Just back from the doctors and thoroughly confused... bit of background first...
Gave birth in July 2020 to my first and only daughter - pushing for 2 hours before forceps intervention and episiotomy. I really struggled with the pain in the initial weeks after the birth. When I eventually tried sex again months later, that was uncomfortable if not a bit painful and everything felt tight. I wondered if it was partly psychological so didn't address it and kept trying every month or so - lubricant helped a lot. I then started my period and found inserting, and especially removing tampons painful.
Individually, I dismissed all of these things as just part and parcel of how things are after having a baby, bur came to the realisation in the last month or so that perhaps this wasn't normal and have been intending to visit docs for ages... Until last night when I noticed a bulge just inside my vagina and a smelly discharge. I had a look with a mirror and when I part my lips there is something there and the feeling of a large lump / bulge (not hard to the touch). I haven't suffered with incontinence, just lots of constipation and massive poos in the weeks after birth. Soz! But all back to norm on that front.
Dr Google pointed to Prolapse. Immediately booked in with docs this morning and was examined. She said it wasn't prolapse but explained that the lining that holds everything together has weakened and that's what the thing I can feel and see is. I'm sure she called it a cystocele... But can't be sure because I never write things down at appointments and not sure if I've just seen that word on my Dr Google research sessions.. However after looking it up, that's just another word for prolapse which is what's really confused me as she said it wasn't one. I've been referred to gynaecologist as she said the speclum and lights she had weren't suitable for the job but the referral could take months apparently so wondered if any of you have experience or advice on whether this sounds like a prolapse, or if I'm getting ahead of myself. Or can anyone point me in the direction of exercises to start with. The whole idea of it freaks me out and I just want to know what I'm dealing with and what will happen next.
I'm obviously jumping ahead but will I be able to have sex, have a child again if I choose to?!