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Mumsnet webchats

Webchat with Sherrie Palm of Pelvic organ prolapse support organisation: Tuesday 23 January, 9-10pm

89 replies

RachelMumsnet · 19/01/2018 17:42

We were asked last year on this thread whether we could look at organising a webchat with Sherrie Palm, founder of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support Organisation (APOPS). We contacted Sherrie and she agreed to join us at 9pm UK time on Tuesday 23 January to answer your questions.

Join us between 9 and 10pm on Tuesday to put questions to Sherrie and talk to others about POP. If you're unable to join us at that time, post questions for Sherrie in advance on this thread and she'll aim to get through as many questions as possible during the hour.

Sherrie Palm is the Founder/CEO of Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (APOPS) and author of award winning book Pelvic Organ Prolapse:The Silent Epidemic. Sherrie's journey began in December 2007, with her diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse. Upon returning home and researching POP, she discovered how common the condition is, and that stigma continued to shroud the condition in silence. In an effort to increase awareness of pelvic organ prolapse, Sherrie wrote the first edition of Pelvic Organ Prolapse:The Silent Epidemic,which was published in in April 2009.

Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support(APOPS) is a USA based nonprofit advocacy agency with global arms, founded in September 2010 to generate awareness of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to provide support and guidance to women navigating the physical, emotional, social, sexual, fitness, and employment impact of POP, and to bridge patients, healthcare, industry, research, and academia for the betterment of POP understanding and treatment evolution.

Webchat with Sherrie Palm of Pelvic organ prolapse support organisation: Tuesday 23 January, 9-10pm
Webchat with Sherrie Palm of Pelvic organ prolapse support organisation: Tuesday 23 January, 9-10pm
OP posts:
Shakey15000 · 19/01/2018 19:48

Welcome Sherrie!

And thanks for supporting/advocating such an important, silent topic!

My question is- what are the main symptoms we should look for and what should we be asking our GP's/Doctors? I know you're in the U.S but global issue right??

Thanks

BowTiesAreCool1 · 19/01/2018 19:53

Thank you for taking time to do This, my question is what treatments are available for prolapse? Thankyou

Sofabitch · 19/01/2018 19:54

I'm pretty sure I have this. But I'm worried the Gp will just send me away for being overweight. Will loosing weight help with the prolapse?

bloodyhamabeads · 19/01/2018 20:07

Thank you for all your hard work in this area Sherrie. I went to the doctor on Monday and was described as have a mild prolapse and told to do some pelvic floor squeezes and wait 6 months.

My question is what position is best to be in when being examined by a doctor? I was examined lying on my back however it seems worse when I stand up. How severe does a prolapse need to be before referral to a specialist. Does length of time after childbirth make a difference? Thank you

AriadneThread · 19/01/2018 22:07

Thanks so much for the webchat Sherrie.
I recently had my first baby, very long labour and family history of POP. How can I try to minimise the risk of prolapse?

QuentinSummers · 19/01/2018 22:15

Hi Sherrie, I have read a lot of conflicting advice about prolapse and the efficacy of different treatments (surgery, kegels etc). In your opinion, what is the best treatment for prolapse?

Shakey15000 · 19/01/2018 22:15

Thought of another one-

Is there screening in the US? Definitely isn't in the UK but I think I'm right in saying that France are shit hot on pelvic floor care after giving birth.

What needs to be done regarding this?

Dabitdontrubit · 19/01/2018 22:16

Hi! Please could you talk me through what surgical operations are available & possibly the pros & cons of those options? A kind of minimum to maximum? Thank you!

Toadling · 19/01/2018 22:44

Good evening, I would like to know if physio can reverse a prolapse? Thanks in advance.

sjpPOP · 20/01/2018 02:27

All great questions ladies, can't wait to connect on Tuesday and shine a bit of light!
Sher

sillyoldowl · 20/01/2018 07:42

Hi Sherrie
This happened to me recently. I won't lie I was completely and utterly shocked. I️t seems to have sorted itself but I am terrified I️t will happen again. Is this likely? What are the long term effect? I would like to have more children but would this damage my chances?
Thank you

BeyondWW · 20/01/2018 13:16

I'm post-repair for my rectocele (though they left my cystocele for now) so cant think of a question, just marking my place for now as I'd love to read this :)

Oh actually I can think of one - is prolapse minimised by doctors in the US, as it is in the UK?

