When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
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louiseds
November 21, 2008 - 8:16pm
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Welcome
Hi Karolka
Welcome to Wholewoman. It is great to know that this website comes up in searches in parts of the world that we have not heard from before this.
Your English is fine. Your 11 years of learning have served you well. I can't speak a word of Polish, so you have the advantage over me!
No gynaecologist should speak to a woman in a way that makes her cry. He was very cruel to say that. On the other hand, by the time I was 40 and had three vaginal deliveries (with a big episiotomy from the first birth) I was very proud of myself for the good job I had done with my three little children. I think I would have laughed in his face and told him to try birthing three babies and see what he thinks after that!!! (I probably would have used a few well-chosen swear words too!) I am sure that by the time you have birthed your last baby and have turned 40 you will be just as proud of yourself, and be able to laugh at his foolishness as well.
However, in your present state I am not surprised that you cried, because finding out about the reality of prolapses when you have a new baby and your whole family life ahead of you is a very sad time. You are entitled to have a good cry.
The good news is that your body will be better in a year's time. Don't draw any conclusions about the long term state of your body for at least another 9 months. It sounds like you are doing all the right things with diet and posture. My book arrived in Australia within a couple of weeks, if not sooner. A couple of weeks will not make any difference in the longer term, though it seems like an eternity at the time.
I am sure you will be able to understand everything better when you can read it for yourself. Then you can come back to the Forum and ask more questions. I am sure by then that you will have much to contribute as well.
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Cheers
Louise
Karolka
November 22, 2008 - 10:17am
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Thank you Louise
Thank you so much Louise.
The gynaecologist I visited is 72 and I chose him just because of his experience - 45 years of practice. He must have seen a lot of woman after childbirths and therefore I thought he would be honest to me. But I know now that he is not a very reliable person, because he lied to me about cervical erosion and broken cervix he claimed I had. Neither do I have a broken cervix nor cervical erosion (I checked it with another two doctors) and he only wanted me to have them "fixed" in his surgery so that he could earn some money. I seriously think about telling the police about the issue.
I will try to be positive and patient but it is not easy at all... I have a question: is it possible that my uterus is relatively deep inside only because of my bladder and my rectum supporting it? My cervix moves down a lot after urinating and then comes back to its place a few minutes after urinating. However, it seems to be lower when I have my rectum empty. Could that mean that once my cystocele and rectocele improve in a year or so, my uterus will go down?
Kind regards,
Karolka
granolamom
November 22, 2008 - 10:33pm
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nature's pessary
welcome karolka and congrats on the new baby
you've stumbled upon a truth...nature gives us a pessary. yes, sometimes the bladder and rectum prolapse and hold a prolapsing uterus in place. this is not to say that that is 1- a bad thing or 2- the way you will have to live your life
what I mean is, that many of us are living quite well and without symtopms, with our prolapses. I myself have a cystocele, a mild rectocele, and I bet that my uterus is low too. that's ok, because I am fully continent, have no pain, sex is great and I can do everything and anything I want to do.
also, my prolapses are alot smaller than they were initially, and my uterus has still not fallen out. I don't think it plans to anytime soon.
3.5 months postpartum is very early. so much can and will change, its way too early to tell what will be in one year. I'd like to think of things this way...your bladder and rectum are currently supporting your uterus. you will get your copy of the book, learn the posture, avoid constipation and straining on the toilet, learn the firebreathing, plie workout (in the book) and nauli (type it into the search box here and then follow the links), and by the time your prolapses are less pronounced, your uterus will be better supported by your newly strengthened muscles, fascia and posture.
and I think your dr's not a very nice man. what he said to you was extremely offensive and insensitive. we're seeing here that age has nothing to do with prolapse. at least not as much as a routine episiotomy. but don't get me started on that.
anyway, go cuddle with your baby, and try not to let this cloud your life. its not the end of the world, its something you need to deal with and manage, but things can be ok. they are for me.
Karolka
November 23, 2008 - 7:29am
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Thanks a lot Granolamom + one more question
Thank you Granolamom for your support. Just like yourself, I am continent, have no pains whatsoever, and sex is better than before the birth! This is my and my husband's impression (it looks like kegels are working as far as sex is concerned). I sometimes feel my rectocele bulge, which is I think worse that my cystocele (at least it is definitely more visible than cystocele, and one of the doctors diagnosed only rectocele - maybe because he was concentrated on checking whether I had erosion on my cervix or not).
Could you please tell me how long have you been living with prolapse? I'm 25 now and I find it hard to believe that in let's say 10, 15 years my pelvic organs do not necesarily have to be lower than they are now (if I do all the right things from now on). Gravity works against us even when we put a lot of effort into staying in posture and exercising... I'm getting pessimistic again...
