Is it prolapse that i have?? OBgyn gave confusing diagnosis

Submitted by Love2boys on November 2, 2008 - 8:16pm
Body: 

I had my son 7 months ago by vbac and had 3rd degree tears. Later realized that it felt heavy down there and strange. Looking in the mirror i saw that there was a lump there near the vaginal opening that is the diameter smaller than a dime. It wasn't always there, sometimes it wouldn't be and sometimes it would be...noticed it mostly after i showered. Sometimes it would slowly come down as i watched in the mirror. My tears was still hurting me and i wasn't sewn up properly. My OB did a restitch job on me which she called an episiotomy repair. She also said that my vaginal wall was sagging and that was what the lump was and that it's not unusual to see that after a woman has a vaginal birth. After the surgery she told me she tightened my vaginal walls and basically what i had was almost like a rectocele but that it's not a prolapse. So i am confused as to what i have. But the other day i saw in the mirror that the lump is there again! And that made me sad...until i saw online this webpage and Christine's book which i ordered today. Sometimes it feels heavy like something wants to come out of my vagina but most times i don't feel it but i do feel it everyday i beleive. Pictures i saw online of prolapses, the bulge looks wide and huge. Mine is small but comes out to almost the opening of the vagina but doesn't when it comes out the most. Other times it's deeper in. What stage prolapse does that sound like? and is Christine's techniques suppose to help it reverse? or just allows me to live with it? I had severe depression after the birth of my son because of my terrible recovery. If i have more time next time i might post my traumatic experience. But I am doing better now but still sad sometimes of all the changes to my body. Anyway, i am going to see my new OB in a few weeks to see what she says about the lump. Any insights? I'm glad i found this site. I was feeling negative the night before after i saw the lump again but now i'm feeling more hope again.

Christine

November 3, 2008 - 10:07am

Hi and welcome, Love2boys,

I agree, that was confusing information you received from your OB. Rectoceles can appear as small, grape or walnut size prolapses into the vagina and are known to frequently reoccur after such surgeries to fix them. The only way to know for sure is to find another doctor for a second opinion. Vaginal surgery for prolapse is fraught with difficulty and risk and the more surgeries performed, the higher the risk and lower the possibility of improving thorough return to the natural pelvic organ support system.

Many women here are managing their rectoceles using the techniques described in Saving the Whole Woman. These includes careful attention to diet, absolutely no straining against the toilet seat, the sitting and standing postures described in the book, and also something we are calling "firebreathing", also in the book. There are many other things that also contribute to healing that women routinely share here on the forums.

It is a lot to comprehend all at once, but at the same time very easy and natural once you get the hang of it. Please let us know if you have any further questions, but diagnosing your specific condition is not something we are able to do.

Wishing you well,

Christine

Love2boys

November 3, 2008 - 4:33pm

Thank you Christine for your reply. I was wondering if i did have a rectocele then does it always mean that a prolapse will get worse as you age? i am only 30 so i'm already thinking how bad this lump could get as i get older. Can your techniques cure a prolapse or only help manage it? Ever since i had my son i also been having yellow watery to slimy discharge after my period ends and lasts for about 10 days before it stops. Then i'll have no discharge until i start my period again which comes every 28 days. I never use to get this kind of yellow discharge. I've had it cultured before which showed nothing. I am wondering if a prolapse can cause that kind of discharge? I am planning to see a natural doctor in a few months to do maya massage on me to help get rid of the discharge and also help shift things back to place if they're out of place.
I will get my second opinion about whether i have a prolapse or not soon from my new OB.

Christine

November 3, 2008 - 6:00pm

You are very welcome, Love2boys. Prolapse never goes away entirely for most of us, but we can have tremendous improvement. I would say most of us manage our symptoms with these techniques, but you will often hear women say they get to a point where they hardly notice their prolapse anymore. That constitutes reversal in my book.

I don’t know what could be causing the discharge you describe, but hope it clears up. In general, uterine prolapse can result in a clear, slippery discharge for some unknown reason. I’ve wondered if it’s a protective mechanism so the cervix doesn’t dry out, given its greater exposure.

The Mayan Massage may help to some degree, but it’s important to understand the basic anatomy of pelvic organ support – which happens when we are in these seated and standing postures. It is no mystery, just the organs taking their natural positions due to a properly shaped spine from which they are suspended.

Take the postural work very slowly and rest as much as you need. Eventually it will feel very natural to sit and stand with your spinal curvatures in place.

Love2boys

November 4, 2008 - 5:23am

Thank you again for your response Christine. I didn't think about me having a prolapse since my surgery almost 3 months ago but since the other day after i saw the lump again i am thinking and worrying about it alot. How soon by the way does it take for the book to ship? I ordered it the other day, just wondering. I also had a d&c done for leftover placenta 2 wks after the birth of my son so the natural doctor said she thinks it's my uterus that didn't fully clear itself and that's why i'm getting the yellow discharge. I am sick of wearing pantyliners all the time. Also i am still having pain on my perineum from the episiotomy repair they did almost 3 months ago. It has bumpy, tender scar tissue on it. My new OB said to soak in warm water everyday to help soften it and it will feel better in time. I was wondering if your peri balm will help something like that. Also i wanted to know how often does a person with rectocele prolapse for instance feel the prolapse on a daily basis because I don't feel that heavy, odd feeling down there often, only sometimes each day and the sensation will only last for about a minute to about 10 minutes or so. But i did feel the sensation longer before closer to the months when my son was born. When the women on the forum talk about the bulgy feeling down there do they feel it for hours? I'm just wondering if mine sounds like prolapse to you...i am still wondering since the OB who did my surgery gave me such sketchy details about what i had. The reason why i don't want to get it checked out sooner by my new OB is cause i am still feeling pain in my vagina and perineum from the surgery they did and don't want anyone poking and prodding down there. I plan to make the app't with my new OB in about few week but from what i read, it really sounds to me like a prolapse i have. I also have hemmoroids, rectal pain and not fully evacuated bowel movements sometimes...as if there is a tiny, tiny bit stuck in the left side...which is where my third degree extended to...but no urge to push anything. My lump i get down there is very small compared to the pictures i've seen online...i am really wondering what it really is. I even am thinking it could be a entercole ( i know i spelled that totally off). I will let you know what my new OB says when i see her but i am very looking forward to receiving your book. Thanks for helping so many women. I've already tried to change my posture...if i were in New Mexico i'd want to try one of the classes at the center. Sorry for all the questions by the way.

