Vaginal Prolapse : am I alone?

[PrinnyViolet]

Hello

So a few days ago I felt a strange sensation down below and upon further investigation found a fleshy lump inside my vagina.
Doctor has told me it's a prolapse of my vagina wall & it's not serious.
She was so flippant about it I just left & didn't ask any questions.

Has this happened to anyone else & if it has Will it go back to normal ever???

Google is not my friend today!!!

[Ridingthegravytrain]

Have a look at the any old prolapse thread in general health you will get ideas and support there

But yes doctors can be very dismissive and it can be very debilitating

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

You're not alone, I think from conversations with friends it can happen over time or after a baby or the menopause, or picking up heavy loads. Or after coughs or constipation. Glad you have already seen your GP!

Anyway - from what I can gather. This is about pelvic organs, these include include our bladder, uterus (womb) and rectum (back passage). These organs are held in place by tissues called 'fascia' and 'ligaments' which help to join our pelvic organs to the bony side walls of the pelvis and hold them inside our pelvis.

Your pelvic floor muscles also hold up your pelvic organs from below. So if the fascia or ligaments are torn or stretched for any reason, and if your pelvic floor muscles are weak, then your pelvic organs might not be held in their right place and they may bulge into the vagina.

Your GP probably asked if you find
You get repeated UTIs, your bladder doesn't empty as it should;
Having a poo is more more difficult;
Sex has become uncomfortable, even painful.

She must have got answers that signalled it's not a major prolapse so sent you on your way. Going by past threads on MN, pelvic floor exercises are your friend... and plenty of liquid intake and ensuring that you get enough roughage in your diet is probably a good idea.

[PollyPerky]

Look up Gussie Grips (DVDs) and Michelle Kenway- both physios with great sites about PF exercises- MK does a DVD etc and videos on her site.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

The Hab-It DVD and website are also excellent...

You are most definitely not alone BTW!

[flamingnoravera]

It happened to me today too. After the doctors had closed. I ended up in a walk in centre in tears I was so frightened. The nurses were very kind and reassuring. But I don't feel reassured. I feel scared still.

Will I be able to have a poo without it happening again?

Will I be able to have sex?

Why me?

[flamingnoravera]

Sorry OP I did not intend to take over or kill your thread. How are you feeling today?

I've been reading and educating myself all morning and still feel anxious but no longer in blind terror that my insides are going to fall into my pants.

The prolapse threads are worth a read to get some perspective. And gussie and Michelle are now my firm favourites. Why did no one ever teach me how yo have a shit without straining? Why do I learn it at 54 instead of when I was 4?

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Talking to friends flaming it is still what our mothers and grandmothers perhaps considered one of those unmentionable topics. I agree if it commonly happens as part of the menopause (falling oestrogen levels?) or as a result of not drinking enough water or constipation etc why aren't we warned?

Btw when pregnant, I was advised to put my feet up on a stool or at least raise them 6 inches from the ground to help when 'moving my bowels'. I don't know if this would help avoid straining?

[StillMedusa]

As a gross addition to this topic... I had a hysterectomy some years ago (at 35) which sorted my 'had 4 kids too close together; prolapse but still have a rectocele (bowel prolapse) and mild cystocele (yup bladder too) and I have ongoing bowel issues as nothing works at the exit point!

I discovered that even better than a step stool is squatting...think asian squat toilets. So I don't sit on the seat..I lift it like a man would to pee and then stand on the ceramic surround and squat...makes pooing much easier and much less straining...nothing falls down!

[HappyHeart87]

You're not pregnant, are you?

Hospital consultant diagnosed me with vaginal prolapse after an internal exam at 23+2. Turns out it was actually the membranes and DD arrived 14 hrs later.

[PollyPerky]

Still According to Michelle Kenway (physio), squatting for women with any kind of prolapse is not a good idea! I suppose it depends on how deeply you squat- if it's a 'standing poo' then that isn't too bad, but if it's low down and your thighs are parallel to the floor almost, then that's not good :)

[flamingnoravera]

OP are you ok? How has your weekend been? Don't do any housework or heavy stuff. Rest up and give yourself time to heal and practice KEGELs.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Squatting to poo is much better for you (although I use a step)

Squatting can be good for your pelvic floor...

www.hab-it.com/forums/topic/squat-and-lunges/

[PollyPerky]

Who is behind the hab-it DVD? Iv'e got it but haven't made much progress as it seems very complicated and hard to ensure you are doing it all properly.

On her DVD Inside Out Michelle Kenway (women's physio) says squats with legs wide apart are bad (deep squats) as they put a lot of pressure on the PF. she suggests mini squats, lowering yourself just a few inches with feet just a few inches apart.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Who is behind the hab-it DVD? Iv'e got it but haven't made much progress as it seems very complicated and hard to ensure you are doing it all properly.

A physio called Tasha Mulligan (I think)

I find the exercises really good, and I really subscribe to her philosophy of the importance of strengthening all the muscles involved, not just kegels. I've never managed to be to do workout 4 though - my core is woefully weak

[Fuzzyduck21]

Yes! Me! I've been told I have a mild cystocele and rectocele after birth of ds 5 months ago. Saw consultant and he said it is ' timely reversible' altho don't know if I believe him. Saw gp again and beibg referred for physio. Fingers crossed. Can't get my head around it and feeling very 'why me'.

Wonder if having a full bladder for 5 hrs in labour until I demanded catherisation could have done it? I really don't know. Struggling.

It's tainting these precious moments with my son. Am so low!

[Fuzzyduck21]

Sorry should have read 'entirely reversible'

[2ndSopranosRule]

Me!

First noticed it about six years ago, was told it would probably get worse if I had any more children. Which I did, five years ago.

I can't empty my bladder fully, I can't wipe properly (tmi sorry) and feel 'dragging'. I hate it. Going to the GP next week and fully expect to be fobbed off.

[Fuzzyduck21]

Oh pls let me know what docs say. Have you had any success at all with pelvic floor exercises?

[TreeHuggerMum1]

I saw my GP 2 weeks ago and knew I had a prolapse. He confirmed it and said 3 pregnancies in 5 years was to blame. I have an anterior prolapse with a twisted bladder (whatever that means!) GP said he'd be "very surprised" if I didn't need surgery.
I see a Gynae consultant next week....
Nervous to say the least.

[FuckyNell]

I have a minor cystocele and moderate rectocele. I have my gynae referral on Thursday evening.

I am 44 and it's been an on off issue for years. It's painful to have sex. First I thought it was because of dryness as I suffered early menopause, but hrt and vagifem although have helped tremendously with the dryness have not helped the swollen draggy acheyness that I experience after. It's not very sexy making sure your bits are in the right position either!

There's more but I'm off to bed now so will catch up tomorrow. I hope we can support each other

[TreeHuggerMum1]

FuckyNell, do you find you bleed after sex??

[FuckyNell]

Yes I do, also my dh gets friction burns

[Fuzzyduck21]

Would be great if we can all support each other as we hopefully start to get treatment....don't think the 'any old prolapse' thread is still on the go x

[FuckyNell]

No it's not I looked for it too. I guess this is the new thread

[TreeHuggerMum1]

Yay for the new thread. 😍