Granolamom, could you also describe one or two 'safe' exercises, which I could start doing now, before I receive the book (I'm ordering it tomorrow). I will be extremely grateful. Thank you in advance,
my best regards,
Karolka
granolamom
November 23, 2008 - 10:54am
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karolka
don't know how much time I have right now, so in short
I found my prolapse about 3.5 years ago. I'm sure the beginnings of it were there years before it became apparent to me. for reference, I'm now a 36 mom of 4 kids ranging from almost 10 to 19 months old.
my prolapses are actually SMALLER and HIGHER up than they were when I discovered them, and I attribute that to the posture, exercises and lifestyle habits I've learned here. yes, gravity causes things to fall. but if things are well placed, there is no where to go. the posture puts bone under your pelvic organs, so there is no hole to fall out of. when standing in posture, the vaginal opening is facing BEHIND you, not below you.
for safe exercises, really I'd say get the posture down and go for a walk in posture. avoid crunches, sit ups or anything else that compresses your belly.
baby wants the keyboard, will try to get back later
Karolka
November 24, 2008 - 5:50am
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Granolamom, So your
Granolamom,
So your 19-month-old child is after prolapse baby... That's a good news for me, because I would love to have at least another one in the future, and I was thinking that there is a small chance of not worsening the prolapse after another birth...
Thank you once again,
Best regards,
Karolka
alemama
November 24, 2008 - 8:50am
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Hey Karolka
I've been meaning to say hello to you.
Welcome to the forum.
It is logical to assume it can only get worse because of gravity- after all in time everything sags- all your organs- it happens to men too- even their testicles get lower.
But intra-abdominal pressure is an amazing force that will pin your organs in their places.
I found my prolapse after my second child was born- but had no idea what it was and as far as I knew it went away- I have always been very active and independent and of course I wanted a to have another baby as soon as possible.
then after my third birth my midwife diagnosed a rectocele and through a great stroke of luck I found this site and my redemption (that is to say no midwife found it in any of my well woman visits or pelvic exams before or during the third pregnancy-that makes me think that they either did not do very thorough exams or it was so insignificant they didn't notice it OR most women having babies have some laxity to the vaginal walls)-Then of course a few months later I developed a cystocele and my cervix dipped lower into my vagina.
anyway I was 26 when I found out about it and I am 29 now. I am pregnant with my fourth baby and my first prolapse baby (after waiting for my body to recover from the birth- 2 years or so - I would probably have been even better off if I had waited longer but I just couldn't - and amazingly my fertility returned a few months before I was really ready so the time was right) :)
before my pregnancy my prolapses were asymptomatic- the cystocele was gone totally and the rectocele was the size of a small piece of candy- I made many changes in my life to get to that place. First I changed the way I stood and sat- I changed my clothing choices- I changed the way I ate (I went totally vegan for about 9 months and I am still vegetarian)- and I added chiropractic, massage, firebreathing, nauli, and bikram yoga (with posture modifications of course).
Now that I am pregnant the front wall is softer and the rectocele is bigger- maybe olive sized? but I am still asymptomatic. I am very sure that 18 months postpartum will find me again with no visible bulges and all the pelvic organs in their proper places.
You can get there- let go of the MYTH of the 6 week post birth ideal and realize it takes up to 2 years to feel healed from birth. Some cultures already believe this- our culture believes everything should be instant and to be a great mom you have to be super mom- well it is not true-
Hand the laundry and dishes over to your partner and enjoy that baby-
spend time on your hands and knees and even better elbows and knees- try pulling air into your vagina and releasing it- your baby will probably laugh at the sound effects and will love having you on the floor- the two of you there together. Practice lifting the baby off the floor with great posture- your belly and butt way out- knees bent and baby very close to your body.
Feed the baby lying down
Let all your ligaments and tendons have time to bring your structure back together firmly and strengthen your muscles gently to help with the support.
Keep thinking and asking questions.
Karolka
November 25, 2008 - 5:42am
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Thanks a lot Alemama
Thank you for taking your time to reply - you have given me hope. I just admire you - you have three kids, you are pregnant and still finding time to help women you have never met... That's really amazing. Thank you for all the hints. Wishing you all the best,
Karolka
rosewood
November 25, 2008 - 10:32pm
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Alemama
I really appreciated your post, too.
Marie
alemama
November 26, 2008 - 7:44am
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no, thank you
This forum has saved my sanity so many times. It has changed the way I live my life and how I see myself as a human. Wisdom from women like Flora and Louise and past posts from someone who only posted once have shaped who I am right now. I am forever indebted to Christine for starting this- for her knowledge and for sharing it with me. And I owe a great gratitude to all you women who continue to visit here. And the hardest part is I will never repay it because as I respond to a post about early postpartum pain or thrush I learn something- I revisit what it will be like to have a new baby and prolapse and I am reminded that this is a journey. I read stories of divorce, cancer, disability, and sick children and I gain perspective. I read about women just like me who started with prolapse young and I am given hope for the future.
So don't thank me- I selfishly visit here. I get more than I can ever give.
Karolka
November 26, 2008 - 2:27pm
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Alemama, what a pity that
Alemama, what a pity that you don't live in a nearby, because I would love to go for coffee with you:) Oh, I forgot that it irritates the bladder:)
Anyway, I spent 4 months working in the USA in 2004 (Wisconsin, Green Bay + I lived just next to Green Bay Packers' stadium:)) and I still have a few dollars left, so will give you a shout if I'm somewhere near Florida one day:)