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!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
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Founder
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rural_juror
June 10, 2009 - 4:42pm
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A girl can dream, can't she?
Wouldn't it be the coolest thing ever if I went in to see the doctor and she referred me to Whole Woman?!
I'd probably pee my pants!
Oh wait...I do that anyway! ;-)
louiseds
June 10, 2009 - 9:58pm
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My tips
Great tips from everyone else!
No, coughing is not bad. It is a reflex given by the creator. It will just increase intraabdominal pressure momentarily and give the doctor an idea of how much movement there is. I don't think there is any harm in bearing down either. It is a natural movement as well. The problem is when they are done to the extreme. It doesn't take much bearing down, on your back, or sitting with knees up, and pelvis counter-nutated, to show evidence of how much POP there is, but I think you should be examined standing as well if there is any possibility of the doctor giving you further treatment. Breathing and all movements will produce fluctuations or major changes in intraabdominal pressure. It also happens during voiding and evacuation, singing, whistling, humming, yelling, walking, dancing, etc.
Remember that the doctor is selling you products. This one is an initial consultation. Just deal with this one. You may or may not buy any others. It is up to you.
Would you get emotional if your mechanic told you major mechanical surgery was needed on your minivan? About the cost, ye$!! About the prospect of it, probably not, especially if the minivan was going to come out of it better and more healthy. She is just a human body mechanic. Don't forget it.
How about taking a trusted person with you into the consulting room? Then she can also hear what the doctor says, and you can de-brief with her afterwards.
Remember that you don't have to justify your opinion to her. She is selling. You are buying. Writing your questions down (and give your supporter a copy) will ensure that you ask everything that you need to. Being a doctor she will probably not be receptive to finding out about Wholewoman, but leave a brochure. You never know ... Eventually, when doctors receive brochure after brochure from their female patients they might realise that there is something to Wholewoman. I'm not holding my breath.
Chill. She may be lovely. You have to go anyway, for the other things, so you have nothing to lose.
We all have to face up to doctors at some stage, and lay our souls bare. I am also off to the Hospital on Friday for a Well Women's Clinic.
Cheers
Louise
rural_juror
June 12, 2009 - 9:00pm
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Update:
Well, I finally can sit down to write and update on my appt. yesterday.
Louise, I tried to chill as much as I could. LOL! But I was still a nervous Nelly. Instead of taking a friend, I took the positive thoughts and ideas of all the lovely women here and tried to be a brave girl.
The doctor was very young and my visit was mostly positive:
-She examined me laying down, which I thought was odd and I asked her about that. She said that of course gravity effects things down there, but she felt the grading system really wasn't accurate, and that "grading" should be how you feel. She did say if I wanted a grade (ha ha) that I would be a grade 2 cystocele/rectocele and that my uterus was tipped but my cervix was still fairly "up there".
-She tested my Kegels and said they were a 4 out of 5 (good!), but her opinion is that they are only good for incontinence problems, "won't change a thing with your prolapse, but do them if they don't bother you".
-Most importantly, she said, "I would not ever, ever, EVER, suggest surgery for a woman with prolapse unless it was significantly impacting her daily life." I nearly cried when she said that, I was so relieved.
-we talked diet and elimination, and not overdoing lifting.
-I told her about using a tampon and the Instead cup (not at the same time) and that I wanted to be fitted for a pessary. That appt. is on monday. I don't know how much I will use it, but we might be losing our insurance next month, so I want to get it just in case!
-I'm also going to use Estrace cream (I know, I know!) because I also am peeing up to 25 times a day, and the Estrace cream *might* help with that. My estrogen levels hit the floor the same time my prolapse happened and I thought I had Interstitial Cystitis. My bladder probably rules my life more than my prolapse at this point, fortunately, I don't leak urine. I was the one pushing for the Estrace having read up on it online. I also used it postpartum (8 years ago) for a prolapse and had a good result. I know it's not a popular approach here, but think feel it's important to include everything I am trying.
So, she was extremely conservative in her treatment and I was mostly happy with the prolapse part of the exam---the menopause stuff not so much! UGH! But that's a whole different posting...
I just want to re-iterate how much I appreciate this site and everyone here. Thank you all so much for holding my hand. I hope to do the same for you all!
Hugs,
RJ
kiki
June 13, 2009 - 1:00am
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visit / IC
glad to hear the visit went well! huge relief. She sounds very balanced, which is great.
re the peeing all the time...a few thoughts.
Intersistial cystitis can be triggered by what you eat. I had the chronic bladder infection feeling about 8 years ago, and was ready to have a biopsy it was so horrid. I also had other things going on, and out of desperation stopped eating gluten. Within a week I was a new woman. Lots of foods can trigger it, so definately worth experimenting. But now if i eat gluten i quickly feel an irritable bladder feeling. the doctor at teh time said there was no connection (huh????) but when i saw a pediatrician for my childs' food allergies, she said that not only can allergies / intolerances irritate the bladder, but also if the intestines are irritated it has a knock on effect to what is around it (makes perfect sense!)
also, your bladder can become overly sensitive, and you might need to retrain it. recommendation i read was that when you are at home & anywhere else you can, delay going to the bathroom. so, if you normally pee every half hour, when that urge comes try to wait 5 more minutes. sometimes the urge passes, sometimes it doesn't. once you stretch to 35 minutes, go for 40 / 45.... i sometimes find changing position helpful, or take that moment to do something different like hang out the laundry--anything to delay going so i can stretch my bladder.
for me stress is definately an issue--if i'm anxious i have to pee all the time, if not i can go 4 hours... I'm thinking i might try some EFT tapping on that one, to see if i can get past that...
you can do a journal where you record what goes in and what goes out amount wise and time. do it for a few days, and then do it again once a week so you can see progress. peeing in a measuring jug is a bit odd, but serves a purpose...
but thrilled to hear it went so well and didn't cause great anxiety!
Kiki
Judith
June 13, 2009 - 6:13am
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bladder retraining
Hi rural-juror, sorry, I need to be a bit brief here but just wanted to say that I'm so glad it all went much better than you'd feared, well done you.
Also, to totally endorse what kiki says about bladder retraining, it worked wonders for me. I was told to aim for not having to pee until I had at least 300mls or 15-20 fl ozs. Of course, you have to pee into a jug until you've achieved your aim. I was amazed that to start with I was desperate to go to the loo for only a couple of ozs and I gradually got it up and now I'm the proud owner of a 500 ml capacity bladder, hurrah! It's also better for the POPs if you go to the loo less frequently. Judith xx
Daphne11
February 27, 2013 - 3:59pm
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A girl can dream, can't she?
lol lol lol lol lol!