I think I have a prolapse

[MortifiedFrown]

Don't know what I am asking really, but just feeling miserable. I have name changed because I feel so disgusting and failed. Name changed because I don't want this to be me.

I have been having a tricky time with HRT, but finally getting things sorted with Slynd (apart from the three months of spotting and bleeding - yay - but apparently well within normal range) after three years of progesterone intolerance.

While washing today I noticed a bulge at the top front of my vagina. I am pretty certain I have had a prolapse. This after two weeks of terrible piles. I also have a small smooth round lump in my tummy button, which I suspect is a hernia. It's weird though because the Slynd has really helped with the incontinence I was experienceing previously, I was certain it was hormonal rather than mechanical Iyswim. I have been coughing a bit of late (hayfever/cold). Could that have done it? It doesn't hurt or feel "heavy" just odd and and unstable.

I am 52 and I feel broken and like just giving up. My body seems to be falling apart. I thought I was doing better this summer - I had lost a bit of weight, Slynd was sorting mood and exhaustion, excercising more and feeling better generally. Now this. I actually hate having a female body right now. I can't stop crying.

Please tell me this can be sorted? What can I do?

Oh OP I feel for you! It’s understandable that you’re upset. Try not to panic. Can you get a hand mirror and have a look to see what you can see? Depending on what it looks and feels like you might be able to tell if it’s protruding vaginal wall, a prolapsed cervix, or something else. You could always call 111 for advice as well. Otherwise GP first thing Monday if you’re not in pain and it’s not interfering with urination or anything.

Thank you. It's less panic, than just feeling so sad and broken.

Co-incidently I have a medicine review with GP on Monday morning. Not sure I can mention more than one thing in an appointment (our practice is very strict), but maybe I can get another appointment sorted.

Urination is a bit weird - more a pour/let down than a stream. I was worried anout a rectal prolapse in that last few months, but though it would be okay. I was very constipated, but have sorted that.

I thought things were getting better. I feel revolted by myself. I would never feel that if supporting a friend, but I can't stop feeling disgusting.

I have 3 prolapses OP (one Ive had for 20 years) and I manage them with physio. Mostly successfully unless I get a bad cough … but I can get it all back again once the cough subsides and up my physio.

In my experience a specialist physio knew far more than the GP. She can diagnose and start you on exercises (not just kegels) to help make you feel more comfortable although that takes a while and perseverance . My physio also suggested a change in hrt which the GP sorted for me (to alleviate atrophy) . I was also hypertonic so she helped me sort that too.

And if needs be she ll suggest the GP for a referral if she feels you need more intervention but you’ll have much more information as to what’s happening to your body. Surgery is not always the solution and some women swear by pessaries but I’ve not got to that stage yet 😊

I thought my life would never be normal again so I know how you feel OP but I’m ok now.

The mental side of this is hard to deal with. My physio also had a big box of tissues!

There are many FB groups for prolapses which may help but I found it a bit much so I only dip in and out now. Sorry for the essay! Sending you positive vibes from a stranger on MN.

I have rectal prolapse. Managed by keeping things moving and avoid straining.

as for urine flow, sometimes if you lean forward a bit it helps and also helps you to void all the urine and not retain any.

Thank you. All really helpful info, you are very kind. I am just tired of bits of me failing and dropping out - I have had a couple of years of it. Not on FB and trying not to google too much, but right now I want a magic excercise that pops everything back in!

I think my local ohysio may be able to help with this she is v woman focussed. Just can't really afford private care right now.

I am sorry you have had to cope with this too.

I know it’s so hard and worrying . I hope I helped a little. You are not alone - there are loads of us with bits falling out and in the wrong place.

You are probably right to stay away from FB and google. While I have huge sympathy for women suffering it does nt always help to hear about worst cases. Get that physio booked and find out where you are at. It’s the first step forwards.

