Prolapse surgery alternatives

[Neapolitanicecream]

Looking for advice for my aunt, she has a vaginal prolapse the consultant is suggested stitching up the vagina ! Under spinal anaesthetic. As a full hysterectomy is would require general anaesthetic and she has heart issues. Has anyone had this done ? How did it go ?

Bumping

This is AIBU, OP - probably not the best place to ask. If you have concerns you'd be better off seeking a second opinion from a real life medical professional. Hope it goes well.

I had bulking agents injected, it may be worth a try? Less. Invasive.

Discussing a family member’s vagina on AIBU is probably not the most effective way to seek appropriate and knowledgeable medical advice.

Please can people reply who want to share advice and experience as I am supporting my elderly aunt with her appointments as she has asked me to. I don’t think anyone knows her here so it’s fine to discuss

I read this treatment is a last resort on the NHS website

Is she elderly OP? If so, and she is not likely to 'need' it again I understand it can be effective. Obviously it's drastic and very permanent, but the surgery and recovery from a repair could be quite traumatic for someone older. I had my repair in my 30's and wouldn't to deal with the recovery process in my 80's.

I’m doing an advanced clinical practitioner MSc. We had a lecture from a GP who said that no treatment at all for prolapses was the best option, even if external. I’m prepared to be told I misheard her, but am fairly sure.

Have you looked on the Facebook page - Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse? Think you have to join but it’s a private group. There is a wealth of information on there and I think the procedure you are talking about has been discussed there. Good luck!

Thankyou I will check for more details. Yes she is in her 80’s and quite frail so interesting that doing nothing is purposed but the prolapse she feels is the reason for the double incontenience. Thankyou I check the Facebook group suggested. Some kind and under standing people on here

Ah, the double incontinence. This makes you feel rubbish, is hard to manage and increases risk of infection. However, when weighed up against surgery that major and with such potential risks...

Please PLEASE look into UK Hypopressives

I'm no expert (although I do have prolapses) but if your aunt is elderly and is no longer sexual active then this may be the best option for her?

No treatment at all wasn't an option for me, I'm really surprised @weaselwords at your lecturer suggesting that (I don't doubt for a minute that it was what was said).

I had one for 4 years, (occurred as a result of DC1's birth and repaired after DC2) and I can honestly say it was a living hell. Every single step I took for 4 yrs I could feel my internal organs rubbing - it was horrific and took an awful toll on my quality of life. Life is now very much back to normal post repair

Try a Kegal 8 machine, they’re about £120

We’re you actually there when they had this conversation? Haven’t ever heard of ‘stitching up a vagina’ in the sense of just closing it off (but could be wrong) but suspect they mean stitching it up in the sense of hoiking it back into a sensible position & fixing things where they should be. This can be done with spinal or GA. A hysterectomy can be done with spinal or GA. A spinal isn’t necessarily the best option for some sorts of heart disease and an anaesthetist rather than a surgeon would be better placed to advise about the best anaesthetic technique. Hope that helps. (DOI: am an anaesthetist)

‘We’re’ not ‘we’re’

Arghh..It’s done it again...flipping autocorrect! . ‘Were’ not ‘we’re’!

Vaginal ring pessary? Changed every 3-4 months at the GP surgery.

They do sometimes stitch the vagina closed in elderly patients as a last resort.