Mae...Bladder Prolapse..V-support

Body: 

Hi Everyone,

I am not new to this site, but some of you don't know me (as Kit said "we haven't met yet") because I have never introduced myself. I have been following this site on and off, mostly on, for a number of years, but I did not reply to anything until I read a post from Christine about vaginal dryness. I guess at that point, three years into my prolapse, I was finally ready to talk about it. Until that point I think I thought that talking about it made it seem too real.

What a mistake that was! I have learned so much from some of the wonderful women who post here and I feel so much better now that I, as I said before in one of my replies, "came out of the closet" about my prolapse.

So, hi everyone, I'm Mae. I am 61 years old, as of last Monday. I have been married for 41 years to my wonderful husband, have had two very large babies (start of prolapse maybe?)and I have two wonderful little grandsons. I have a 3rd degree bladder prolapse that I am managing on my own through Christine's suggestions and Replens! I can just hear those of you out there that know me thinking, oh no, there she goes with Replens again!! Can't help it because it has been such a God send for me. It's actually Replens that brought me to all of you because that's what I responded to Christine and Louise about when they were going back and forth about vaginal dryness. So, once again Replens has come through for me!

If anyone out there could give me some information about about the V-support (I think that's what it's called) I would appreciate hearing about it. What is it exactly and how has it worked for the people who use it? That's one thing I haven't tried.

I want to wish all the mom's out there a very Happy Mother's Day and thank you all for being there for me now and before you even knew I existed, because I have learned so much from all of you. It's payback time. I hope you'll learn from me. Some of you already have..because you told me you tried Replens (there I go again!) and loved it!!

Warmest regards,
Mae

so happy you've decided to join in the conversation. the more the merrier :)

and happy mothers day to you too!

Mae,

Just a note to wish you a Happy Mother's Day too. Like you I'm a post crazypause member and a granny too. I've got six - ages 17 - 2.

Thank you so much for telling me about Replens. I used it a few times and thought it helped, then I got smart and started using half a dose every day. Today I was the smartest I've been in a long time. I used a whole dose, and I can testify that today was like not having a prolapse. I didn't feel a thing. What a nice day.

I have to thank Christine as well for the information on vaginal dryness which I really didn't think I had. But I thought, what the heck, can't hurt. It's been most of my discomfort problem from the beginning. I have no doubt how I'm going to do 12 hour field trips this summer with 50 kids - with Replens and a smile.

Yes, Walmart as a Replens of its own and costs $10.00.

Blessings tomorrow - enjoy the little ones.

Judy

I find this so fascinating, Mae and Judy! To me, it appears that moisture must cause the surface of the vaginal walls to adhere better to one another so they are able to close more tightly – thus better protected from nearby organs bulging against them. I remember that the lungs do something similar within the chest cavity so we are able to breathe. Wow.

Happy Mother's Day!

Christine,

It's really like night and day, and I wonder if the lack of moisture in the vagina could be a universal problem? Could this have been Anita's problem? Could it be a cycle problem that makes the prolapse seem worse than it is just before a period?

The several friends I have here who have this problem "don't feel it." Until I tried the Replens, I couldn't imagine having a prolapse and not "feeling it" with every step, every movement. Even the posture seemed impossible at times because this thick ball wouldn't move. Now, I understand how that's possible.

Because my son was such a horrific birth (I was in unpaused last stage labor 13 hours with a final unexpected "Oh, my God," shriek from the doctor delivery and tear that took 45 minutes to stitch) I don't have a lot of feeling anywhere south of the navel. So when this drove me crazy for about nine months until I just bulled getting used to it, I was surprised to hear other women say they didn't feel it.

Whadyathink?

Happiest of Mother's Days,

Judy

so interesting
wondering if maybe one reason it gets better after weaning? bf so often is accompanied by dryness....

Wow Christine...that makes perfect sense! I actually go around for 2 or 3 days, sometimes I can get another day in there, especially now that I am also using the KY, where my prolapse isn't peeking. Then one day it's there again and I do the Replens thing. The only not so great thing, but not so bad either, is I need to wear a mini pad because I keep myself so lubricated. Small price to pay for not to having my insides hanging out of my body!

Happy Mother's Day to you too!

