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Original poster

vaginal/cervical prolapse

15 replies

porolli · 31/03/2006 20:59

I gave birth to my third child nine weeks ago and have today been diagnosed with a 'moderate' prolapse. i'm very upset about this - I thought this was something grannies got! my GP recommended pelvic floor exercises for the next month, then go back if no improvement for referral to physio and possible operation. does anyone have experience of this? have PFE ever worked to improve this? and lastly, has anyone had sex with this? my gp said it was ok, but i dont feel comfortable but feel sorry for dh as we havent managed it for several months now...

OP posts:

Clure · 05/04/2006 20:22

porolli - I have a moderate cervical prolapse also. I, like you thought it was a granny thing. There are other threads on mn about this. Basically I was referred to gynae and he said surgery not an option if considering more children. A ring could be fitted but he didn't want to do it whilst i'm still bf as hormones are still having effect on ligaments/tendons. I've been to see physio who recommended a programme of LOADS of pelvic floors. Possible electro treatment if no real improvement after 6-8weeks. I've been good and doing them but still have times when am very aware of it. Like you I couldn't face thought of sex and everything "jiggling" about inside!! It's okay now though - kind of got used to it. Tampons are a problem to keep in though! The physio said that there was a good percentage of women with prolapses who really do benefit from doing regular pelvic floors. HTH

kittyb · 05/04/2006 21:33

I have been putting off going to GP. Sorry if this is TMI, - nothing actually bulging out yet but front wall is sort of lying across, rather than being upright. Sex is fine because it goes back to where it should be (oh god I can't believe I'm actually typing this) but sex with condom is hopeless. Tampons have to be positioned with care otherwise work themselves out (am now becoming mildly hysterical as I type). Does this sound like what you are experiencing? Anyway I am really going to go for it with the pelvic floor exercises (if only they weren't so boring!)

Hermit · 06/04/2006 09:28

I had a prolapse of the vaginal walls (sounds like what you have kittyb) after the birth of my DS 9 years ago, then of the cervix after DD 6 years ago. Life quite uncomfortable - no running, long walks difficult, couldn't use tampons etc. Adised by gynae physio to do loads of exercises, lie with feet higher than bum whenever possible, not to lift anything heavier that a kettle - really practical with 2 lively children! Eventually had vaginal hysterectomy and repair two years ago - wish I'd done it earlier - a bit drastic, but I feel 'normal' again now. Suggest you ask if there is a consultant with an interest in pelvic floor function - I think there are several options these days, but you need a sympathetic doctor. Can go into even more detail if you like!

tallmummy · 06/04/2006 09:45

I had a moderate prolapse. My bladder sort of dropped down and the front wall of my vagina was a bit bulgy like yours kittyb. I saw a great physio and sorted it with almost non-stop, PFE. It's now fine - no pain or discomfort, sex ok and held out for a fourth pg although I did deliver by cs this time - not because of prolapse though -ds4 was a transverse lie.
PFEs really did work for me and I needed them as all my babies were HUGE. I hope this is helpful.

Clure · 06/04/2006 12:08

sympathise with you kittyb. I would really give the pelvic floors a go. Physio said kindest way to do them is sitting down or lying down. She recommended holding for 5 seconds and doing about 10 reps and to do this at least 5 times a day. Also to do 5 "quick" flexes after each set. Don't be afraid to go to GP, mine very sympathetic and quickly referred me to gynae. They obviously can tailor to your individual needs and discuss options right for you. It really put my mind at rest as I was imagining all kinds of horrid things were wrong with me and when GP confirmed it was a prolapse it was a relief!

kittyb · 06/04/2006 18:14

its always a relief to find out that you're not alone. Am going to really go for it with the pfe's. Thanks for the advice. How are you feeling about this porolli?

deegward · 06/04/2006 18:22

oooh just had vaginal hytserectomy and prolaspe work done, last Thursday, and it really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. Hermit, how long before you could operate normally? Lifting etc,

jenk1 · 06/04/2006 19:57

excuse me for asking, but whats a vagainal hysterectomy?

deegward · 07/04/2006 10:51

jenk1, it just means that everything is taken out from down below, and you don't have a large scar across your tummy.

serenity · 07/04/2006 11:03

I had a bladder and rectal prolapse repaired last year (that's what the bulgy vaginal wall ones are) I had one of my follow up appointments last month, and the consultant pointed out a couple of things.