Thank you. It is helpful. I just need to get my head in the right place. I will stop the misery shortly. Your's and @wordywitch kindness is just lovely. I can't quite tell anyone in real life yet.

If it makes you feel better, 11 years after my episiotomy with dd1, I now have a so far small rectal prolapse, which I'm certain is linked as it's connected to the scar tissue. It is irritating now daily (hard to keep clean, gets very itchy) and worse at certain times of month. Too embarrassed to say anything and all the weight bearing exercise advised for my age makes it worse.

Like you, I am worried about how this will surely worsen with age.

Very quick question how do you cough with out making things worse?

Can recommend reformer Pilates for weight bearing without the strain. Expensive, but has transformed my back, without any scary leaking or bulging.

And ask your GP for a referral to women’s physio. You don’t need to explain everything, just say things are not quite right. The physio spends their life looking up a selection of backsides. So long as you are clean, they will be very happy to see you.

Reading with interest, OP.
I too have a prolapse, and after waiting a year for a gynecologist appointment, I now wear a pessary for the past 9 months.
So far I haven't had the need to cough more than once or twice, however and I too was recently
thinking of what I could do to prevent the awful feeling one gets whenever pressure is put on a prolapse.
I'm fairly new to MN and I hope I've got the settings right so that I'm notified if there are more posts on here.
There is so little support other than Facebook which I don't have, and googling just makes me feel worse.
I've had all the feelings that you have described OP, and I do hope you feel better about yourself soon, it's a very lonely journey I'm finding.

@Pinkseashellsonthesand hello! I am using @ here. - so I hope you see this. I obviously haven't got my settings right as I didn't get a notifiction you had posted.

I have Drs appt for later this month. A year is an awful wait for something so sginificant to quality of life. I found out via the Squeezy App that there is something called "the knack" for dealing with coughing and erm trampolineing.

The only comforting thing about googling was discovering how very common it is. But then I get upset because, no one really prioritises women's health. Dr today basically said the same. I think the wait for women's physio will be long and I will have to go private. It is very telling that there are loads of pelvic floor focussed private physios near me!

Can you say more about the pessarie? I am very very conscious and cautious about needing to use the loo atm, I just feel terrified everything will get worse.

I am less devestated today, but it all feels so crap still. Just telling anyone feels so grim.

Hi @MortifiedFrown , yes, you having used the @ notified me, thank you for responding.
A shout out to @espresso14also for reacting to my post with a ♥️
I appreciate that :)
Yes, from my reading I've gathered that women's health is not as much a priority as is men's health.
It certainly is telling that there are so many pelvic floor physio clinics around.

I see the gynecologist tomorrow, every 3 months the pessary is taken out cleaned and reinserted, takes less than a minute.
I'm beginning to realize there's a pattern with me.
2 months is about what I get out of having it in before it becomes, when standing too long, uncomfortable to the point of distraction.
I'll be almost glad to go tomorrow and have it reinserted.
I don't like to say too much about my bathroom routine, as I don't want to put you off.
Everyone is different and I've learned how to manage it, especially when I'm away from home for a few hours.
Unfortunately, due to my own neglect and procrastination, my condition is more severe and no physio or exercises were recommended for me.
I'm glad you're feeling better today, look into whatever you can do to help yourself now;don't let it get worse.
Thanks so much for replying to my post, @MortifiedFrown.
I really appreciate even being able to talk about it a bit, as it's just not something people like to talk about is it?

Hi again , I just looked up 'the Knack' technique for protecting the prolapse during coughing.
It's pretty much common sense to use a strong pelvic floor contraction before and during a cough, and that's what's recommended.
I read on where it says if you're having to cough more than once or twice, you should sit rather than lie down or stand up, and then proceed to manually support the perineum by placing a hand firmly against the area to provide additional prolapse support. Again, seems very sensible to me.
I feel reasonably sure that women had figured this out themselves since the dawn of time! Certainly since they'd been having babies anyway :-)

Anyway I guess that's it, that's the experts advice on what to do when coughing and I'm glad that you mentioned ' the Knack' @MortifiedFrown because it answered my question about it too.
Let's hope that any coughing sessions we might have is within the privacy of our own homes!

