Prolapse and I’m terrified

[CandleWick4]

A couple of years ago I went to the GP because I suspected I had a minor bladder prolapse.I was referred on, diagnosed with a minor cervical ectropian and a very minor bladder prolapse. Advised to keep on top of pelvic floor exercises (which admittedly I’ve been bad at). Discharged from the hospital.
A week or so ago I started getting an odd twitching/throbbing feeling inside my vagina, thought maybe a muscle twitch, or something hormonal as I’m due on.
Past few days however the feeling has become a dragging heavy feeling and a constant feeling like something is in there. I’ve had a look and a feel and it’s looking awful. It’s like all my insides have dropped and I’m terrified. The NHS website seems so blasé about it but I feel like I need to keep my legs crossed in case my insides fall out. I plan to get to the GP next week but I’m scared. Hoping someone can give me some reassurance.

My aunt suffered a prolapse and she was able to get help for this. She had worked on her farm lifting heavy items and given birth 3 times so not sure if this contributed to that.

Have you called your gynecologist? You need to contact them and go in immediately so they can look at you and make sure you’re ok.

You mentioned going to your GP, but perhaps seeing a gyno is better? It sounds like you need an examination. Have you recently given birth or suffered from a weekend pelvic floor for any reason?

@MarshmallowSwede

My aunt suffered a prolapse and she was able to get help for this. She had worked on her farm lifting heavy items and given birth 3 times so not sure if this contributed to that.

Have you called your gynecologist? You need to contact them and go in immediately so they can look at you and make sure you’re ok.

I’m in the UK so would need to be referred from the GP, I don’t have a gynae I could just call. Last gave birth 7 years ago, absolutely no idea what’s triggered it.

I have a prolapse; it feels like I'm wearing a tampon that has slipped down and feels uncomfortable most of the time. Mine was triggered by going on the kids' trampoline and also running - about 10 years after child birth. The doctors are really blasé about it. In fact when I had to see the gynecologist about something unrelated and I said that I thought I had a prolapse, she just said, "well yeah, you probably have if you're in your 40s and you've had two children then it's normal for most women to have some degree of prolapse." She didn't even bother to examine me. I've since seen the physio who gave me exercises to do but to be honest, they haven't really helped. It's a bit shit but I'm resigned to the fact that I can't lift heavy things or run/ jump etc anymore as this makes it worse. They don't tell you this before childbirth or I suspect everyone would want a C section.

@OldWivesTale

I have a prolapse; it feels like I'm wearing a tampon that has slipped down and feels uncomfortable most of the time. Mine was triggered by going on the kids' trampoline and also running - about 10 years after child birth. The doctors are really blasé about it. In fact when I had to see the gynecologist about something unrelated and I said that I thought I had a prolapse, she just said, "well yeah, you probably have if you're in your 40s and you've had two children then it's normal for most women to have some degree of prolapse." She didn't even bother to examine me. I've since seen the physio who gave me exercises to do but to be honest, they haven't really helped. It's a bit shit but I'm resigned to the fact that I can't lift heavy things or run/ jump etc anymore as this makes it worse. They don't tell you this before childbirth or I suspect everyone would want a C section.

That’s it!! Like a tampon that’s in wrong. I’m hoping they can do a pessary to help but like you say I’m worried I’m going to be shrugged off. Could you imagine if a man went to the dr with literal organs out of place there is no way they would be turned away. Why is this something we’re expected to just cope with.

It’s horrible that they don’t take women’s health serious!

You have to demand to be seen. Can’t it get worse Over time?

OP if it gets bad, you can have surgery. I had it done over 20 years ago.
I did have some physio first but it didn't help much.

However, things have moved on and I think women's physios are using better techniques now to help women.

Ask your GP to refer you to one or if they can't, you can self-refer (but you will need to pay.)

if that doesn't help, insist on seeing a specialist and discuss surgery if it's affecting your life a lot.

You don't want to be using a pessary for the rest of your life. They can cause issues in themselves.

In the meantime you need to be VERY careful not to make it worse. I was told

1 no running or intense exercise (ever)
2 no heavy lifting over around 5 kgs
3 no squats or exercise that increases abdo pressure
4 be careful not to put weight on as that increases pressure on the pelvic floor

If you can afford it, I would pay and see a women's health physio. They are the absolute experts in pelvic floor health. They are common where I live and I would thoroughly recommend. I had an assessment after both of my births and they could pinpoint weakness and tailor exercises and other treatments.

@JinglingHellsBells

You don't want to be using a pessary for the rest of your life. They can cause issues in themselves.

In the meantime you need to be VERY careful not to make it worse. I was told

1 no running or intense exercise (ever)
2 no heavy lifting over around 5 kgs
3 no squats or exercise that increases abdo pressure
4 be careful not to put weight on as that increases pressure on the pelvic floor

What sort of exercise can you do safely??? Most of the gym classes seem to involve some / all of the above bad exercises….

I'm so glad I found this thread !

