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Anyone out there have a bladder and/or urethral prolapse ?
I was taking a shower on Dec. 9th & felt a mass between my legs. I got the mirror & saw what looked like a tiny baby crowning out of my vagina ! It was my bladder prolapsing into the vaginal wall & causing it to prolapse. Went to see my OB/GYN - she was very apethetic about it saying that she has hundreds of patients with this ! That was of no help to me !
She inserted a pessary. Then the following week, I began prolapsing "around" the pessary. She removed it.
Two weeks later, my urtethra prolapsed & is now near the opening of my vagina. I have lots of pain, pressure, & general discomfort at this point. Am urinating about 15 times a day !
Had an ultrasound yesterday - will have a consultation with the surgeon in 10 days. This is moving so fast.
I was hoping to be able to speak with anyone else who has this problem now or had it before. I am a very active, 60 year old menopausal woman. I had weaned off HRT 3 months prior to the prolapse. I'm back on them now !
Anyone ??

Hi AuntieDonna;

I have a mild prolapse of the bladder and Uterus, no need for a pessary, and when I consulted my Gyn, she did not seem concerned. Her response was to live with it. For my level of Prolapse, Nominal, the cure was worse than the problem. My Gyn said that if she went in to secure everything that she might find that the only way to improve things would be by performing a Hysterectomy. No Thanks. I think I'll keep it for as long as I can. I did have a MIL (mother of my ex) who had a wicked prolapse of the uterus and the doctor's were able to reinsert and fix it place with a stitch? or two or 20, {can't exactly remember - quite some time ago.}
I think these conditions are so commonplace today, though not to you, that physicians don't seem to worry about them unduly. I am sure that you will be right as rain once you've been through the procedures which you are awaiting.

So for now, pee gently, use lots of fibre so that you don't have to push so hard during a BM. Actually I remember after giving Birth to my son, I had an episiotomy{sp} and during BM's after that for a while, I supported the incised and stitched area with a Tissue and my hand to prevent further tearing. Perhaps, a section of toilet tissue, held in place over your labia/vulva/vagina during BM's or heavy streams of urine would feel more comfortable for now.

Sorry Auntie if I have provided too much detail. But there are times when you need to call a spade a spade or in this case a "vagina a vagina". Not a Woo Woo.

Take it Easy Auntie;

Linderful

Hi Donna..
I can't offer any advice, sorry. I am 46 and the last week or so I've had bad pelvic pain and i pee when i run/ jump/etc. ugh! I had a hyster. in '98 from a prolapsed uterus and that was no picnic. And now this bladder thing.. I take tons of estrogen...and I mean TONS..orally and vaginally..I can't beleive this is happening. The pain is unforgiving..like a tugging that never quits.
This meno thing is just plain mean and nasty...and my emotions have run amok over this bladder.
ANYWAY...you're not alone.
June

Hello~

I have had the three universal prolapses, uterine, cystocele and rectocele for the past five years. I had entertained surgery until I found this website (I hope it is proper to share it), www.wholewoman.com. Basically it is how we carry ourselves that will minimize the effects of our prolapses. The argument at that site is very favorable and I have used the recommended posture to keep my prolapses contained. With the three prolapses vying for an exit, they are actually acting as nature's pessary. Kind of hard to get through a small opening with all three at the same time. Watching a toddler's posture pretty much gives one an idea how to walk - and after the body gets used to it - can be quite comfortable. At first my back muscles screamed abuse. But within a month, no back pain. Also - getting on all fours and then doing leg lifts actually helps the prolapses to "retreat." There is a v-brace that allows for added comfort. I couldn't stand a pessary - that rubber thing was way too hard for me. I know I will never be healed, but I just want to be able to live a life that is comfortable. Most of the time, the good days outweigh the bad and I can't ask for more.

Surgery is not an option for me and there is a high rate of failure - prolapses are caused by stretched ligaments, unable to return to normal. Should someone get a hysterectomy because of this, the remaining organs will fill the cavity left by the uterus, thereby eventually causing more problmes. A vaginal vault would be horrendous, I would think.