Firstly, the operations are repairs. They don't put things back the way they were before kids. Once you've had a prolapse, you are more prone to reprolapsing and each subsequent repair is less like to work, so you have to work really hard to prevent it.

I've been told no heavy lifting, which has been defined for me as nothing over 15kgs (so, less than my DD weighs, can't really stop picking her up though), and also I should be doing 200+ pelvic floor exercises a day I'm waiting to see a physio atm.

So best thing to do ladies is get squeezing, and make other people lug things about for you

deegward · 07/04/2006 17:23

ooh interesting serenity. Thought I would be able to get back lifting at some point

Clure · 07/04/2006 18:06

The no lifting thing is a really tough one, my DD is 14 months and still not walking and weighs a tonne! Can't not lift her really. But know what you mean - my physio said to avoid heavy lifting but sympathised with a little one not always possible - she said if you really HAVE to lift then try to brace yourself down below.

Interesting also about the pfe's being a course to prevent further prolapse and that even if fixed in an operation then we are more prone to re-prolapse.

Back to the squeezing then!

Original poster

porolli · 08/04/2006 13:36

thanks everyone for posting. I hadn't checked the thread for a while as I thought it was getting nowhere...!
I'm enormously relieved to hear that this has happened to other people, so thanks for fessing up. I had a few days of just crying about it and thinking it was the end of the world and I'm now trying to feel more realistic and proactive about it but not always succeeding.
I'm encouraged though to hear of people for whom PFE have really helped and am continuing to squeeze. my gp has now referred me for gynae physio, but I don't yet know how long i'll have to wait for my appt.
i agree about the difficulty of lifting - i have a four year old ds and a two year old dd as well as a baby and whilst i can reason with ds, dd still wails to be picked up on a regular basis and it's so hard not to, at least some of the time.
hermit - would you mind telling me more about the op? was hysterectomy advised because of the risk of future prolapse? were your ovaries left in? i'm 36 and have been told by a gp friend that they're unlikely to perform a hysterectomy on someone my age. what kind of recovery time did you need? was it horribly painful?
and clure, do you know what effect bf has? i'm fully bf my baby and would like to continue if poss, but was considering asking for a ring thingy from the physio...this is definitely to be my last baby.
and still no nooky, but trying to work up to it! why hopeless with a condom, or shouldn't i ask?!
thanks again everyone for replying....i really can't stress how relieved i am not to be the only one

OP posts:

Clure · 08/04/2006 20:29

Porolli good to hear that you are being positive.

About the bf and prolapse, as far as I understood it: the gynae I spoke to said that whilst you're still bf your body still thinks its pregnant and the same hormones are still doing their job, one of which is to keep ligaments soft - the job they do to relax ligaments in pelvis in preparation for childbirth.

He said that whilst still bf these ligaments are still soft and so the ones in your pelvic floors are not doing a great job at holding all "your bits" in place (note the technical terms He also said that after bf some women feel that the prolapse is not as noticeable. I was cross with him though as he suggested in that dismissive way some people have to "give up the bf you DD has had all the benefits and you need to be kind to yourself"!!!! As you are at an early stage in bf you could reassure yourself that when the time does eventually come to stop bf then things could become easier. I think thats what I'm hoping (along with 5 million pelvic floors!!) however I don't intend to give up bf until both me and DD are ready. But your gynae may well be happy to fit a ring whilst still bf - I guess it depends on your personal circumstances and level of prolapse. It would be worth asking about this.

Also for me even though I'm 38 I would still like to consider another pregnancy (thats another story!!)

Can't advise on the condom thing as thats the only form of contraception I can use as I'm unable to take the pill in any form.

I really hope this helps - stay positive and keep squeezin' !

deegward · 10/04/2006 10:13

hi - I had the hyster and prolaspe op last Thurs due to v heavy periods, and when went to get this sorted found out had bi cornial uterus (in two) and prolapse.

So far and this is day 11 now, I haven't found this op more painful than 1) Childbirth and 2) getting gall bladder removed (V painful)

Slightly unconfortable due to stitches, and I did end up back in hosp on Sat as I have been doing too much and unforgiving stitch was cutting me in half, but so far so good.

I am 39 (40 in May) and we weren't thinking of any more children, but it is a shock to think it will NEVER happen.

Hope things get better with you.

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