This is thread 7 of a long-running series of posts from ladies suffering from pelvic prolapses to support each other through the process of diagnosis, repair and recovery.
Here are the previous threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 5
Thread 6
Info from BBC Health
What is a pelvic prolapse?
As the muscles, ligaments and supporting tissues in the pelvis become weaker, they are less able to hold in the organs of the pelvis such as the womb (uterus) or bladder.
Gravity pulls these organs down and, in the more severe cases, may appear through the entrance to the vagina.
A variety of problems can occur, depending on where the weakness lies and which organs are able to descend, but in every case there is some degree of prolapse of the vaginal wall, which begins to invert (rather like a sock turning inside out).
Prolapse of the womb or uterus is the most common prolapse, affecting as many as one in eight older women to some degree
Prolapse of the bladder, known as a cystocele, is less common.
Prolapse of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) is known as a urethrocele.
Prolapse of the intestines is quite rare, and known as an enterocele or rectocele.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on which tissues descend, and how severe the prolapse is.
They may include:
A sense of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis.
The appearance of a bulge of tissue in the genital area, which can be quite alarming, and is often red and sore.
Urinary problems, such as having to urinate more frequently, feeling the need urgently, being incontinent (losing control of the bladder) or, conversely, being unable to pass urine when you need to.
Pain in the pelvis or lower back.
Sexual problems, including pain and decreased libido.
Constipation.
Vaginal discharge or bleeding.
Treatment and recovery
Once a prolapse has developed, surgery to fix the affected organs is usually the only way to cure it effectively.
However, another option is to use a device known as a vaginal ring pessary. This is rather like a contraceptive diaphragm or cervical cap. It's made of silicone or latex, and placed in the vagina to push back the prolapsed organs and hold them in place. Many women happily manage their prolapse this way.
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General health
Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc part 7
gottagetthroughthis · 19/10/2012 00:38
Misty - thanks so much for sharing that info! It has really cheered me up and convinced me that I need to 'get out there' and look for a new man!!!! Lol! No need to be ashamed and embarrassed anymore as no more bulges where there shouldn't be - maybe in time for Christmas!!! 
xxx
Stepaway - I had a really bad pain inside my right hip/buttock that was really crippling at times, so much so that I couldn't get in and out of the car (I'm also quite sporty) but after having the enterocele repair it went away completely. A friend suggested that maybe it had been down to driving the kids around, but I still do that and it hasn't reappeared so I am sure it was related. It was particularly bad at night and I was having to take iboprofen just to dull the pain enough to get to sleep. With the enterocele, I had a very tender spot in my abdomen as well, which I assume was where the hole was down which the guts were falling. Don't know if any of this helps put your mind at ease in any way. XXXXX
Sure I'm happy to share. I was really worried myself that things would be different and not in a good way. I'm glad all is well and that I have cheered you up. You definitely need to get out there and put your 'designer vagina' to good use xx
Misty - can you imagine the scenario.... New man, new vagina and me saying, "Ooooh, sorry, I'm a sort of virgin, although I have had three kids!!!" LOL 
xxxx A bit scary!!!
Sure Any new man that you meet should feel proud and priviledged if you let him 'pop your cherry' 
xx
I have had my ring pessary in for three weeks exactly now. I have a cystocele, rectocele enterocele and uterine prolapse - yay!! The pessary offered instant relief and stopped me feeling that at any moment my insides might come tumbling out. The first week was a bit sore, but probably due to the examination, Vagifem and constipation. As time goes on it is getting better and better. I am swimming now and going on the gym bike and cross trainer. I have given up jogging 
and playing the trumpet . Of course I now worry that the pessary is going to fall out. But having said that I now have times when I even forget about this whole horrible prolapse business.
Hope that helps anyone who is considering a pessary. By the way, mine does not come out (officially) for six months!!
jan - hate to ask this again but could you have sex with the ring pessary you have - i can't obviously ask this to my physio but that's why I love this thread.
Do you think I could cycle with this pessary?
Sure - Go for it girl fingers crossed for you
Fen - where are you hope you are ok x
it's just when your following this thread for so long it feels odd when someones not here for a while -
Bubbles - than you for being so honest - as we get older too there is a tendency to try all other options (not your age cos you sre young but at 52 and 5 years of no periods things start to change (unfortunately))
However as Footle mentioned some time ago "Sylk" or my physio says there is an even better one called "yes, Yes, Yes" (if only) and it makes things much much better
Mandz - sorry to hear you are having problems. While you are waiting for an op/to get seen again, I would suggest getting some lactulose from the chemist and taking that every morning (about 10 ml). It is harmless and softens your stools (as long as you drink lots of water during the day), making them easier to come out and that might ease your pain a bit. I had a rectocele repaired and it has alleviated all my symptoms with regard to pooing! Hang around on this site and you will find everyone really kind, helpful and above all, in the same predicament as you 
Take care x
Fen - hope you have gone away for a half-term holiday??
Roseanna - how are you?
Hi sure,
Thanks for getting back to me, I do take lactulose already, (yuck) that doesn't help very much . I also take laxative tablets prescribed by the doc, laxido drinks ( dbl yuck) every day and still only go once or twice a month
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Hello ladies, I am still here! The dds have been home for two weeks and I?ve been feeling a bit under the weather and rather fed up ? last week I had two days of feeling faint and sick for no reason that I can fathom, I?ve had a crampy upset stomach and my stitches are pulling like mad (and a varicose vein on my vulva has decided to get in on the action by bleeding and hurting too) so I didn?t have anything cheery to say ? sorry.
Mandz, please do phone the consultant?s secretary and tell them how this is all affecting you. You can also go back to see your gp and tell them too ? they can send a letter asking for things to be expedited (speeded up) for you. The 18 week rule sadly only comes into play once you have seen the consultant and they have decided you need treatment (!). This could potentially take you to May of next year which from what you?ve said is far too long to get some help. I?m sorry to hear of your constipation issues ? several of us on here have experienced the ?u-bend? problem which means you can only ?go? when something?s come round the bend. Keep going with what you?re doing and maybe try to get some extra fibre into the mix ? I could only have a BM if there was enough pressure to move things through iyswim. I?m pleased to report that since my rectocele repair I?ve gone every day except three . Worth it all in the end.
Sure, I?m shaking the pompoms on the sideline for you!
Gotta, I have a leaflet about ring pessaries (never had a pessary, but it had the nurse?s phone number on it)?. It says helpfully ?sexual intercourse is possible? so I can only suggest you give it a go.
Fen - hurry up and join me!!!! xxxx
(ps sorry to hear you've been feeling under the weather and ) There have been a couple of bugs going round schools - upset stomach etc. and another with a sore throat and nasty cough. Could have had a mild dose of those?? Hope you feel better soon x
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