Pt 8 (Oct13) Any old prolapse! Uterus/womb prolapse, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele, urethrocele, incontinence, pelvic floor, anterior and posterior repair, TVT etc (994 Posts)

[gottagetthroughthis]

Welcome to thread 8 (again - see below) 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.

With apologies for confusion in thread numbers - an earlier thread was called part 7 but it was actually the 6th thread.

Here are the previous threads:

Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5
Thread 6
Thread 7
Thread 8

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.

Hello! Glad there is an up to date thread. Have just had DS2 (4th DC) and pretty sure I have a prolapse.

I've had a pretty shit time of it to be honest. I went down with pneumonia at 35 weeks, in hospital on intravenous antibiotics and then sent home for a week of a nurse visiting daily to administer IVs via PICC line. Since the end of the IVs (Christmas eve) I've had one cough after another due to reflux, the horrifically dry air in the birthing unit and a second chest infection.

DS is now 8 weeks and in the past fortnight I've had 2 courses of antibiotics for this second chest infection. I think the coughing has exacerbated the prolapse more than the birth - I started getting the bulging feeling a couple of weeks after he was born. Basically the doctor won't do anything until my chest is sorted as any coughing undoes the benefits of PFE (although I'm still doing them).

Anyway thought I'd join for a moan!

Bavmorda Congrats on the new bub and I am sorry to hear you are suffering. It must be awful knowing they wont even go there until your chest is sorted out. One piece of advice is to get off your feet regularly, don't stay upright longer then you have to, feed bub laying down or put your feet up through out the day to relieve the pressure on the area as well as continuing your PFE. I had to this this for 1 year leading up to the surgery after the delivery of my 12 pound bub who had shoulder dystocia, it is annoying but it does help

Hi all

I'm in the middle of figuring out all his prolapse stuff! Two physios are saying two different things - and I know which one I trust. I have a second stage prolapse of bladder - it has come forward and is leaning into vaginal wall. The other Physio thinks I've a recto problem. Symptomatically I just feel 'not right' down there and have the urge to wee a lot. Anyway I'm off to my gp shortly to ask for a gynae referral. I'm doing to floor exercises and I think there is some improvement from them, but I'm 6 months since having an almost 11lb baby pulled out by forceps (how I wish they had simply gone for a c section ) and am still feeling the damage. My uterus is miraculously still where is should be - thank god for one bit of good news from my internal exams!

I am so hugely relieved to see here that surgery can work as I was reading nothing but horror stories from POP on the Internet. I got very depressed from this and before I knew it, the weird sensation was all I could think about all day long. It dominated my life. It can be hard to get a handle on.

Holy shit Bav the combo of pneumonia, childbirth and new baby and a prolapse is dreadful. What an awful time for you. Be kind to yourself and rest as much as possible. Congrats on your lovely new baby.

Welcome Havalina congrats on your lovely new baby too. Good news that your uterus is still OK. The urge to wee a lot could be a bladder prolapse or an infection - worth ruling an infection out.

Waiting I'm so pleased to hear you are doing so well. All help appreciated by those who have successfully come out the other end and have resumed normal activites.

I have a grade 1 bladder, grade 2 uterus and grade 1 bowel prolapse. I've had loads of tests this year in preparation for the repairs.

The surgeon has suggested 3 surgeries: the first in a couple of weeks to remove the fibroid in my uterus and decide what kind of hysterectomy to perform.

The second will be a hysterectomy and a sacrospinal fixation with tape to lift the bowel.

The third will be a tape to lift the bladder (TVT in french, not sure what the english term is) as the surgeon thinks I will be incontinent after the second procedure but won't do it all in one as it has poorer long term outcomes.

It's all complicated by me having a rheumatic disease of the spine meaning I'm not very mobile and surgery will definitely not help with keeping mobile and having had a major illness a couple of years back that means I have half the energy that I used to have. Plus a disabled child.

So what I thought would be a simple repair has turned into a year long programme of investigations, surgery and recovery, that will be difficult for my health and for my family.

I'm feeling pretty alone with it all and as though I'm on the precipice of major stress. Any advice or experience please?

