Rectocele is a challenging and embarrasing problem to deal with. This rectocele video and information helps you manage rectocele, reduce your risk of rectocele worsening and repeat prolapse after rectocele repair surgery.
Unfortunately women are discharged from care after rectocele repair without clear guidelines for how to prevent repeat prolapse.
Read on now to learn:
International best selling prolapse exercise guide for women with prolapse and after prolapse surgery.
Prolapse Exercises teaches you how to:
Never strain to empty your bowels!
A major cause of rectocoele is straining with constipation. Straining often becomes a habit as rectal prolapse problems worsen.
It is vital to avoid returning to your pattern of preoperative straining to empty your bowels after your rectocele repair.
Emergency bowel management strategy is outlined below to avoid straining if you become constipated after rectocele repair surgery.
It‘s easy to fall into the trap of using the wrong position to empty when you have a rectocoele. Some women hover over the seat (which tightens the anal sphincter making things worse). Many women with rectocoele slump their spine forward to empty their bowels.
After rectocoele repair women often need to retrain and correct their sitting posture on the toilet to empty well and avoid straining. 
Note: Some women find that positioning their knees higher than their hips by placing each foot on a wrapped toilet roll can assist them to empty however this doesn’t hold true for all women with rectal prolapse problems.
If you’ve lived with a rectocoele, you know how hard it can be to empty your bowels.
Chances are that you are in the habit of using all manner of techniques to empty you bowel. Some women need to use their fingers inside the vagina or lift and support the perineum with their fingers to empty their rectum. This is because the rectocele causes waste matter to move into the prolapse rather than out of the rectum.
After your rectocele surgery you may continue to support your perineum with your hand if you need to.
This ‘Brace and Bulge’ bowel emptying technique is taught in clinical practice to help women empty their bowels and avoid straining. Learn this technique by watching our bowel movement video
If your stool is too hard or too soft emptying your bowels will be difficult after rectocele repair. Unfortunately one of the side effects of pain relieving medications like codeine and narcotics is constipation which can make stools hard and difficult to pass.
The ideal stool consistency after rectocoele repair is a soft well formed stool that passes easily.
The ideal stool consistency to aim for long-term is Type 3-4 on the Bristol Stool Chart (shown right)
Some general exercises can overload and strain your pelvic floor after rectocoele repair.
General exercises to avoid include intense core abdominal exercises, high impact fitness exercises along with specific strength training exercises and techniques.
Gas or wind in the bowel is caused by:
If you are prone to bloating and gas with particular foods watch out for this pitfall after your rectocele repair. Repeatedly bearing down trying to pass wind and alleviate gas discomfort can cause you to bear down strain your pelvic floor. Pass gas when you feel the urge and try not to ignore or defer passing wind to avoid bloating and abdominal pain.
For more information refer to our article on how to relieve gas after pelvic floor surgery.
There is no one rule fits all when it comes to gas producing foods. Some women have specific sensitivities such as fructose, gluten and/or lactose. If you know your gut reacts to specific foods or fluids then to limit or avoid these foods. The low – FODMAP diet is an excellent resource from the Monash University for women with IBS, fructose, gluten and/or lactose intolerance.
The correct urge to empty means recognising and acting immediately on the real need to empty your bowels rather than going to the bathroom ‘just in case’.
When you feel the appropriate urge to empty your bowels act on this urge and visit the bathroom. If you defer the right urge too long you can stretch the rectal tissues and reduce your rectal sensation.
Avoid prolonged sitting on the toilet seat which results in straining, contributing to repeat prolapse.
Your pelvic floor muscles extend from your tail bone at the back to your pubic bone at the front. These muscles actually form part of the anal sphincter and they support your rectum when you empty your bowel. Regular pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) are an important for long-term successful recovery after rectocele repair surgery.
Strengthening your pelvic floor after your rectocoele repair has two main benefits:
Some lifestyle factors can increase the likelihood of repeat prolapse after rectocoele repair.
Lifestyle factors that increase the load on the pelvic floor include:
Take appropriate action to manage these lifestyle factors with pelvic floor safe weight loss exercise and safe lifting techniques to protect by your prolapse repair long-term.
What do you do if you suspect you are becoming constipated after rectocoele repair? 
Take immediate action and speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the most appropriate medication to soften your stool and help you empty your bowels without straining – this will depend on your stage of post operative recovery, your general health and other medications you may be taking.
If you suffer from chronic constipation ask your doctor about the potential side effects of other medications you are taking on your bowel movements.
When you have emptied your bowel take appropriate measures using the information above to help you avoid repeat constipation. This can be a matter of trial and error to get the right stool consistency with diet and laxatives. Your goal should be to minimise the use of laxative medications over time.
Managing your rectocoele repair well with these 10 rules can help you ensure the success of your surgery and avoid repeat rectocele.
Following these key points long-term key points will help you to ensure your best possible outcomes after your rectocele repair.
» How to Ensure Successful Rectocele Surgery – Pros & Cons of Rectocele Repair Surgery
» How to Empty Your Bowels to Overcome Bowel Movement Problems
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