I use the Squeezy app every day, my physio set it up for me. I would say though that you need to be shown how to squeeze properly and other exercises before you dive in.

my physio is private. Initial consult was a bit more money obviously but you don’t go all the time. It’s weeks in between appointments so hopefully that’s more manageable financially.

I have booked for a physio & pilates appt - v good local physio does both which is great, but ££. I am looking at online and in person classes. I would prefer to do reformer and in person, becasue I still don't think I am even doing the Squeezy exercises right.

Treating it like a work task. I have to get sorted, so I have to address this properly and do the work. This is keeping the sense of falling apart at bay (well for today).

@Pinkseashellsonthesand the Knack is exactly what all women have done forever at various points in their lives, but the sitting down bit is helpful. It's just tricky to grab your bits to support them in public... I am thinking dungarees and fake arm would get over this!

** the Knack is exactly what all women have done forever at various points in their lives, but the sitting down bit is helpful. It's just tricky to grab your bits to support them in public... I am thinking dungarees and fake arm would get over this!

LOL @MortifiedFrown thanks for making me smile .
Hmmm....with Halloween coming up I've already noticed plenty of fake plastic arms with hands attached in the shops!

Jeans, and other trousers, joggers, I already wear; just feels like an extra layer of protection.
I can understand why it wouldn't be preferable to stand up or even to lie down when having to cough. I dread catching something that makes me have to cough a lot :(

@Pearl69 thanks for the mention of the Squeezy app.
This time I looked it up, and it sounds like an excellent programme to follow in the privacy of your own home.
Very highly rated and reviewed.
I've read before about different pelvic floor physio apps that you must have an initial consultation with a pelvic floor physiotherapist prior to beginning any programme on your own.
I see it's recommended for men too; good to know.

@MortifiedFrown I'm sorry I meant to reply to the beginning of your post.
It sounds like you've made a very good decision in treating this problem as you would a work project, because it will require work and diligence, patience and tenacity.
But it will pay off because you are addressing it early.
Just making that decision to book an appointment and get on with it, would relieve your mind a lot, well done you!

I’m glad to hear it OP. It’ll take time but taking control is the first step. Off to do my exercises now ! (I’ve added some Pilates moves for core strengthening 🤞🏻)

@Pearl69 I have a rectocele, I’m wondering what HRT changes your physio recommended to help with atrophy. I’m having a few more symptoms so wondering if I need to change something. I used to see an nhs women’s health physio before covid, but that stopped during Covid and I’ve sort of slipped off the radar. If you don’t mind me asking, do you take regular/long term laxative type meds? I’ve used a few things but not sure if they are ok to use permanently? I’m scared constipation makes things worse.

Thanks so much for any advice.

I just changed hrt to Evorel patches - I don’t think the dosage went up though but it helped with atrophy. My Gp has very little to offer about prolapse, my physio is much more pro active. She recommended the Balance app which might be helpful for you.

I don’t take laxatives. Just managing my diet but I also have Ibs so it’s something I have to self manage. Yes constipation makes things feel very uncomfortable and much worse.

I also have a rectocele - my physio mentioned it casually as if I already knew! I'm a physio in the HSE (Irish NHS). I have women's health specialist colleagues but didn't fancy my mates doing vaginal exams on me! So I went private.

She recommended Squeezy and I've to go back in a few months time. I actually went for urge incontinence which Google tells me can be caused by a rectocele.
I've been googling mad but the number 1 treatment seems to be exercise. My PT said my pelvic floor was 7/10 - so not terribly weak.

I'm 58, on evoril conti patches, and vagifem pesseries and had 2 V deliveries.