AIBU to think pelvic floor exercises will help a grade 3 prolapse

[Samosamo]

Please help me because maybe I need to put this into perspective.

After having covid two months ago, I had that lingering godforsaken cough. I managed to cough my grade 1/2 bladder prolapse into what I think is now a grade 3, and my mild rectocele into grade 2.

I'm so flipping mad.

I stopped coughing, but now one of my DC has cold and I'm chesty - covid has clearly weakened me because I seldom get chesty when others around me are.

Anyway, of course I am freaking out in my head. When I put my fingers across the opening of my vagina I can now feel my cystocele, not a lot of it, but the tip of it.

I've got the electrical stimulator, I stopped using it during my period last week and I had noticed that difference, maybe next month I'll use it all the way through, but it just seemed impractical on the 2 or 3 very heavy days. I am also doing the hab-it work outs.

Will any of this matter?

I am 41, have 3 kids, no intention to birth more, but I'm scared to hell of surgery, so many scare stories. I would take a pessary, but I don't quite understand maintenance etc.

Am I wasting my time with pelvic floor strengthening? Is it unreasonable to want this to help?

It's on my mind constantly, it's making me snappy with my 15 month old when he is a bit sickly like now and wants to be lifted, in my head I'm saying 'do you want mummies organs to fall out onto the floor I CAN'T LIFT YOU!' I feel like a bad and mum. Seriously. Im crying inside. I do count my blessings, but this feels so horrible down there. My vagina is just crowded and yuk.

If it's any consolation, I've found that a severe cough only temporarily weakens everything. After it goes and I get back to exercise and pelvic floors, it sort of goes back to its average state of being.

If you are interested in a pessary, it would be worth speaking to a woman's health physio, or a gynaecologist, who should trial a few until they fit properly and give you proper care instructions.

But it does always feel like a set back for me and it's annoying!

Have you had a referral from your gp to a women’s health physio?

I don’t blame you for being reluctant to have surgery, it’s a risk and it doesn’t always work. From my understanding it can take months for the exercises to take effect. If your muscles have been under strain repeatedly it will take some work to get them back up to strength.

I am sure you are already doing this, but tightening before lifting or strain can help protect your muscles. Are you carrying any extra weight you could lose?

I would be looking at improving it through exercises and lifestyle in the first instance before surgery but I appreciate you may feel differently.

Sympathies, I have a prolapse after my multiple forceps birth and I’m doing all of the above to avoid the surgery route. I’m also 41, I think getting older doesn’t help!

I would agree that it would probably go back to the ‘usual state’ and that the worsening with the cough will go. I’ve had similar. I also found hab-it good but have progressed to free weights but you’ve made me think I might go back to a few of those workouts. I use a electrical stimulator too. Things are worse during ovulation and period.

I sympathise I’m in a similar position and worried that surfer won’t help and otherwise conscious that it prob won’t get any better.

I recently went for a "mummy MOT" which was really helpful.
If you have any hypermobility issues then surgery probably won't work long term as the organs will slip out of place again.

Try to get a women's health physio referral. Ask your GP. Good Luck!

I do have hypermobility actually, as in, at my age and with no real warm up or training I can nearly do scissor splits. Oh ffs.

It feels hopeless.

I'm a good weight, 5'7, size 10/12, I'm at the top of the BMI for my height but when I am in the middle I look very skinny and I'm size 8/10, which is not good. So I think I am at an ok weight, I still have baby weight so could lose maybe 8lbs, but nothing more.

I do protectively lift. I don't strain to go to the loo. At the beginning of the year my mum had a stroke and I had to care for her quite a bit while breastfeeding and I'm sure that messed it up a little too, but she could hardly move I had to help.

Oh, it all feels terrible. I know it's not life threatening, but knowing it is progressive is very hard to take.

I will keep doing what I am doing, it has only been a month. I do feel like things are more 'stable' inside, if you see what I mean, less rattling about, so I think my muscles are tightening up. Just I am also aware that it has definitely gotten worse and It's really made me feel down.

My gynae physio didn’t need a referral from my gp and she was BRILLIANT.
I have the same after a long cough/cold. It’s
How I measure how long I’ve been ill for.
Back on the exercises tightens things up again soon. And by tightened, I learnt I can do 18 hops before I piss myself. Kids thought this was hilarious.

I understand the frustration, it really gets me down when mine weakens.

My only real symptoms are that feeling of having something lodged in my vagina. I wee etc ok, and I don't rush to the loo a lot, that's alright. If I cough more powerfully I might pee a tiny bit now, but before this bout of coughing not so much.

I have asked for a referral to urogynae again. they gave me a telephone consultation (for a prolapse?!) and then didn't call.... I've requested another.

Can I ask you all what it feels like down there when it is tighter?

I have inserted my finger and then squeezed, I'm not sure what it weak and what isn't as I haven't ever inserted my finger into someone else's vagina, and with a partner and 3 kids I think my chances of that are over!!!

What kind of squeeze do you feel when your pelvic floor is working well and healthy? Right now I feel a gentle clasp. Is it ever like a grip?

They very well might make a difference but it may take several months. It took about seven months of daily pelvic floor exercises for my prolapse to improve after having a baby (not sure of the grade though). Aerobics and pilates will help too as you naturally clench that area when exercising. I really hope it gets better for you, prolapses are awful physically and mentally.

I also have the free weights. I went to had-it because someone said you need to strengthen the other muscles too, such as gluten, lower back etc. But now you're making me think I should do some free weight as well. I was doing 50 of the middle weight a day before the coughing. Haven't gone back. If I try it now and it just falls to the floor I think I might bury my head in the pillow and cry.

Yes, pilates, thanks. At this rate I'll have a 25 year old's body just through trying to keep my organs inside....