Hello, new to the group

If support is what you are looking for then you have certainly jumped into the right place. I to am 36 with two children a 6 yo son and 1 1/2 yo daughter and have prolapse of everything! Feeling numb and grieving are all part of the process when finding out this has happened to you - I am still going through it. I have been around here for just over 3 months now and do not know where I would be without this site. The ladies here are so wonderful and yes no one can understand quite how you feel like another women going through the same thing.

I am sure it will not be long before those more experienced ladies who have been around awhile will jump in and give you lots of encouragement and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

Anita

Believe me I have done my fair share of crying and still do some days. Mine started last summer, I noticed during my period that everything felt really heavy down there but when my period ended the feeling went away so I ignored it. Then a couple of cycles later the feeling didn't go away so I had a rumage around and found my cervix sitting really low and squashing my bladder. Now I have a cystocele and rectocele to go along with my lower uterus - wonderful! I had one vaginal delivery which was very traumatic resulting in severe tearing and an episiotomy and I literally had to be put back together again. I then opted for a c-section with my daughter to prevent any further damage but little did I know the damage was already done and prolpases were on their way!

Surgery scares the living daylights out of me and the chances of repeat problems are very high. I am not prepared to have my nether regions sliced and diced over and over again, once was enough with the episiotomy.

I understand the feelings of discomfort with walking and sitting and lying down is the most comfortable position because our organs slip back into their proper positions.

Have you ordered the book? If you go to the home page www.wholewoman.com you will find under the "tips" and "faqs" section the posture is explained and you need to start implementing the posture today to support your organs over your pubic bone rather than your pelvic floor. I am hoping that the more experienced ladies will be around later to give you much better advice than I can but I could have written your posts myself so know exactly where you are coming from.

Hang in there, stick around and ask all the questions you need to.

Anita

welcome to the forum
I'm sorry though, that you had reason to seek us out. I know what you're going through, finding a prolapse is awful. I cried for weeks. As you continue to read the posts here you will see why surgery is not really a great option. The good news is that many of us have learned to manage our prolapses to the degree that we are living quite well with them. I am 35 (mom of 4; ages 9,7,4 and 9 mo). I found a cystocele a couple of years ago, then developed a rectocele too. I bet my uterus is a bit low too, but it doesn't bother me, so I don't bother with it.
when I first found the cystocele I was uncomfortable ALL THE TIME
and now I rarely feel it (usually just before ovulation & my period).
read through the faq's here and if you can, order the second edition of christine's book. you'll learn about the posture, diet and some exercises which are all designed to help put things where they should be, and keep them there!
and definitely stick around, the support here is WONDERFUL. because as you know, prolapse is sucky. the emotional symptoms can be way worse than the physical.

welcome-you came to the right place. I am also 36 with 2 kids and recently discovered my prolapse. I go in and out of feeling devastated and being grateful that my body is otherwise pretty ok and functioning! We are all in the same boat here. What has helped me(besides these wonderful women) was finding ways to be proactive about this. I got the book, going to physical therapy, starting to learn the posture....

hi mango-

I have the same probs as you plus some uterine prolapse. It's really hard when you first find out- everything feels weird, doctors telling you to have (or that there's a possibility of) surgery. I found out xmas 07 and am only just starting to come to terms with it- thanks a lot to this site.

The doctors put me onto physiotherapy which has helped, and I saw a dietician about food issues that were making rectocele/urocystocele worse. I find that caffeine and alcohol irritate the bladder/urethra issue, as does soap etc (as some of the other posts discuss). The women here advocate the book and dvd- haven't got mine in the mail yet, but the kegel exercises my physio put me on made a huge difference within a week or two.

I was told I had stage 2 uterine prolapse when I first got diagnosed, but the urogyno revised that to mild and I'd seen him after doing physio for 2 weeks- the exercises helped get rid of the heavy feeling etc, and that was the start of getting on track to dealing with the whole issue mentally. The mental aspect is the hardest thing- I had the same symptoms before I saw the doctor and had just accepted them as normal- gettig a diagnosis made me feel like I was a broken thing, but as the other posts here say, its just a body change that takes some getting used to and will be better some days than others, but there are ways and means to find new ways to like yourself and your body again. The problem doesn't make us lesser women, but survivors.

See your urogyno, but find a pelvic physio, investigate and watch this site, and check out the book etc- many women here are having success the non-surgical route- it gave me hope, and strength, and it will make a difference for you too.

hugs,
bluemama

What sort of things does the PT do? I have read a few times that ladies have found PT really helpful in reducing the stage of their prolapses or making things more comfortable and I am seriously considering asking my GP to send me to one.

Not sure if their would be a waiting list though like most things in the UK!

Anita

Hi Anita-

I was referred to a pelvic floor physiotherapist- they show you how to do kegels properly, and how many (as they tire easily). So I've got to do certain exercises 6 times a day only.5 quick muscle holds of entire pelvic floor and lower belly, releasing between. Then holding muscles to count of 6, then longer to 15 etc. She said to do it before and after a meal as a way of keeping track. Now that my muscles are working more efficiently she's about to start me on pelvic floor weights, and has given me the alternative of a tampon inside a condom to do the exercises before the next appointment (argh!). Basically I have to squeeze pelvic floor muscles tight and resist as you pull the tampon out (4 times percycle 4 times per day). It has made a difference to my uterus- that's gone back towards normal position slightly- not sure its doing much for the bladder/urethra, but she says over time its likely to improve to a degree and hopefully not worsen. Not sure what Christine says about these kinds of exercise, but it took the heaviness away for me...
What I would say is they set exercises for you based on where your pelvic floor is at, so worth a trip. The one I see is expensive- she does a physical exam of how the muscles are working before either keeping me on same program or changing it. Worth a try!
bluemama

... finding my own PT privately and paying for it as I know the NHS will stick me on a waiting list and you tend not to get the same attention you would if you went privately. I could be wrong but the initial examination I had by a gynae when I first stated I had prolapse was very quick and I felt like I was not taken seriously. Neither my doctor nor the gynae could explain why my cervix was so low or why I felt soo heavy and uncomfortable. They both shrugged their shoulders and said you don't have prolapse! Well 3 months later and those undetectable prolapses are unmissable now!

I know PT will not reverse the damage that has been done but it might strengthen things up a bit.

Thanks bluemama.

Anita

Hi Mango

I suggest that you buy Christine Kent's book, Saving the Whole Woman, second ed, from www.wholewoman.com online shop. It is my prolapse bible and will teach you how your body was designed to work, so you can look after it better and minimise symptoms. Hopefully you will start feeling better quite quickly, but improvements go on for years.

Cheers

Louise