Trai

granolamom

November 4, 2008 - 3:11pm

only have a moment, but wanted to say hi and respond to your posts

initially, I had that pressure feeling for hours on end. sometimes all day long. I had the same discharge too (and didn't think I had a uterine prolapse but maybe I do). now I have neither symptom. still have the bulges though (cystocele and small rectocele)

I know its frustrating to get these confusing diagnoses, and how badly you probably want someone to tell you exactly what is going on. the good and bad news is that most likely, you will be the only one who knows exactly what is going on. you'll get your book soon, and along with whatever information your dr gives you, you will be able to figure out what belongs where. bad news because its IS so frustrating that dr's are not more knowlegable in this area, but good news because this is something you can do! and since prolapse tends to change alot, (whether with activity or hormones or whatever), you can learn to recognize what makes it worse and what makes it better.

just wondering though..in your first post you mentioned that your ob tightened your vaginal walls. try to find out what exactly was done, as this might make a difference when you're figuring out what is where and how to get it all well positioned and symptom free.

alemama

November 4, 2008 - 5:22pm

It is appalling that your OB did some pretty major repairs without giving you serious informed consent. I would advise requesting your medical records and finding out exactly what got done.
I had a severe tear after my first birth and the scar tissue was tender for 6 months just to wipe after I peed- and it took a year to be able to be intimate with out being very gentle.
There is a wonderful self exam article in the Resources section with pictures and everything- you will enjoy it and the empowerment once you find out exactly what you have going on.
Stay positive- in hindsight we all would have done so many things differently- but you have your whole future to work on improving your condition.

I stayed on my knees and elbows a lot when I had that achey feeling- it really helped.

Love2boys

November 5, 2008 - 6:47pm

Thanks for your insights. I was thinking of asking for a surgical report so i can see what was exactly done. The OB who did it is a little sketchy...i shouldn't of had her do the surgery...but the OB she did the surgery with suppose to have a special interest in pelvic reconstructive surgery and suppose to be the expert in the field at their clinic. I should've went to a urogynecologist but i was consumed with my vaginal pains and bad restitch job too and they were willing to help me restitch.
She didn't explain what was done exactly with the vaginal wall. She just said they pulled tissue together to strengthen things. She even said i didn't have a prolapse so i'm not even sure what i have. I know it's a prolapse of some sort though.
How long did you have the discharge for before you stopped getting it? and do you think it had anything to do with the prolapses?
I'm glad you're not getting the discharge anymore, it's a pain.

Love2boys

November 5, 2008 - 6:54pm

Alemama, the other thing i'm worried about besides my prolapse is my vaginal tears cause i am still getting pain from it. My perineum is still pretty tender from the surgery almost 3 months ago. How long was it before your perineum wasn't tender anymore?...a year? DH and i haven't been intimate since before my son was born 7 months ago. I am so wanting to try but afraid i'll hurt things in there since they did work in there.
What do you mean when you say you stayed on your knees and elbows?
Do you know how long it takes to receive the book? just curious.
Thanks!...I say sounds hopeful because sometimes i feel like my perineum will always be tender cause it's been so long but you said yours was tender too for a long time. Was and is your perineum's scar tissue raised? cause mine is, and sometimes i worry that that is what is causing it to be tender and won't feel better.

granolamom

November 6, 2008 - 7:18am

honestly, I don't remember how long I had the discharge for. I am fairly certain that it was in some way related to the prolapse. It began a few months before I realized I even had a prolapse and it stopped gradually a few months after I started the posture and made some dietary changes (which, by the way, also benefitted the prolapse).

and please don't blame yourself for any of this, hindsight is 20/20, and many of us can point to times in our lives where we made less than fully intelligent or informed decisions due to pain, desperation, fear, whathaveyou.
but that's over and this is what is, I think it speaks to your strength that you're here and facing it head-on.

ah, kids are needing help dressing. got to go

Christine

November 6, 2008 - 6:48pm

Hi Trai,

Looks like you've received excellent information from alemama and gmom. Sorry I couldn't respond sooner! Hope you have your book by now, as they ship the same day as orders are received.

You will read about back vaginal wall repairs in the book, but try not to despair. I'm fond of saying "We all have to work with what we have" and that is the truth. The tenderness will eventually subside, but that area may always be sensitive esp. to intercourse, as they "strengthen" the back vaginal wall by making a bumpy seam down the middle. When you are ready, use lots of Bliss Balm! :) The Peri Balm may also be helpful, as it is made with Ayervedic ingredients known to be "anabolic", but not in a hormone sort of way.

Take the posture very slowly and only do what feels right. If it is time to rest, then hang out on the couch until you feel like you can pull yourself back into the posture. You have the rest of your life to do this work. Hot sea salt water baths are great.

I wish I had a suggestion as to proper medical care from here, but I just don't. That these injuries are still being inflicted upon young women is a shameful disgrace and I personally protest the system by boycotting ob/gyn/urogyn altogether.

Please keep asking questions until you are satisfied you have a good handle on the work.

Wishing you well,

Christine