Sorry Hav just realised you do know it's a bladder prolapse and not an infection.

Do you have bladder specific exercises to do? I saw a midwife here in France where I live for retraining of the bladder and perineal muscles. She said that I must keep doing the bladder exercises so the muscles are strong for after surgery.

Just one more to answer your post to me waiting about how I feel about having a hysterectomy.
My womb was wrecked by having multiple MC and multiple ops to remove the MC. The last one ended in a perforated uterus which left me sterile. Now it doesn't function anyway, I'm happy to get rid of it.

Hi merdealor

Thanks for the welcome! The doc also wants to rule out a bladder infection so I've a urine sample in. She examined me (this was a new doc again) and she is of the opinion my prolapse is only stage 1 bladder and no real issue with the back wall. She said it's really mild and that a surgeon wouldn't operate to fix it, even privately. I found that very reassuring as it's easy to fixate on things. Well I am an idiot for blowing things way into focus and drowning in it all.

She said there's a tablet they can give me to make the sensation of needing to pee go away. Happy days! Does anyone know what this is?? She won't prescribe it til a bladder infection is ruled out.

I haven't been given specific bladder exercises, no. What are they like? My nhs Physio said is a recto prolapse but my own excellent. Physio, I'm Ireland, said its bladder , as did the gp. Not hot a whole heap of faith in her as a result.

I'm not feeling right yet down there but I still have lumpy scar tissue from my episiotomy and that causes discomfort.

I'm reading everyone's experiences here and have to say it's so helpful. Thank you everyone and I wish you all well!

Merde I just read your posts properly, you have so much on your plate right now, sounds tough and understandably scary. When is your surgery happening?

First surgery in 10 days time Hav

So, you can work your bladder muslces to start with by practicing stopping having a wee in mid flow. Over the course of a week or so practice each time you go for a wee. Then try to visualise moving those same muscles when not weeing. It should feel like a swing moving up the mid line of your body. Towards your stomach. Practice isolating just that muscle several times a day. She described imagining a lasso around it to put it up even further and then tightening the lasso.

There are exercises for everything down there. I practised them all including rectal exercises and of course the normal perineal vaginal ones. It was a proper work out 😁

Hello - sorry for lack of posting, I have been trying to get back to normality and stop thinking about all this.

Everything has been going well until about a month ago and my bladder has prolapsed again, so pretty pissed that I only got 4 months out of the repair.

I think a combination of carrying a clingy toddler, going back to work and some kind of genetic defect is the cause. Consultant has told me to increase the Physio and try to stop it progressing. If it gets worse the next step would be a repair with mesh which I really really don't want.

Sorry to be negative especially for people about to have repairs, but actually I don't regret it because I have no stress inconvenience now and my bowel repair is still going good.

Waiting sorry you are still on pain relief, what a long recovery. Did the move go ok? Have the haematomas gone now?

Merde good luck for you op it sounds like you have a long process ahead. I've learnt that vitamin c is really good for tissue strength and healing so get as much as you can if you aren't already.

Havalina, welcome to this crappy club! But it's been really helpful to me for support and advice.

Ha stress inconvenience well I guess it is an inconvenience!

Merde thanks for that, I will try those exercises plus ask my Physio for more specific stuff. Although given she is in the minority about my type of prolapse she's about as useful as a chocolate teapot to me right now. Best of luck to you for surgery - you must be counting down the days.

Generally speaking, is there any chance we can be still recovering from childbirth, and to expect a continued level of recovery, or is it too late for that? I'm six months post delivery. Lately I don't feel my prolapse but when I sneeze I'm like an inverted trampoline down there. I don't know if that my weak pelvic floors fault or actually things (organs) bulging momentarily. Sorry, I know that sounds gross. The GP said my bladder had slipped a little bit but not fully and there was only a bulge from it when my system was under pressure (the coughing test).

We moved house last week and we are just out of the postcode catchment to remain at our regular surgery. So damnit like I wanted more hassle, I've to register at some new practice. I've no proper internet yet either at home so haven't googled what's around. I just don't like the idea of more new doctors examining me.