Warmest regards,

Mae

So, if I use Replens I won't feel the 'thick ball' moving around when I walk? Awesome if this is how I am reading it. I am feeling so bad lately. I have been having incontinence alot lately. Last week, my kids had choir concert dinners & they served Italian foods. Such garlic and salt. I had a lapse of memory since I love those foods. Is this why I feel this way? I have been drinking lots of water to detoxify my body. The pressure is really bad at times. I know the only times I come here is when I'm feeling poorly & know that I must come when I'm feeling good as well. I know that I do not want surgery but I'm re-thinking. That's how bad it is at times.

do the same?

Marie

Hi Mae,
I have all three POP but the cystocele bothers me the most comfort-wise. I am 37 weeks pg with my second baby and I bought a V2 supporter as soon as I became pg (I got the prenatal cradle plus version for pregnancy). It's been the best thing for me. I wear it for any activity - walking, dancing, shopping, housework etc and it really reduces the draggy, heavy feeling for me dramatically. It also helps me hold out longer with going to the toilet because the dragging made me feel like I needed to pee all the time. I'm going to get a normal V2 supporter for after bub is born because it's been so great with helping me continue with my usual activities - which is important with a three year old to run after all day! Hope that helps. Let me know if you want any more info but you can find the site on google.

Hi Fairmaiden

I haven't used Replens (or a generic version) myself but several members seem to have tried it and found it really helpful. It sounds like it could be useful for you. One Member (Mae? Blue?) is using one of the WW balms for the vulval area and Replens high in the vagina with great success. I posted about some research papers on Replens some time back. It is not just another lubricant by the sounds of it. It does have a positive effect on the maturity of the epithelial cells, if you can believe the research. I could only get abstracts, not the full text of the papers, and I haven't been able to find the source of the research to find out who sponsored it, so I don't know how good the results are.

I guess trying it for yourself is the only way to tell if it will be helpful.

BTW, how did you go with the bleeding you were having when you first started posting? Was it the polyp bleeding or was it one of those menopause bleeds that turn up occasionally? I reread your posts and couldn't work out what the final story was.

Also, how are you finding the posture?

Cheers

Louise

Sorry if I didn't get back with ya'll. The problem was the polyps bleeding. He synged(sp?)it off and everything has been alright ever since. That was so scary. I didn't know those things could grow like that. EEK!! If I hadn't found this site & gotten to know my body more, I would've been terrified.
I see that I have more to learn. Epithelial cells, firebreathing exercises. We never do stop learning do we?
You know, my daughter & her friends have the habit of sitting cross-legged at the dinner table. Since I have read how beneficial for us women, I am hesitant to 'scold' her on sitting ladylike. As long as she knows not to sit like this when 'best manners' are called for at restaurants special events.

Hi Fairmaden,

I am sorry that you are to the point where you are thinking about surgery. I hope it never gets to the point where you do that because I strongly believe, after reading, studying, running to so many doctors and being crazed over my prolapse for three years, that the best choice is to manage our prolapses! The secret to that is finding what works for us, which is why this this website is so wonderful. We can all share our experiences, good and bad and have the information out there for others to try and determine what works best for them.

As far as the Replens goes, Louise is right. You just have to try it and see if it works for you. It works for me, but it isn't the end all here. In addition to the Replens and now KY and Christine's Bliss Balm, I try to stay in posture as much as possible, eat right and keep my weight in check with diet and exercise. I am not always sucessful at doing all of those things (especially the diet and exercise) and believe me I can tell a difference when I am not.

Here's what works for me with the Replens. When I feel my prolapse (cystocele..3rd degree) "peek" I push everything up as high as I can, with clean hands of course (sorry if this is TMI, but I am trying to help), I then use the Replens which gets inserted high up into the vagina. I then use the KY or Christine's Bliss Balm lower, lubricating the vulva. I used to just use the Replens, but learned from this website that some of the ladies out there lubricate the vulva as well. I tried it and low and behold (no pun intended!) it works even better.

Sometimes I can feel the prolapse drop down at first, although it doesn't "peek" after the lubrication, but sometimes I can't. I used to go about 3 or 4 days like that, then I would need the Replens again. Now that I am using the Ky and/or the balm I have gone as long as 6 days before needing the Replens again.

I hope you try this and it works for you. Don't expect not to be aware of your prolapse. I am very much aware of mine, but it's no longer hanging out of my body. You will probably need to wear a mini pad or panti liner as I do because you will be very well lubricated. If you become dry, I am sure your prolapse will peek as mine does when I am dry. For me, in addition to the other things I mentioned, it's all about the lubrication.. Even baths help me a lot.

Good luck Fairmaden and hang in there. There's a better answer for you than surgery, I just know it! Please let me know how you are doing.

