had an extremely difficult time during your journey. Unfortunately I am not an expert in this area but if you need to know anything about endometriosis I would recommend you contact http://www.endometriosis-uk.org who are the leading national charity for women with endometriosis, call their helpline.