words of hope

Submitted by stella on April 19, 2009 - 8:59am
Body: 

Hi all-
As I have mentioned before, I haven't been keeping up here-just popping on once in a while...but I really wanted to update you all on my condition because I hope that it will give hope to some of you who are feeling discouraged.
Last year at this time, I was so uncomfortable due to my POP that often I couldn't even stand on my feet in one spot without feeling like my bladder was going to fall out of me. Being a very active person, I was completely devastated and sought out every possible "treatment" that I could...beginning with physical therapy-which ended up making my symptoms worse-and ending up at the Whole Woman Center. For the last several months I have been applying the basics that I learned from Christine-keeping the posture(though not religiously), trading my jeans in for looser fitting pants, and also modifying my exercise routine(Christine says I shouldn't have to do this-just learn the proper breathing technique but I haven't mastered that yet)...I also envisioned myself as being well and tried to believe that it was possible!
After doing months of research I was under the impression that the best scenario that I could hope for was to keep my symptoms under control. Well, I have to tell you ladies that I have come much further than that. I am practically asymptomatic and have been for months now. Even my partner can feel the difference-where the prolapse was once obvious internally, it is now seemingly nonexistent. Unless I push myself WAY too hard with physical activity, I DO NOT FEEL ANY SIGNS OF PROLAPSE AT ALL!
I wanted to share my story because I know that it would have given me hope to have read a post like this when I was feeling so sad and discouraged about the POP. I wish for you all that you have the same outcome as I have had.
cheers,
Stella

bad_mirror

April 19, 2009 - 11:32am

Thank you so much for taking the time to "publish" your success. It does indeed bring hope and comfort. I think too many women use this forum in their darkest times, receive an emotional uplift from it, but then fail to come back and report how much better they get. Hearing the good is just so important! I, like you, believe in the power of the mind over the body to aid the healing process. I just absolutely know I will be back to report my own words of hope in a year.

Just curious, are you postpartum? If so, how many months? From what I can gather of other women, 18 months seems to be a magical milestone for being able to acknowledge significant healing.

ETA: I read your post about a mature friend of yours who had 4 kids, prolapse after each, and no prolapse now. I loved hearing that. A woman's body was designed to give birth, and I refuse to believe that it is not equally equipped to handle healing from birth given the advantages of time, nutrition, and proper movement.

stella

April 19, 2009 - 11:42am

So glad to hear your optimism! No, i am not postpartum. My youngest child is 7 years old and I had a relatively easy birth with him.
I hope to hear of your progress soon!
:-)

davemayamom

April 19, 2009 - 1:49pm

I too love reading happy stories like yours. Thanks for taking the time to post. If you don't mind me asking, how bad were your prolapses? When did you start to notice improvement?.....I'm feeling better, but my mirror is not telling me anything is changing!!!!

mumtogirlslondon

April 19, 2009 - 2:42pm

thanks stella. It really is good to hear about the progress, especially such a long time after having your children (ie not simply postpartum recovery)

it's left me inspired to keep going, though I know it'll take a bit longer for me as it's mainly the rectocele that's the problem and I gather they can take a fair while to respond, stubborn pests that they are

Mumtogirls London

louiseds

April 19, 2009 - 10:44pm

Hi Davemayamom

You can check out the progress of any Member but it is time-consuming adn not very easy, especially if they have posted in many topics.

Just click on their username on one of their posts, then click the Track tab on their profile page. Go to the last page. You will probably find their initial posts early in their membership.

Stella (and others), would you be prepared to write your POP story and post it on the Members' Stories Forum? I think we set it up after your last previous post. This Forum is a place where longer standing members can put their POP story for the benefit of others. It is also useful when somebody like Davemayamom wants to know some more about you.

I found it quite useful to write mine, as it brought back long lost memories of details of my life I had forgotten. Don't wait for the full memoirs though!

Cheers

Louise

granolamom

April 20, 2009 - 6:40am

hi stella, was thinking of you recently.
so happy to hear of your progress, amazing isn't it, when you look back?
thanks for the update, I'm sure many women will find it comforting and inspiring

stella

April 20, 2009 - 7:16am

Hi davemayamom-
my prolapses were pretty bad at times...not exiting my body but I could see the cytocele just inside...I was also diagnosed with rectocele but did not really have symptoms of that. Many days I spent in constant discomfort and often I couldn't stand for any period of time without feeling incredible pressure. I started to notice improvement around 4(?) months ago I guess and it has been steady and gradual improvement. I did a lot of cross country skiing this winter which I think helped somehow too. Interesting that you are feeling better but not looking better-yesterday I went for a run for the first time in a while(usually not a good thing for my prolapse) and I felt ok but decided to look and "check" and saw the bulge(still well inside) and decided to not look anymore! ha. Go by how you feel-that is what really matters after all, isn't it?!
Louise, sure I would post my success story-how much detail should I go into? I'll go read what is there first...
Cheers ladies

stella

April 20, 2009 - 7:49am

yes it is amazing to think that I had to live my life around my prolapse just a few short months ago!