Warmest regards,

Mae

Hi Marie,

Christine's Balm works for the vulva. The Replens is inserted high up into the vagina. I need both. I used to use just the Replens, but now use Christine's Balm or KY in addition to the Replens and together it works much better. I only use the Replens when I need it (start to "peek") but I use the balm or KY every day now.

Hope that helps!

Regards,

Mae

Thanks..I will Google it. Glad to hear it works well for you. Might be a good thing for me on those "bad days" we all have once in a while. I'll check it out!

Regards,

Mae

Thanks for your reply. Nothing is TMI for me. Sometimes I need step by step info. That's just the way I am. My prolapse will always be there infortunately, but I don't care for hanging out of my body. That's just so gross!! I will try the Replens & KY. Anything's worth a try. The wearing a pad is not a problem for me--I wear one for the incontinence anyway. And when hubby & I are intimate in the mornings. LOL.
the peeking through is what I don't appreciate. My doctor calls it mush. Last time, he asked me how could I tolerate sitting on that mush? What an analogy!!
Now I know that having 6 children did not cause prolapse. There are women on here that have had 2-3 and still have prolapse.

Does your doctor have a particularly twisted sense of humour? Or is he just a very rude person? Or is mush similar to M*A*S*H, a medical acronym for Mobile Underbelly Secret Hideyhole, so he doesn't have to face up to calling a cervix and cervix, and a vulva a vulva?

Betcha he doesn't have a very good sex life! Heaven help his wife! I hope he has some other redeeming skills as a doctor, or I would be going elsewhere.

;-)

Cheers

Louise

Had to ask him how he liked sittin on his mush. after all men have two big ol balls they have to be careful not to sit on.

Hi Fairmaiden,

Glad it wasn't TMI. It's never TMI for me either. Just wanted to also mention that a lot of the ladies out there seem to like the Sea Sponges for holding things in. Have you tried that?

Regards,

Mae

The doc is sweet; it's his nurse who is rude. Remember the bleeding polyp that I had? Well, the day that I went in for it to be looked at, she told me - well, we all knowing what's hanging down.(She was referring to the prolapse. There were even people in the waiting room who heard that. I was really pissed off at her for that. I told hubby that if she ever says someething like that again(even at my next visit), I'm gonna tell her that if it wasn't for liking the doc so much, I wouldn't be coming back. Hubby says that I should leave it alone but if she does this to me, what does she say to everybody else? Getting back to doc, he has delivered all my babies & loves my whole family. He told me that most of the women in his office have had hysterectomies and they're just fine. BTW, he is the cute one; his wife isn't cute AT ALL.
Sometimes I think that he thinks the female popluation knows nothing about their bodies. He has never said the words rectocele or those other terms to me. We've never even mentioned what stage I'm in. He just told hubby what he'd like to do to me which is a hysterectomy & a bladder suspension procedure. I THINK NOT. I asked him - and how many more surgeries? His response - I don't know. I said NO THANKS. I'll continue with my exercises. He told me that no matter how many exercises you're gonna do won't fix your prolapse. His humor? well, while I was laboring with my 2nd child, I wanted no pain killers. None at all. I learned with my first child. I had drugs; didn't do so well with them. Anywho, he told a nurse that I'd rather lie on a bed of nails than have drugs. NOT CUTE at all. I did mention to him about the wholewoman. Wonder if he looked into that?

He may be cute but I think he has an attitude problem. I get the feeling that he gets a lot of satisfaction from putdowns and saying things behind people's backs. It's a power game. I would want to be darned sure I was fully conscious if ever I was in the same room as him. As for the nurse, I think she needs a good talking to. Her behaviour is very unprofessional. I think she is playing the same power game as he is. This sort of behaviour is contagious. He does it to her, and she does it to patients. Then they both go out the back and titter smugly to each other. Sick.

BTW, today is a crazypause day . Never guess, would you?

Cheers

Louise

What is that? Just how it sounds, right? LOL. Well, I wanted to try the exercise someone posted about lying on back with bent legs & feet under couch but haven't tried it yet. When I did come from work today, I went to the bathroom & after peeing put everything back up there, squeezed my butt a few times & it all stayed in place. WOW!! I now know from reading other's comments that every day is not a 'good' day but that was a good afternoon and now a good evening.

Fairmaiden,

Crazypause is menopause. It's a coinage from one of my daughters.

Glad you are having a great evening!

Judy