prolapse - how do you know if one has happened? what might the symptoms be?

[lassmichdochinruhe]

I'll be ringing the doc on Monday, but meanwhile am obsessing and in need of some armchair diagnosis....

my symptoms - something doesn't feel right and hasn't for a couple of weeks. I have difficulty getting a tampon in; I don't have anything protruding on the outside (a la Embarrassing Bodies), but there is a fleshy bit on the front/upper internal part of me that I don't remember being there before, but not that I've particularly been looking/paying attention. Some tenderness is possibly the result of a particularly energetic "session" on Friday.... there's life in the middle-aged dog yet . I'm in my early 40s, so am prob heading for menopause, too.

Internet/self-diagnosis indicates some kind of prolapse.

what do you reckon? does anyone else have any experience of this or similar?

[Picante]

Sounds like it - I've got one after having ds 3 years ago. I saw a gynae who said he can easily sort it but only once I've have all my children - I think it's a very straightforward op. Other than than get going on your pelvic floor - it definitely makes a difference!

[purplepeony]

You are going to have to explore....

insert a finger and if you bump into something quite soon it could be your cervix. It should be a finger's length up inside you normally. or if not and you can feel a bulge on the front vaginal wall- nearerst your pubic bone- it could be a prolapsed front wall/bladder.

If you feel all is not right , see your GP but be warned- I saw my GP and 2 other gynaes beofre the 3rd gynae agreed I had prolapse and operated.

[ouchitreallyhurts]

I recently had an anterior repair for a prolapse in the front wall of my vagina. It felt like something was "not quite right" from the second my daughter was born - I remember saying "oh shite, that'll be a prolapse!" to the midwife as we got out of the birthpool

I couldn't get or keep a tampon in and developed some embarrassing incontinence when I coughed.
on the plus side (!) my op was over and done with very quickly, 2 hours post op I was asking for food and could I go home, and now a few weeks on I feel great :0)

good luck with your gp MOnday xx

[purplepeony]

ouch - you were very lucky and had a quick recovery- I was kept in for 5 days ( normal time) had a catheter for a week, and told not to lift etc for at least 6 weeks, and no driving for about 4 weeks. I felt fine but you DO have to take care.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I thought I probably had a prolapsed womb after DS2. There was a definite bulge and something didn't fel right. The gp was very dismissive and didn't even examine me, just told me to give it time, but then I had to have a radical hysterectomy anyway so that solved it.

Now the top of my vagina is sagging apparently. I thought I had a prolapsed bowel as my symptoms are related to my bowels and the bulge is on that side but the Gynaecologist said I need a Vault repair.

This time I didn't bother with my GP,I just spoke to the Gynaecologist at my yearly check up.

[lassmichdochinruhe]

there's certainly something there - after a day on my feet chasing after the kids the "not quite right" feeling is more of a "definitely something wrong" thing.

thanks for helping me.

[ouchitreallyhurts]

Purplepeony - I didnt' get to go home after 2 hours, but was keen to! I also had to stay in but after 3 days was allowed to go home on night leave until my bladder was working properly again. I had large residuals.
No driving for 4-6 weeks here too :0)

sorry, I made it sound like a day-case, it most certainly was not that easy!

[fartmeistergeneral]

I have a bit of a bulge I don't remember seeing before, but what are the other symptoms? I can keep a tampon up, but no other obvious symptoms apart from this weird bulge, kind of ridgey. Don't all disappear!

[Reggiee]

I just had a prolapse diagnosed by GP this week.
Ds is 15 weeks old, and for a few weeks I just felt something wasn't quite right. For me there is a bulge which is less obvious when lying down, and more pronounced if I 'push'. My bulge can be pushed back up if I insert a finger .
GP said I may or may not be able to keep a tampon up but would probably have to manaoevre it around the bulge then see what happened.
Keep up the pelvic floors as they will hopefully help. I've been referred to the hospital and may possibly need surgery.
Go get yourself checked out and good luck!

[fartmeistergeneral]

Any of you ever have thrush-like symptoms? I've had chronic irritation for a few years and I wonder if it could be related to what I'm now sure is a prolapse. Been to the docs loads of times re the thrush and they haven't been able to help - now thinking it's now thrush and just irritation from having this prolapse.

[lassmichdochinruhe]

what I have this evening is an uncomfortable feeling that is almost like the start of cystitis - you know when your bits feel slightly tingly on the inside? So slight irritation, though not bad. Mind you, I've been obsessing all day! Why is it that you notice things like this on days when you can't ring the doctor?

[fartmeistergeneral]

I know, and I just know that when I phone tomorrow for an appointment with a female doc, it won't be for ages.

You know if I hadn't read this thread, I wouldn't have done anything about it. I've had this big bump for years, and when I had a quick feel just there, it's literally at the opening of the VG. Just want to see a doctor now, feeling a bit stressed that I've had it so long and haven't done anything about it.