Stress inconvenience - I laughed at that

Sorry - I didn't mean to be insensitive to your overall post - that is such a pity the bladder work didn't last longer. Is the surgery less major when it's just one procedure?

How old are we all here? Everything I read is that it's older people, though it seems like lots of women here are of the baby-making age. I'm an older mum, have a 6mo and a 2yo and I'm 41 I was fit as a flea before all this shite started, light weighted and didn't smoke. So much for the crap I read on how to recover - get fit, stop smoking and resign yourself to it that it happens

Sorry to hear that your prolapse returned Addicted

Trouble is, there will be times when you have to lift with young children. It must be so difficult. It's positive that it did the job though and fixed the stress incontinence.

Blimey! The things women go through!!
So sorry to hear all of your misfortunes.
I had a TVT about 10 days ago to remedy my stress incontinence brought on by giving birth to my DS, who is now 2. After 2 years of wearing pads, carrying around spare underwear due to regular knicker-wetting incidents, I can now happily say that I am pad-free, and haven't leaked once since. I am not up to full speed yet post- operatively, but I did have to run for the bus yesterday and still didn't leak!
My dream is to get fit again, and ultimately to start running again, but I really don't know when it is safe to start.
I'm sorry if this post seems annoyingly smug, but after 2 years of poor self-esteem, no sex, and severely limited physical activity, I feel compelled to sing out!
I hope this gives some confidence to anybody due to have a TVT.

Not smug at all Motorcycle I'm delighted for you, to hear it has gone smoothly and you've recovered so quickly gives me confidence in having the procedure done myself.

My surgeon advised I watched TVT surgery on you tube to see what happened, I really wished I hadn't. Watching any surgical procedure prior to having it done is a bad idea!

I'm getting a touch of rage ....

NHS Physio referred me to the gynae. I have moved house so I'm not as close (but still close enough) to the hospital I had my baby in. So I asked to get referred to there as I have umpteen follow up appointments there already due to a condition he has (he gets blood checks very regularly). So she can't do that, it transpires, she can only refer to the other hospital, but agrees as my notes are all at A hospital, I should see the team there. But she can't make the referral.

Subsequently I had contacted hospital A about my labour and am using their after care service for traumatic labours. They were surprised I couldn't get to a gynae and it seems my file wasn't allocated to sit under the care of any consultant at the time for checking. So they contacted the consultant who signed off (but didn't do) my delivery. He replied he would be happy to see me but only via a GP referral. So - back once AGAIN to my new GP and ask for this to be done.

I'm getting really upset at people poking around down there, and coming up with different diagnoses, plus contradicting advice (use a pessary / don't use a pessary you're too young / 5 months Physio will correct this / ask for surgery if you definitely will not have more children). My private insurance does not include anything childbirth related - wonderful.

I'm just annoyed at the endless appointments getting passed from billy to jack. Meanwhile I'm paying for Physio privately, starting next week.

Sorry I am really ranting here.

To top it off, all my weird symptoms, I am not sure they are entirely prolapse related - how could I know I'm not a doc - which is why I want someone to give me an overall check.

My main symptom is a very hard feeling like two train tracks running either side of my vagina back to my bum. Plus discharge and a feeling like I've little marbles inside me that move. I also get sharp pain in my vagina like electric jabs, mild but random, on my left side. I've no idea what is going on and I'm getting so upset at no progress and being told "it's only been 6 months". After 6 weeks with my first I was back horse riding.

So GP Monday morning again for more prodding and pleading.

Again I'm sorry for ranting. Just feel so low.

I'm getting a touch of rage ....

NHS Physio referred me to the gynae. I have moved house so I'm not as close (but still close enough) to the hospital I had my baby in. So I asked to get referred to there as I have umpteen follow up appointments there already due to a condition he has (he gets blood checks very regularly). So she can't do that, it transpires, she can only refer to the other hospital, but agrees as my notes are all at A hospital, I should see the team there. But she can't make the referral.