I'm also in the same boat, had my fourth child 17 months ago now,
I was putting something in the loft and just felt a pull and it's not been right since I have had this now since April, and is getting worse , I brought a pelvic kegal machine £200+ I've done all everything I can't even collect kids from school some days as I am so petrified something will fall out while walking, I was referred to gyne but the appointment was taking so long my friend referred me privet I have just in the last month seen both, nhs gyne was sympathetic but wanted me to do Physico for 6 months , the privet gyne dr said I need an operation and no ex will help, I have bladder prolapsed which is now visible and a small rec prolapse too, he said it is from the way my labours was there was stupidly quick my body had no build up I went from nothing to delivering in under 10 mins with all of mine , and it's caused to much trauma I'm so scared about surgery tho as I've read people say they've had more issues since it , I've got to have a bladder stress test which I can't have done till dec as the waiting list is so long so I won't get op till next year this is privet, it's ruining my life I can't do anything even hoovering my house is sometimes too much worst experience ive ever had I really feel for you😕 not that it's any better but I'm glad I'm not alone hardly the easiest thing to talk about is it x

I am seeing a women's health physio. Honestly, she's fantastic. I would go private if you can't wait for NHS referral.

I paid privately for Physico and she said my bladder is too far into my front wall now that pelvic floor will not help 😢 I need surgery to repair / strengthen the wall but they are so delayed because of covid even privately I can't be operated on any sooner because of the wait ,
This has been life changing I can't do school pick up some days
Most days I feel like I need to walk around holding myself I constantly have to check myself would be interested to hear from anyone who has had a wall repair as to experience ? After-math eve really sucks to be a women x

I’ve had a prolapse, scared the life out of me as like you I thought my insides were going to fall out, I used a mirror and could see it as well which didn’t help. Nothing caused it as far as I know, 9 years after giving birth, no strenuous exercise etc
It did sort itself out eventually. I did gentle yoga, pelvic floor exercises etc which I still do now.

I run and lift with mine. It’s got much better since first happening, and moving my body in ways that feel good has not made it any worse.

I did physio, Pilates and no impact for the first year, then reintroduced running really gradually with EVB compression shorts and a ring pessary (I only use the pessary when I’m running, it’s easy to pop in and out).

My grade is the same (ie it’s not gone back up), but my symptoms (the ache, falling-out-tampon feeling etc) are pretty much non-existent these days.

You really will be ok.

Hi lovelies firstly sending huge hugs I have 3 prlolapses the rectocele being the most annoying. I also got the weird twitching when I noticed things down there. I now also have vulvodynia and nerve related pain since all this started :(

Im an admin on FPOPS UK if your on Facebook its got over 3k of us all going through prolapses you will get good support and advice on there feel free to join us! :) :) just search for us on fb

Secondly you need to ask to be referred to a UROGYNAECOLOGIST not just a regular gynae

Urogynaes are the specialists in prolapses and can tell you exactly what is going on.

Huge hugs its awful but so so common just never spoken of which it really needs to be!

@Willthewashingeverend

If you can afford it, I would pay and see a women's health physio. They are the absolute experts in pelvic floor health. They are common where I live and I would thoroughly recommend. I had an assessment after both of my births and they could pinpoint weakness and tailor exercises and other treatments.

This definitely if you can budget xxx

If you can afford it, I would pay and see a women's health physio. They are the absolute experts in pelvic floor health. They are common where I live and I would thoroughly recommend. I had an assessment after both of my births and they could pinpoint weakness and tailor exercises and other treatments.

Totally agree. My GP diagnosed me with a mild prolapse a couple of years ago and I freaked out. I had a couple of sessions with an NHS women's physio who was poor and didn't help.

Eventually paid to see specialist independent women's physio. Amazing. In my case she said my prolspse diagnosis was wrong, It was hypertonic pelvic floor which she has helped me resolve. But even if it had been prolapse, or I develop one, I'd be confident she could help. If you're anywhere near Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire PM me.

I know it's scary but there are options. Ignore any crap doctor who says its normal. It may be common but it needs treating. All the best.

If you can't afford a private physio, Michelle Kenway, Australian women's physio has lots of information online about suitable exercises and what to avoid. She is reputable, as recommended by the Urogynaecology department at a London teaching hospital. Pelvic floor exercises several times a day should make some improvement. Some women do find a pessary helps long term. Please be careful with heavy lifting and suitable exercises if you can. I ignored it and my prolapse got much worse quickly.
I had a hysterectomy and bladder and rectum repair for prolapse, which was okay for me as I am post menopause.

Can you afford to go private? Postnatal health care in this country is shocking.

This is scary. My Aunt had
a Prolapse and has surgery just before lockdown. I have a feeling I may be developing a prolapse too.

I am privet and nhs I have two referrals running , problem is the privet wait now even if you pay is still really really long because if covid now, I am on a urgent referral and after my first visit have been told I need a vaginal wall repair on prolapsed bladder and Rec,
I am now waiting a bladder stress test to ensure they check everything Pre op,
I have had a pessary fitted again yet I hate it find it makes nothing better and causes leakages, I hate it this has got to be the worse thing my body's every been through I would give birth 10 times over then go through this x

Please do get a referral to see a urogynaecologist from your GP. I’ve heard that pessaries are life savers for some women. I saw a woman’s health physio on the NHS who was great and physio really helped.

@JinglingHellsBells

You don't want to be using a pessary for the rest of your life. They can cause issues in themselves.

In the meantime you need to be VERY careful not to make it worse. I was told

1 no running or intense exercise (ever)
2 no heavy lifting over around 5 kgs
3 no squats or exercise that increases abdo pressure
4 be careful not to put weight on as that increases pressure on the pelvic floor

I suspect I have one too (I have 1 DC, birth over 2 years ago). I regularly pick him but, he’s quite heavy at this age, I should avoid this to not make my current condition worse? Sorry OP to ask my question on your thread.

Ring your GP. Good luck.