Prolapse support

[Hoopsadazy]

Yes, I know the irony of needing support, but in this instance I was thinking more emotional.

Have seen a lot of posts on here thru the search facility but selflishly want one for me.

Am now in a position with insides all collapsing to a grade 2 and now it's a 'put up with it' or operation choice.

When I had an initial appt and an operation was mentioned the consultant seemed to suggest putting it off for as long as possible due to recovery time and chance of success/side effects.

Now I have to decide whether to live with it for now or make an appt to discuss reality of op.

Would love to hear thoughts and experiences on it from anyone who is, or has been in the same situation.

Have one DC and not planning another now this has happened.

Amelia the Gynae didn't seem bothered by my running, just asked if I would agree to the op after the London Marathon, I said no!

I know that it puts a strain on my pelvic floor which is another reason to manage without more surgery, but running is what I do. It is a massive part of my life and I am not prepared to give it up.

Life is all about choices and balance and this is the right choice for me.

Eventually- and it will be a long time for you all- pessaries can wear away delicate tissue- which is why they are not always suitable for elderly women.
My gran had a repair op when she was in her 70s but it was a conservaitve op as she has heart disease, so they just did the minimal to help her severe prolapse- caused by 3 babies one of which weihed 14 lb!

I'd say the thing to do if you do have the op is to find a surgeon who is good at repairs- they are all good at different things.

There are also newer ways of dong it- mine just shortened the ligaments and took the slack out of the front wall, and tightened my bladder opening.

Now, I believe, they can use mesh or pin the uterus to the pubic bone or something. They are less likely to offer a hysterectomy because of possible vault prolpase afterwards.

It's a personal choice but I had mine done 20 years back and don't think it was the wrong decision.

Exactly Doyouthinktheysaurus. I know that NOT having the op is currently the right thing for me and my circumstances.

Anyone know if there are pessaries that can help with rectocele?

hi 2 all. I have anterior and posterior / bladder problems. Been refused surgery as the prolapses are small ones , but this has impaired my quality of life, unable to do sex. Its driving me mad as it also has a great physciolical impact on me. Makes me feel not normal and i dont have anything in common with any1 my age 48 only that of a 80yr old. Could some1 please tell me about the pessary. Would i lead a normal life?

hi mrsbonkers I HOPE SO, need to live a normal life!!! go surfin that will give you loads of info. Maybe channel4 embarressing bodies mite have some info on it. Im goin 2 check it out on you tube. Do you have anterior and posterior rectoceles? Does any1 know if the bowel has anythin to do with making the rectoceles worse? Coz i av bowel probs and i want a coloctomy and im hopin it will lessen the prolapse. Or am i hoping !!!!!!!!!!

I've just been back to the doctor for something else and mentioned it again. She gave my Fibregel. Don't know how else to put this...... sorry..... poo still gets stuck in my 'pouch' but its easier to push out!!
I've also just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, so that will have been leading to constipation and feeling rubbish too.
I've tried 'googling' rectocele pessaries, but I think its one of those things that is so different for everyone, that its difficult to get information on the net about.

hi mrsbonkers There r pessarys 4 rectoceles. Google vaginal rectoceles. Thats how i got my info, Ive anti/post rectoceles and bladder probs. Waitin 4 appointment 2 c gynaecologist about a pessary. Ive also got bowel probs, slow bowels ibs and evacuation probs. Went and paid private 4 a irrigation and it sorted the constipation- its been 3yrs since. Does any1 know if the bowel affects the prolapse? I think my bowel is distorted and not lyin in the right place. As my rectoceles are small they wont do surgery, so im hopin the pessary will sort it out and i lead a normal life. Theres different types of pessarys and sizes, fingers crossed

OP, I had a large posterior rectocele - when the bowel bulges into the vagina. I had to 'manipulate' any bowel movements about manually (really, you couldn't make it up...) and if I laid my palm flat against my vagina when on the toilet, the bulge would completely fill the palm of my hand.