Keep your BM's soft, no straining, no situps and baby yourself. I guess prolapses can be worn as a badge of honor for the children we bore.

Sybil,

Just curious about this - why no situps? I'm wondering how the stomach muscles play into this. Does it put strain into the pelvic floor muscles?

Also, can you explain a bit more what you mean when you say "toddler's posture?"

I have pelvic floor dysfunction, so this is all interesting to me.

Many thanks,
JJ

Hi JJ.

Doing situps (working core muscles) put unnecessary force on the pelvic organs. Also, any jarring like tramboline use. Even pushing the vacuum back and forth. Unfortunately my life has had to be tempered so that no excess pressure is put on the prolapses.

I had a tipped uterus all my life. The uterus is supposed to naturally lay over the bladder (towards the front). When it is tipped towards the back, then it's exit is made easier should one be prone to prolapses. I had thrown my son a little into the air and "pop". Went to the doctor and sure enough, a cystocele. The rectocele followed a few months later.

Having gone to the site that encourages a better way of holding one's body, I found this so helpful. Basiscally standing against a wall, one's head, shoulder and butt touching (shoulders slightly down and chin tucked in) and that is how one should walk. Like a toddler or a pregnant woman. If there is a slight curve to one's lower back, than the uterus is forced to tilt forward. (lower abdomen pooches toward the front) My back muscles initially hurt while maintaining this posture but now, to walk any other way causes those muscles to hurt. When needed, I do wear the v-brace, especially if I am going to do some physical work.

Basically, there is nothing I can't do. I just make sure I don't put any undue pressure on the core muscles. The only time I really feel the pressure is when I have to sit on the porcelain throne to accomplish BM's. I even maintain that slight lower back curve which allows a straight shot for the BM's. The rectal area is to stay towards the back. One really shouldn't have any constipation when that occurs as the tilted uterus does not squash those particular areas.

Like I said, this has been a learning process but I sure wouldn't trade it in for incontinence, bowel leakage, additional surgeries, adhesions, etc. I can live with this and most times I am not aware I have a problem.

Sure hope this has helped and feel free to ask me anything. Always keep the lower back with a curve, lower abdomen area pooched forward, standing straight, shoulders slightly lowered and chin lightly tucked in, and see if this doesn't take off the pressure you may be feeling. Also sleeping on your tummy forces the uterus to fall forward. You will notice that upon wakening, you feel better until gravity takes hold. Then the pressure feeling kicks in.

Take care

I really appreciate your taking the time to explain, Sybil.

Just one clarification, with the curve in the lower back, are you're saying that you tilt the stomach area forward a bit, so you are "lengthening" the lower back? (The opposite would be arching the back a bit.) I'm thinking how ballet dancers kind of pull the lower pelvis forward.

No problem with not using a trampoline! But I've always done sit-ups, and think now it's worth giving those up and seeing if there's improvement.

Also, you mentioned keeping stools soft - is this primarily through drinking lots of water?

Thanks again for the info!

JJ

JJ~

ut your tush out towards the back a little bit; this creates a lower back inward curve and forces the lower abdomen to pooch out. Works. I walk and sit that way almost always. Also, check out - www.wholewoman.com for additional information.

I use Colace and eat oatmeal almost daily. Helps keeps things plugging along.

One can only expect to cope with minmal symptoms and so far this has worked.

Got it, Sybil,

Thanks so much!

I'll try these things out. Now I can see the "pregnant woman" walk, LOL.

JJ

[fontI had a prolalps utrerus for years & finally had a paticall Hysterectomy last year. they left my ovaries. i didnt use no Morphine at all. i suffered the pain & used just heating pads instead. i was feeelling great till a year later till it brung on full bloom of menopause. but i had prolaps to & not very good. i felt like a freak for years & no hardley sex life & didnt like myself.. just saying my experience here & were all togther with things here. ask me anything you like. im willing to support others.Black]