Gotofriggingsleep · 20/01/2018 17:54

I'm having TVT surgery next month which will hopefully resolve my stress incontinence issues. However my Uro-gynaecologist says that I have a prolapsed bowel, bladder and womb that don't need surgery 'yet'. As a mid 30's mum of two very young children I am keen to avoid any major surgery for as long as possible. Any tips on how to prevent the prolapses worsening? I asked for example if I should avoid running and was shrugged at! Many thanks.

Gotofriggingsleep · 20/01/2018 17:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn - duplicate post.

Gotofriggingsleep · 20/01/2018 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn - duplicate post.

MOMwithPOP · 20/01/2018 19:57

I don't know if my exercise routine will be ok after surgery. My Urogyn says i will be fixed and should just do what i always do. But my physio says i should be more conservative. Can you talk about exercise after surgery. And thank you for taking the time to addres this. I am 44 and very active.

Lizzie60 · 20/01/2018 20:05

Why do you think there is so little public awareness of POP issues when so many women will be affected by it at some point in their life and what can we all do to increase awareness? Thank you so much for championing this cause ❤

MonChoufleur123 · 21/01/2018 09:07

Hi Sherrie, to what degree do you think use of forceps are linked to postnatal prolapse? Of all the mums I know (myself included) it's those of us who had an episiotomy followed by forceps birth who are suffering problems. Doctors always say C section carries greater risk but friends who had those seem to have recovered so much quicker. Is a rethink on clinical outcomes and risk needed? Thank you x

AuntyElle · 21/01/2018 12:38

I’d like to ask how we can make this a mainstream issue, widely talked about? Including by HCPs? So that women are less likely to suffer in silence or without adequate help.
I was shocked by the suffering of MNers on this thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3125584-Impact-of-birth-injuries-prolapse-etc

I had no idea until I read that.
Thank you for your work on this. Flowers

Gizzymum · 21/01/2018 14:32

I'd like to ask if there's anything we can do during labour to decrease the risk of prolapse eg is pushing when told to the best approach, or are certain positions more likely to create prolapses?

Also, what are the risks of having a natural birth if you already have a mild cystocele (asking for a friend 😜?

TheWelshDragon · 22/01/2018 06:21

Hi, I have problems with being unable to hold urine in when I need to go. I've tried physiotherapy but they wanted me to use a machine because I wasn't really exercising effectively without one, barely squeezing the muscles. I disliked the machine (it sent a sort of current through) so gave up . Is there anything I can do to improve my pelvic floor exercises? Thanks.

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 22/01/2018 07:21

Hi
I have a rectoclele, it does come outside the body if I don't go to the loo enough. I have been told they can't fix it till I have had all my children.
I am due my second in June, please could you advise if a natural labour will make it worse?

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kaz86 · 22/01/2018 11:07

Really want to follow this post.
Thank you for taking the time!
I had never even heard about prolapses until it happened, if I had known I would of looked after my pelvic floor a lot better.....
I'm hoping to have baby number 4 but I'm worried a natural birth will make it worse. My bladder and womb just fall a little when coughing I have no issues with bladder control at all although did after my third but it went.
My biggest issue is my rectocele which is about grade 2, mainly bothersome when constipated. Sorry tmi lol

RachelMumsnet · 22/01/2018 15:47

Hi all and great to see that we've already got a few questions.

As you might know, there's been a fair amount of coverage of mesh surgery as a treatment for prolapse in the press recently; we thought it would be good to clarify Sherrie's position on this as it's clearly a really important issue. She says: "APOPS is not pro-mesh, but they are pro-choice, and talk about all treatment options". Sherrie also assures us that neither she nor APOPS have ever received any compensation, financial or otherwise, from a mesh manufacturer.

We hope you're able to join us for the webchat tomorrow evening.

OP posts:
Sofabitch · 22/01/2018 17:04

Just googled rectocele...I definelty have that. How is that treated...i kinda assumed that was normal Blush

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