[ouchitreallyhurts]

my symptoms were much worse just before and on day 1 of my period. I had burning and tingling that radiated down my legs and into my bottom and some days could barely stand up.
I had some incontinence of urine with coughing, running and the mad day I played rounders
I think having 4 children and being a nurse for 15 years made it much worse.
My gynae consultant said that many women of our age (childbearing years!) are now coming forward to get prolapses sorted out whereas years ago it was something that mainly older wwomen did.
don't suffer in silence with it!!

[lassmichdochinruhe]

I'm here counting the minutes until 8.30am when I can ring the surgery! I've even vowed to see a male doctor as long as I can get to see someone this week. Preferably today. If not sooner! My brain is already in overdrive in case I need surgery - ex doesn't help with childcare, family miles away. Deep breath... stop panicking... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

How serious does the prolapse need to be before they suggest surgery? is it possible to repair the damage just with physio?

[ouchitreallyhurts]

Surgery was the last resort - I had physio which didn't help me (but can help many others)
they can also use ring pessaries to hold the prolapse (if that is what it is) up.

wait till you've seen the dr before you worry (easier said than done, I know) but it might be easy to fix whatever is going on.

[fartmeistergeneral]

lass, did you get your appointment? I have one tomorrow and now am thinking I may have panicked over nothing. Still going to go along and have that big bumpy bit checked out. Let us know how you got on.

[lassmichdochinruhe]

oops posted using friend's identity. She's very proud of me

[lassmichdochinruhe]

FMG got appt tomorrow morning, too. Fairly sure I've got something going on, but am hoping it'll be treatable with physio, rather than surgery.

[fartmeistergeneral]

Lass, by the way, is your name someone's last words? I might be thinking of Mozart - or was his 'wie schon war doch das Leben'???? Sorry, VERY off topic...

[lynniep]

I had a prolapse some time after the birth of DS (can't actually remember when) but I knew something had happened cos it just felt wrong. Went to GP and he confirmed it, but said that an op was a bad idea if I was planning on more kids because it would probably happen again. He was willing to send me for referral if it was 'really bad' but I thought I'd sit it out and see.

Actually its 'righted' itself now - not in the sense that its not there any more - but I dont feel it any more - I did some pelvic floor excercises but nothing major. You can get things to 'insert' to help with the excercises. I never got around to that. It hasnt stopped me 'doing the deed' (clearly - as I'm pg again now) and it no longer feels wierd to me.

[lassmichdochinruhe]

FMG - not sure if my name was anyone's last words as such... it was the last thing I said to a German boyfriend, though Heart-breaker, that's me! And good luck & let me know how you get on at the docs tomorrow?

Lynniep good to hear that yours righted itself and that you are pg again. I'm in my 40s so not looking to hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet ever again... and not keen on idea of surgery, either!

[ChristieF]

I have a prolapse but didn't know about it until I saw gynae about a lump I found which had disappeared by time I saw his. Tampons can be an issue. At one stage I would get a few hunred yards from the house and have to go home to take out as I could feel it falling out. Use mostly san towels now. If you can manage to push them so they tuck back under the pubic bone at the front they stay put. Had 2 different gynaes (both male! Why would they want to do that job? Doesn't it put them off sex?). My "lump" protrudes from the front (only when on loo)so I assume it's my bladder. Nobody actually bothered to tell me. Apparently most women will have some prolapse after childbirth and pregnancy. I'm 48 and known about mine for ten years. I don't feel it has worsened in some respects better as I no longer get that dragging down feeling. Was told by gynae to wait until it got much worse or may need to be re-done at older stage. No thanks. Pilates seems to have helped and conciously pulling up pelvic floor. This is one of the many reasons women doctors have elective caesareans isn't it.

[PilotLight]

I think I have a slight one and have been to doctors twice about it.
Basically, my "symptom" is that if I put a finger inside, where I used to be able to put it straight in and sort of round a curve, the curve is now more pronounced and sort of fills my vagina.
Also looks more of a bulge with my urethral opening in the middle when I look in the mirror.
I have always had this sort of bulge, but it used to be a lot smaller.
First GP said it's nothing at all. Second one was more thorough, asked me to bear down, internal exam, etc, but said it's not a prolapse but that most womens vaginal walls become saggier after childbirth.
So what I'm wondering is....did she mean it wasn't a prolapse of the womb, but that it was a slight anterior wall prolapse, but said it in a kind way so I didn't worry?
I don't have anything protruding outside of the body and she said that would be an indicator.

[lassmichdochinruhe]

doc has just told me that I have a slight bladder prolapse. It may be uncomfortable, but is not serious. I'm to do more pelvic floor exercises (at least 5 sets a day). The bulge won't ever go back into place, but I can help prevent it from getting any worse.

pilotlight your symptoms sound very much like mine. Maybe your gp was trying to say that it wasn't anything bad/serious to worry about unduly?