Hi.

I recently joined Susan´s forum because i´ve had pain and cramps since a long time. I had SRS with Dr. Suporn in 2013, and after i got cramps and abdominal swelling and it got worse with the years i tried to find any information that could help me, so i came here to ask for any advice. Now it seems that i might have found the reason for my problems:

I was diagnosed with a rectocele (basically, the rectum bulges into the vagina because the connective tissue isn´t strong enough to hold it). Also i was diagnosed with an rectal invagination, so basically, my pelvic floor is super strained and doesn´t really hold like it should. I am not that old by the way, in my mid-thirties. Rectocele is usually something older women get (or women who gave birth a couple of times - matter of fact, i didn´t give birth ).

I will likely get surgery sooner or later, but the doctor´s who will do it don´t know much about neovaginas. I am a little cautious if it could be a problem having surgery so close to the vagina (like, few millimeters). I contacted Dr. Suporn, but he said he doesn´t have enough experience with rectoceles to give me any advice.

So, i wanted to ask if anybody has experience similar problems with pelvic floor weakness and prolapse.
I am not even sure if this condition is related to SRS, does anyone know this? I imagine it could very well be connected to SRS.
Also, i really wonder if there are any precautions i have to take before undergoing surgery so close to my vagina after SRS.

Kind regards

I've never heard of such a thing before, but it sounds like its close to a rectovaginal fistula. Only with that instead of a few mm gap there's none.

There's an interview with Suporn where he says he's had a couple of cases of rectovaginal fistula, and repaired it with the assistance of a specialist surgeon. Maybe you could ask him if he would investigate it for you with a specialist and see if they can fix it. Presumably there's less chance of something going wrong that way. He's retiring next year.

Suporn has a really low rate of recovaginal fistula, close to 10x better than many other surgeons. If its related I guess its just bad luck.

It sound similar to a hernia other than the location is different. It would probably take a surgeon skilled in Laparoscopic surgery and the surgery would involve using a mesh to reenforce the weakened area. I am not sure that reassignment surgeons would normally have that skill so you may have to consider a surgeon who normally does similar work. One possibility is a surgeon who is able to do the Peritoneal Graft method. While this procedure isn't what you need, the surgeon should be skilled in Laparoscopic surgery and would have knowledge of your internal structure.

Hello.

Thank you for your replies. Yes, it is very similiar to a hernia. I already contacted Dr. Suporn. But i didn´t ask him for recommendations for a surgeon, i asked if there are any guidelines or caveats the surgeons here have to know beforehands. His reply was that he doesn´t know much about rectoceles and so he can´t give me any advice. But i keep the thing with the recommending a surgeon in mind.

I will have surgery here in my hometown, and since Dr. Suporn didn´t tell me anything about dangers, i will have surgery with the surgeons i trust here in my hospital.
I still would like to hear if anyone else here has any experience with a rectocele after SRS.

Kind regards.

Barbara,

I know this thread is a few months old, but this is the only instance I could find of another trans woman suffering from a possible rectocele.

I am curious whether or not you were able to get this issue resolved. I too am suffering from a possible rectocele. We'll know soon enough as my colorectal surgeon is scheduling a lower GI/defecography.

If it is a rectocele, he is unsure how to proceed because of the modifications to my pelvic floor from gender surgery.

Hi, ManicSquirrel!

Welcome to Susan's Place.

Sorry to hear about your medical issue.  I hope you ar eable to get it sorted out soon.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

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