new to the forum

Submitted by kmc55 on August 28, 2005 - 8:16am
Body: 

Hello everyone -- I am posting for the first time. This week, I went to a urogynecologist for the first time in a year and a half to check on a rectocele and cystocele -- and she told me I had a prolapse and recommended surgery - hysterectomy, both "celes" fixed, ovaries out, and attaching my vagina to my sacrum with some kind of mesh. Whew! I didn't even know I had a prolapse, so it must not be bothering me too much -- yet she wants me to have 5 and a half hours of surgery. I am seeing another doctor for a second opinion, and found this website -- I'm very interested in keeping my uterus and ovaries, and am somewhat suspicious of the urogynecologist since she's the surgeon who would be operating. Also, she asked me about 5 times when she could schedule me for surgery, and this was before she had examined me! Does this seem wrong to anyone besides me? Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks!

a6a25725

August 28, 2005 - 1:04pm

Hi
I would say you should definitely have a second and maybe third opinion. When my present ob/gyn advised me to have a hysterectomy she also told me that eventually everything could fall down again.
I said no thanks.
You should download the information on the posture and try using it. It has helped many of us in many ways.
Best wishes.
Flora.

kmc55

August 30, 2005 - 3:10pm

to a6a25725, BaNa48, fullofgrace, and KatrinaCathy, Thanks so much for the responses. I feel better knowing other people are doing better without surgery. I'm 55, ride horses (but may not be doing that for much longer if it will help me keep my pelvis healthy), also did two years of pretty heavy work mucking stalls and lifting hay bales, etc. I think this might have contributed to the prolapse. I agree with your comments about my doctor -- I was just stunned that she expected me to sign up for major surgery after looking at a few diagrams and talking with her for maybe 15 minutes. I have found another doctor who a good friend of mine recommends and will talk with him, too. I've ordered Christine's book and DVD and am anxiously awaiting them... I hope they can help, as they seem to have helped you all.

Thanks again!

Kathy

BaNa48

August 28, 2005 - 3:52pm

kmc55
If I were you, I'd run like hell out of there. She must have her eye on a new car and your insurance would foot the bill! Please, please read Christine's book Saving the Whole Woman! After all she went through and then started this site so she could save others from going through the same thing, she's amazing! Tell us a little more about yourself. I am 61, had 3 children and worked around the home like a man and strained everything I had! I was diagnosed with 3rd degree cystocele and rectocele and he (in a silk suit) scheduled my surgery for May 9th. After finding this site about February and reading some of the letters, I cancelled and started therapy and the "Posture". I cut out the red meat and eat a lot more fruit and salads. I am doing well! I used the sea sponges every day and they help about 98% of the time. Hope this letter helps, Nancy

fullofgrace

August 29, 2005 - 5:51pm

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! You didn't know you had it, it's not a bother, so what's the problem? I agree that your dr. seems irresponsible. I personally will never have surgery and really see no need to see a doctor as the only tool they have is a knife so everyone looks like a surgery.

KatrinaCathy

August 30, 2005 - 4:02am

I'v been tol by 2 of them to have a hyst.
Nothing is bad in me.
Just not supported.
It has not got any worse in 2 years- must be as low as it will go
I am not incontinent nor any bowel problems
Leaving well enough alone seems to fit.
Each day is a new day.
I just ordered the book and video offered here(against my husbands advise - he's negative about anything that has a $)
I like t know that my body is in the spectrum of known conditions and this site and someone like you does that
best-Cathy

Christine

August 30, 2005 - 7:03pm

i sure wouldn't give up riding...the straddle position is very anatomically supportive of our organs. :-)

kmc55

September 5, 2005 - 3:06pm

I was wondering about the riding -- Christine, you said I shouldn't give it up. I've been terrified of doing any activity at all since I spoke with the urogynecologist; normally I walk, do water aerobics, and ride. The riding we do is very strenuous, and I guess I'm afraid of pushing things out or something. I have felt more discomfort in my pelvic area in the last week -- and am worried about it. But I have your book now, and am reading it in the hope that there will be an alternative. But is it ok to do strenuous exercise? Thanks for any advice and suggestions,

kmc55

Christine

September 6, 2005 - 9:23am

Hi kmc,

I would say to take a deep breath, ease up on all exercise for the moment, read the book and the forum, and realize that you are going to need time to adjust to this work. Of course you are terrified that everything is going to fall out with normal activity, because that is what has been taught to women for decades, and these ARE progressive conditions that do worsen with time and incorrect movement. The problem is nobody every bothered to figure out why.

Your body is going to have to teach you about both your limits and your strengths. The rationale we are working with here is that once the body is in its natural configuration with the organs placed over the pubic bone where they have evolved to be pressed into position by the forces of intraabdominal pressure, these same pressures can no longer push them into the vaginal space.

I can tell you that, but it really does no good until you can get a kinesthetic sense of it yourself, which takes weeks to months to incorporate. For now, consider that you are going to completely restructure your entire musculoskeletal system beginning with a walking program learning the posture. When you feel you have a good sense of it, ease back into the exercise you want to do, always remaining mindful of keeping your body in its natural shape as you move.

:-)Christine