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Original poster

What do you look like, 'down there' <blush>

20 replies

WelshMoth · 15/12/2011 19:47

I think I'm having my first bout of thrush in donkey's years, so after purchasing my canestan cream, I got the bathroom mirror out this morning to apply and I have had a bit of a shock.

I'm too embarrassed to describe in detail, but it looks (and feels) like something has dropped. It's not pretty. I'm a bit anxious about this.

I've had 3 children, but it's only now (4 years later after youngest) that I'm feeling that something isn't right.

How should things be? What should it look like 'down there'? I'm also concerned that my smear test is way over due and I really need to book one. I'm worried that the nurse will take a look and scream.

OP posts:
Slightlytinsellyexpat · 16/12/2011 00:44

I can relate to this, OP. I was similarly anxious. I'm usually a GP-avoider except for absolute emergencies but I did make myself make an appointment to see the GP and told him my worries, expecting an examination there and then. Had to make another appointment for a few days later when a female nurse would be available as chaperone. Went back for that, GP did an internal (and also a smear at the same time) and agreed, yes, it was a uterine prolapse as I had thought.

We talked about the options and surgery is one of them, but at the moment we agreed that I would carry on without until or unless there was real discomfort. That was about two years ago.

Original poster
WelshMoth · 16/12/2011 03:20

Slightly thank you for posting - I was starting to think no one would!
Can I ask, have you left it then? Not opted for surgery? How are things now?

OP posts:
Slightlytinsellyexpat · 16/12/2011 04:42

I haven't opted for surgery yet. I think I might have to in the future though.

Original poster
WelshMoth · 16/12/2011 04:45

I've been coughing for months and months now - asthma and (apparently) a thyroid can cause this. I'm wondering whether this cough has made it worse Blush

OP posts:
rabbitstew · 16/12/2011 09:37

Yes, cough can exacerbate it if you already have a weak pelvic floor.

Original poster
WelshMoth · 16/12/2011 15:45

GP for me then, without a doubt.

Thanks rabbitstew, your answers have helped me.

OP posts:
miluna · 17/12/2011 10:44

On a practical level, pelvic floor exercises can help the situation. Maybe also yoga? The homeopathic remedy Sepia has been well documented as having a positive affect on uterine prolapse cases, so it might be worth going to see a homeopath too.

esperance · 17/12/2011 11:14

An article on pelvic floor prolapse from Pulse (GP magazine):

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/article-content/-/article_display_list/10975191/march-2008-managing-women-with-pelvic-organ-prolapse

ameliagrey · 17/12/2011 11:38

welsh are you saying that you can see your cervix poking out/down? No need to be embarrassed!

If so, then you need to see your GP and ask for a referral to a gynae. if your uterus has dropped so far down that it is at the opening of your vagina, then it's quite a bad prolapse and you ought toget it fixed- pelvic floor exercises won't fix it, and it will get worse.
if though what you can see are your vaginal walls that are bulging and have dropped, then PFE might help.

I am speaking from experience- I had a repair 20 years ago and had a relatively mild proplapse, but wanted it fixed.

ameliagrey · 17/12/2011 11:40

miluna please stop touting homeopathy for everything- how on earth can a tiny sugar pill make the ligaments and muscles tighter? This makes me so cross that you are advocating something that simply wll not work. it's nonsense.

Original poster
WelshMoth · 17/12/2011 22:14

I've booked, along with a smear test which is way overdue. Going mid Jan and cannot wait. Something definitely isn't right.

Thanks everyone Smile

And thanks Amelia, I do feel a bit Blush. But a bit better since posting here.

OP posts:
SnapesMistressofMerriment · 17/12/2011 22:45

amelia seconded!

miluna · 18/12/2011 07:23

ameliagrey - I do no avocate homeopathy for everything - but when it has been known to work for a particular ailment or situation then it is an option to try. I'm sorry if this offends you. Much of what is said about homeopathy offends me. That seems to be the way it goes.

esperance · 18/12/2011 10:52

Miluna, you said:"The homeopathic remedy Sepia has been well documented as having a positive affect on uterine prolapse cases, so it might be worth going to see a homeopath too".

I would be interested in reading this evidence. An appropriate study would look something like this: Two groups of women matched on important variables (e.g. type of prolapse and severity of prolapse); one group treated with Sepia, the other treated with a placebo; measurement of the severity of prolapse after x months of treatment.

When a treatment is well documented there are dozens of studies varying this basic design to accumulate evidence about dosage, length of treatment, side effects, interactions etc published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. A half dozen such studies would be suggestive of effectiveness. One such study would certainly pique the interest of medical researchers.

Is there even one study which showed a statistically significant effect of treatment with Sepia?

ameliagrey · 18/12/2011 11:03

miluna as above.

Please link to several double blind trials of women with prolapse - and I mean trials of 100s or 1000s of women- so that i can read the evidence.

I'd be very interested to read how a pill could do the same as 2 repair operations I had, and why if it works.

I am though at a loss to know- giving your claim the benefit of doubt- how anything taken orally, can reduce the stretching of muscles, ligaments and tissue.

If you can explain this scientifically, please do so- then women won't have tummy tucks, boob lifts and face lifts- because the same homeopathic principle would work on other body parts, I assume?

miluna · 19/12/2011 16:54

Ameliagrey and Esperance, By all means rant on, but I don't have to justify homeopathy to you or anyone else on this forum. And I'm not going away either.

ameliagrey · 19/12/2011 17:05

The reason you can't justify it is becasue no evidence that would pass scrutiny exists.

If you keep banging on about it as a cure-all then you have to expect to be challenged.

midnightexpress · 19/12/2011 17:11

OP, pelvic floor exercises can make a difference. One of my friends had a fairly serious prolapse and managed to completely fix it with pelvic floor exercises. I believe that the op isn't recommended unless you're not planning any more babies, and she wanted to have another so she decided to just do the exercises and see what happened. Her GP was a bit Shock to discover after about 6 months that it had righted itself. But I think she was absolutely religious about doing them every day, often and properly.

esperance · 19/12/2011 17:58

Milun

Where is my "rant"?

You said that the effectiveness of sepia is "well documented". I said I would be interested in reading the evidence...any evidence.

If you are unable to back up your statement, then you are spreading medical misinformation. Are you not?

Indeed, in now refusing to respond to my request, it seems to me that you are culpable of willful deceipt.

Am I wrong about you?

Original poster
WelshMoth · 19/12/2011 18:43

midnight thanks for that. You've motivated me to do the old PFE more religiously.....starting now.

Squeeze..release..squeeze..release Grin

OP posts:
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