I became nearly doubly incontinent within the space of six months. It got a LOT worse, VERY suddenly, NO idea why... it was awful, and I felt like Ihad to pee almost continuously, just utterly bloody ridiculous, really. I am 39, have three kids.

I had an operation, all hoiked and tightened. SPent two months off work, was actually really quite ill with it all in terms of recovery, but it was the best thing I have EVER done. I am SO happy and would recommend it to anybody. I have regained my life and sexual health and am SO happy about it all.

Do explore all options - including surgery. It's been wonderful for me.
xxxx (sorry, not MN'ty, but sod it!)

HI

I would like to second the post above, I too had cystocele and rectocele and also had surgery to hoik and tighten, plus hysterectomy as my uterus also prolapsed, it was a long recovery (2 months) but I am all better now and feeling so many benefits already

It is not an easy decision or an easy operation but do your research and if other options such as PFE's and pessaries dont cut the mustard it may well be worth thinking about. Taking time out to recover is also not easy, but if this condition is causing you problems then you owe it to yourself to get it fixed, and surgery can really help. All the best whatever you decide x

hi flowers40, im glad all went well 4 u. I bet u feel like a brand new woman. How did yor holiday go? Yor lucky u had the choice of surgery. Ive had 2 second opinions and they wont do it coz the rectoceles r 2 small and surgery is too risky. PFE did nothing, only thing left is pessary. Im scared stiff they will fail me. FEAR runs high. How do you know if the womb has prolapsed?

Hi! I have just found out I have bladder prolapse and can't believe it tbh :(
GP just advised me I could have surgery or wait and see how I went on. Wonderful . Reading all the comments on here there does appear to be some solutions, but which one to go for I really don't know. Am due a scan shortly and visit to Physio. Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Hi everyone. I just realised yesterday that I have some type of prolapse. I have had minor stress incontinence when coughing or running which got progressively worse as well as recurring urinary tract infections and the feeling that something was not quite right 'down there'. I saw the GP and she mentioned it might be a possibility given my symptoms but did not examine me although I have a follow up booked.

I read up on it looked at some alarming images on Google and then examined myself in the mirror and I can definitely two or possibly more small bulges just inside my vagina (sorry sorry TMI). Nothing is protruding yet but now that I am aware of it I can feel when sitting or walking.

I am FREAKING out. Literally had a mini breakdown last night. I have two kids (DS is only 16 months) a full time job and all I think about is this.

LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay you mention you had surgery. Can you explain a little more? Sorry it sounds pretty awful what you went through glad surgery helped.

Does anyone know what type of exercise is recommended? I lost quite a bit of weight recently on the Dukan and running/doing exercise DVDs I dont want all this effort to go to pot.

Hi All,

Just marking my place on this thread as am in same boat. Have been diagnosed with grade 2 (minor) uterine prolapse and am awaiting a consultation with the gynae. Went today to an appointment with a specialist women's health physio who has given me loads of info and some exercises which I'm desperately hoping will alleviate the problem. One thing that she did mention is that if you're breastfeeding or have recently been pelvic floor exercises don't help much. Something to do with oestrogen production and baggy bits. I was freaking out as we were planning to start ttc no. 2 and this whole thing has left me confused and baffled. Physio did reassure me that prolapses don't affect future pregnancies, which to me was a relief. Supergolden the physic did say to me to try to avoid exercises that are high impact (which is an arse as the only exercise I actually enjoy is horse riding and that is high impact (especially when I do it :-) ), rowing and weight lifting including not hoiking toddler about too much (how can I not do this?). Also sit ups not recommended. Did recommend some complicated pelvic floor exercises and cycling, swimming and pilates (I hate Pilates!!!!)

I know this is an old thread, but cant find a more recent one- Just wanted a bit of advise as I have just had a ring pessary fitted .I have been through all the ones about surgery, but none about living with a pessary.