Prolapses - who can help?

[Peepeeouch]

Hi.
I’ve been having symptoms of a prolapse and saw my GP twice as it wasn’t improved and she said nothing was wrong to get a good sleep and hopefully it would be ok in the morning!

Went For a private gp second opinion who said I have rectocele and cystocele.
Referred me to colorectal as he has an interest in pelvic pain too but he might not deal with bladder.

Been prescribed vaginal oestrogen and start physio in Jan.
Do I see colorectal before or after physio?
If I need a pessary who do I see when my nhs gp doesn’t think anything wrong?

A pelvic floor physio can prescribe a pessary.

I hope that you get some answers to your post OP.
I've noticed in the time I've been on MN that anything to do with a prolapse or POP( pelvic organ prolapse) is generally ignored; guessing it's one of those subjects that most aren't comfortable revealing or talking about.
Did read once on here that there are Face Book groups, as well as dedicated online support groups that have helped those seeking advice, answers and support.
BTW, good on you for going private on this, keep up with whatever therapy you're offered!
Terrible advice (??) from the GP!

Not quite true, I normally reply if I see a post and so do quite a few others. Im fact there was a long running series of threads a few years ago called "Any Old Prolapse".

Yes, a women's health physio can prescribe a pessary, they can also advise on tailored exercises to suit your exact needs (kegels aren't right for everyone), any lifestyle adjustments (trying to avoid very heavy lifting for example).

The normal referral route for rectocele/cystocele is urogynae not colorectal so it might be worth querying that.

There are various FB groups, I was in a couple a few years ago but haven't posted or seen anything for ages so can't particularly recommend any.

I had surgery for a rectocele about 15 years ago, and live with a cystocele but it doesn't cause me any real problems. It's major surgery and worth trying other options first. I use an exercise technique called hypopressives but I'd wait and see a physio first.

Thank you so much for your advice.

I don’t even know if I need a surgeon? Just feel a bit lost with no regular gp who can help. Can’t afford private every time it’s not cheap!
The colorectal referral was partly my fault as I had found him and thought he could be the best person as my symptoms were mostly bowel.
I have since found a gynae and his profile says he does cystocele, rectocele and uterine. He also runs a menopause clinic which is helpful as I have atrophy having been cut off from oestrogen for over 20 years and I’m only 42.

I have left a message with the reception of the private gp asking if the referral can be redone with gynae being specialist.

I figure that’s a starting point if she will change it.

"Not quite true, I normally reply if I see a post and so do quite a few others. Im fact there was a long running series of threads a few years ago called "Any Old Prolapse"."

I searched for the 'long running series of threads a few years ago called "Any Old Prolapse", but could only find the 3 threads that mentioned the word "prolapse" in 2025, and they received between 1,3, and 4 replies only.

On on random thread the OP sounded distressed and wanted some support/advice.
They posted, and "bumped" twice: no response at all.

As I said, in my time here on MN ( probably less than 2 years) I've not seen much activity the few times I've checked out "Women's Health" on this specific topic.

I did find your mention of the exercise "Hypopressives" interesting, have looked it up, and will discuss at my next appointment, so, seriously, thanks for that @ExquisiteDecor :)

I didn’t know if I’d get any responses but don’t ask, don’t get so appreciate the replies.

When it comes to lifting things up.. is there a limit as such and when I do lift, should I be relaxing my pelvic floor or doing a kegel in a protective way?

My GP told me no prolapse when I did have one. I self referred for private physio but am now under gynae and have a pessary. Took 5 attempts to get a pessary to fit.

Make sure you breathe out when you are lifting anything to ensure you are not bearing down.

Where are you based OP? If north west England I saw an excellent private gynae physio for my prolapse..should really do the recommended exercises actually… 🙈

Sorry, didn't mean to sound abrupt, but there are quite a few of us who have posted fairly extensively over the years so your comment surprised me, but I don't spot every thread I guess. Those threads were more than a couple of years ago and there was no Women's Health section then so they were in General Health but the search function on here is pretty rubbish.

As for lifting, it's not that you can't, but you do need to prioritise general good manual handling technique (which you may have done through work possibly, I have) but also breathing out and engaging the pelvic floor as you lift and not carrying anything heavy for longer than you have to. Don't pull your stomach in as that puts downward pressure on the pelvic floor. Also avoid strong core exercises such as crunches for the same reason.

Thanks very much @ExquisiteDecor , I appreciate you responding and posting these recommendations.
I've been told not to lift anything heavy, and to rest as much as is possible, which I find near impossible with all I must do in a day.
Good to keep in mind some common movements, crunches etc..are not recommended.
I'd like to read more on here, for support, it really does help as it's not something I like to chat about IRL, but MN probably doesn't store older posts and I haven't seen any relevant or useful posts since I've been on.
Thanks again, and you didn't sound abrupt btw :)

I’ll have to try breathing out when i
pick up. It’s my dog that I grab the most when the doorbell goes.. she weighs 15kg

Im in Essex so a bit of a distance!

The breathing thing is gonna take me practise. I’ve watched a few videos on diaghram breathing.
It’s washing I pick up but when my door goes, my dog leaps up under my arm for me to stop her running out the door.

Breathe out and do a kegel as you are lifting.
See a pelvic health physio, sometimes called women's health physio. In many areas you can self refer on NHS. This is the key person with a prolapse. And agree, try to change to urogynae (not gynae) if the private referral is affordable for you. But if it's not too bad it's possible it can be managed conservatively via pelvic health physio.

Look up Kim Vopni “The Vagina Coach” she has a few free resources and a paid programme. I had some bladder issues rather than a major prolapse but people seem to get great results and you can get started right away without waiting for appointments.

Yes, I follow her instagram. I have membership with another specialist in women's core and pelvic floor, mainly based on yoga but she is a font of all knowledge on lifestyle, nutrition, posture, hormones, all the other things that affect our bodies in mid-life.

https://www.womenswellbeing.me/terms/

I’ll have a look at that link and thank you for the information on the levels and breathing. My front door goes and my little ish dog leaps into one of my arms so I’m holding her under my arm with just one arm.

I can’t get the referral changed again. I saw the private gp and we discussed colorectal and she referred me but when I got home I realised that wasn’t quite right so used bupa consultant search for the prolapses and found a gynae who sounds ok. If he’s not he can be a gateway.

I’ve booked private physio. I want to do that before seeing anyone else . My notes Gp say my prolapses are mild so hoping I won’t need much to keep things as they are.