Help! Diagnosed with Cystocele and v depressed

[aycaramba]

Have posted on the childbirth threads but may not be best place. I'm 3 months post natal having had DC2 by traumatic VBAC (rotational forceps) and been having problems downstairs since about 6 weeks post birth. Basically feel very unsupported down there,feel like need the loo all the time but don't feel I can empty bladder properly (sorry if tmi). It's very distressing and making me very depressed.

Have seen loads of people and specialist has said is a mild cystocele (vaginal wall / bladder prolapse) but said wouldn't recommend surgery. So just waiting for more physio appointments and doctor is keeping an eye on me but not actually doing anything.

Anyone have any experience of this. Will pelvic floor exercises and time really do the trick or should I be insisting on surgery and does surgery actually work?

Am SO about it that am not enjoying baby as I should and also v worried about how things will be later in life.

Any advice / help very welcome as can't stop crying about it all.

Hi,

Whilst I didn't have cystocele (ended up with Em CS) I did have a weakend pelvic floor after 52hr active labour.

Pelvic floor exercises really are the business.

But you must do them slowly and think about switching your lower tummy muscles on lightly when doing a pelvic floor.

My DD is now a year and my Diastisis (split stomach muscles - makes you look mega preggers when you're not....) and my weak pelvic floor are now a thing of the past.

I've also had issues with my SI joints on the hips at the back just to add to the issues.

I've had lots of physio and done tons of pelvic floor and am now pain free.

No leaking down below at all (running sneezing laughing etc etc no problem).

The physio has been fantastic but I ended up having to pay for it as NHS had 2 year waiting list (apparently I just wasn't disabled enough - hmmm).

It has made a world of difference to me and am more or less back to normal bar needing to loose 7lbs.

But its mostly thanks to pelvic floor exercises. Pelvic tilting is your best friend!

And as for sugery.... Yikes. Don't do it!!! The recovery time is 6 months and apparently extremely painful. My neighbour had it done and within 10 months it had prolapsed again. a total mess really. Don't do it - just tilt your pelvis. Lots!

Thanks skandi1
Can I ask if your weak pelvic floor gave you any symptoms other than pain - any bladder issues for instance (sorry for personal question)?
One of the things that's making me very down about it all is that I'm not sure if the cause of my symptoms is related to the pelvic floor muscles, the prolapse or something else and the docs don't seem to commit themselves. If I knew for sure that it was pf muscle related and it would get better just with the physio I think I'd feel better but the uncertainty is doing me in.
Thanks again.

Hi

I had leakage (sort of constant small drips, if you know what I mean)of pee, after having DD.

Your pelvic floor essentially holds up and in all your organs in place in your tummy as well as assisting in controlling bladder and bowel function. So if your pelvic floor is weak, you'll feel a heavy sensation and poor bladder and bowel control.

Your prolapse would get immensly better from doing pelvic floor exercises. They look like pointless little tilts and lifts (and I was a bit horrified when first a Gyno/Obs and then the very expensive physio I saw, said they were my best friend).

I really initially thought the exercises would do nothing but they've sorted everything out and I am now proud to announce to the whole of MN that I have a strong pelvic floor .

It is all muscle related "down there". After the long labour (where I had fully dialated, DD was a bit stuck, then pushed back up and Em CS) I had (what the Gyno/Obs lady) called a partial prolapse between my rectum and vagina. Basically it was kind of saggy between the two (which could be felt if you put a finger in either one and pushed towards the other).

I was told this would tighten up again as it wasn't bad (just a bit stretched and battered). And it certainly has.

To be fair I didn't have any bowel issues despite that.

Anything "down there" after birth or long labour needs some strengthening and pelvic floor exercises are the only way.

Honestly, I cannot recommend enough to you to get started on them. I know they seem so simple and what you do seems to little (not like an arobics class) and I felt worried it wouldn't do anything but it really does.

I too had lots of medical professionals (midwives, gyno/obs, GP etc) um'ing and ah'ing as to my aches pains and "dripping down below" (tmi sorry). In essence, it takes a long time to get over childbirth and I really wish that pregnancy books would stop telling ladies that "they'll feel back to normal in 8 weeks". Its utter utter bllcks! Honestly, it takes many months before you really start to get there.

And it doesn't matter that it takes time.

You will get better with physio - no doubt at all! And if you start on pelvic floor now, you'll get there quicker.

xxx

Thanks again. Can't tell you how reassuring that is. Have been doing pf exercises (tho seeing physio in 3 weeks to make sure I am doing them properly as last time she didn't examine me). She did however tell me off for doing too many saying I was tiring my muscles out!

Like you say, the books don't tell you any of this and I think I'm just finding it hard to cope with the fact that I don't feel back to normal by now whereas I did with my first by now even though he was an EMCS.

What a mare!

You're a star for sharing your story though - it really helps. xx

Skandi- I totally disagree with you on 2 points.
First is that you are not supposed to enagage any abdominal muscles - tummy- when doing the exercises. My physio put her hand on my tummy to ensure it was relaxed.

Second, the recovery from op is notas you say in my experience. I had the repair op and was fine- and no pain at all. The vagina has no nerves there so thre should not be any pain. After theop they give you pain killers if you want them. I think it may well depend on your surgeon. Yes, you have to be careful not to lift anything for at least 6 weeks.

I had physio and electrical stimulation from them too and I still needed the op- or rather I chose to have it.

I'd do the exercises for 6 months and if you are no better consdier surgery.

I've had op for cystocyle and TVT to support bladder .
It's a small op ,really ,as far as I'm concerned ,better than a visit to the dentist .
The recovery takes a few weeks ,but no big deal .
PF exercises will help .
Good luck

Could the traumatic birth be causing you to cry all the time ,rather than the weak pelvic floor ?
By the way there was a long thread on here in last couple of weeks on TVT ,I couldn't find it ,but you might if you use search .

Thanks violetqueen. I think the traumatic birth is not helping and doc is watching me for postnatal depression. At the moment I can't figure out if I'm just low because of my physical state (which I thought was causing it) or if I'm low anyway and the physical side of things is making it worse.

When you say you chose to have the op purplepeony did you get that on the NHS. My doc has said they won't repair a mild cystocele just because it's there but only if it was causing symptoms. Problem is I don't know if it's pelvic floor or the cystocle causing the problem.

Were you both better after the op? Did it work?

I had my op privately, and it was my choice- the Dr said it could wait but it was my choice.
I felt very "heavy" but not leaking.

Yes, it worked- he hitched up my uterus a bit, did the front wall( cystocele) and the back wall too as he said doing that gives a bit more support overall. That was 19 years ago.

I did not get the amount of improvement I wanted with just physio.

If you feel uncomfortable, it it affects sex or you are leaking, then the NHS should do it. Don't be fobbed off if you want it sorted.

Doing your PFE will help even if you have the op, as the better shape you are in there, the better results you will get.
You need to do 50 ( 10 x 5 squeezes over the day, hold for 4 seconds and don't tighten your tummy.) a day for 6 months I was told, then see how you are.