Subsequently I had contacted hospital A about my labour and am using their after care service for traumatic labours. They were surprised I couldn't get to a gynae and it seems my file wasn't allocated to sit under the care of any consultant at the time for checking. So they contacted the consultant who signed off (but didn't do) my delivery. He replied he would be happy to see me but only via a GP referral. So - back once AGAIN to my new GP and ask for this to be done.

I'm getting really upset at people poking around down there, and coming up with different diagnoses, plus contradicting advice (use a pessary / don't use a pessary you're too young / 5 months Physio will correct this / ask for surgery if you definitely will not have more children). My private insurance does not include anything childbirth related - wonderful.

I'm just annoyed at the endless appointments getting passed from billy to jack. Meanwhile I'm paying for Physio privately, starting next week.

Sorry I am really ranting here.

To top it off, all my weird symptoms, I am not sure they are entirely prolapse related - how could I know I'm not a doc - which is why I want someone to give me an overall check.

My main symptom is a very hard feeling like two train tracks running either side of my vagina back to my bum. Plus discharge and a feeling like I've little marbles inside me that move. I also get sharp pain in my vagina like electric jabs, mild but random, on my left side. I've no idea what is going on and I'm getting so upset at no progress and being told "it's only been 6 months". After 6 weeks with my first I was back horse riding.

So GP Monday morning again for more prodding and pleading.

Again I'm sorry for ranting. Just feel so low.

Sorry to hear that hav sounds like you're being passed round, with no-one taking care of you or commiting to a diagnosis.

I hope the GP appointment went well and that you have been able to figure a strategy going forward so you make some progress.

I had my first surgery last week, pretty simple fibroid removal and hysteroscopy but I can feel that my prolapse has worsened and things don't feel right below.

Roll on prolapse repair..

Thanks Merde. Not long now for your surgery.

I'm making small progress but really having to fight for it. My private Physio is insisting I have a grade 2 and that I am a candidate for surgery should I want it. I'm having some positive results from exercising there so I am coping better. She's said she will write to my GP explaining plus she is the nhs pessary expert and I can use that service also.

GP surgery hadn't processed my registration yet so still can't make an appointment. Hopefully get the ball rolling next week.

How are you feeling now?

Hi all, can I join? Not yet diagnosed but off to doc tomorrow. Have a 10 month old and after having her for a while I had a pile or two but these went away, then just a couple of days ago, think after some digging in the garden, I've had a weird draggy, tampon-falling-out feeling. Cue panic kegel exercises and the next day, it hurts like heck to press anywhere on my lower bladder area. This is the bit that scares me. Not a uti, very well versed in those since being sexually active.
Am a total wimp about having stuff wrong with me, esp. in that area and thinking about it makes me on the verge of tears. Am 35, luckily not in a relationship so no requests to dtd any time soon!
Hope the doc is thorough, they're usually a bit crap here.

Hi I had rectocele repair 2 weeks ago today so am here in an advisory capacity 😀

Nell how is it now? Going well?

Aber..fringe

I know what you mean. I'm 41 and I'm horrified I've had this happen. My baby is almost 7 months old. Physio said it is so likely from 1) left in prolonged pushing stage of labour with 2) a 10.8 baby that was 3) delivered by forceps.

My emotional state has been awful, but I've turned a corner with it.

Some days I can barely feel it (my bladder is tipping into weakened vaginal wall). And some days I can. It's been diagnosed by several docs and physios and ranged from a stage 1 to a stage 2 depending on who is looking.

I've decided to crack ok doing whatever I like (walking, riding, playing either kids) and if I end up needing surgery so be it. Right now on a good day I don't think I do. I am doing a tonne of pelvic exercise and I "mind" it during the day - I can feel it is really strong now and I go to a private Physio every 4 weeks.

Are you breastfeeding? My Physio says there will be even more changes once I stop feeding my ds. She said if my prolapse is due to the vaginal wall being damaged, exercise will help, as the muscular tissue of the pelvic floor runs fibrously through the vsginal wall so it is possible to exercise it.

But if it's due to ligaments stretching and organs being physically lower, exercise won't make much difference.

So that's my tale of woe. Good luck with your doctor, let us know how you get on.