Inversion table

so long as you have no health issues contraindicating use of inversion tables, I dont' see it as harmful, so why not try? although my prolapses virtually disappear when I am upside down, they come right back as soon as I am upright. and since I spend the overwhelming majority of my time upright, I don't bother with any sort of inversion anymore (didn't use a table, but long ago my mw suggested shoulderstands and the like). I'd rather spend my time doing nauli and get some results that carryover while I am on my feet.

as far as chiro, I started chiro care around the time I discovered my prolapse. my body was basically falling apart from top to bottom, and it was the development of an occipital neuralgia that led me to chiro. I feel its definitly beneficial to my overall health and to my postural system so its got to be good for prolapse too. but I don't go 'for the prolapse', kwim?

i also have inversion table and will try to do inverted sit up, crunches,,,do you think that movement is ok for POP

Hi Sassytree

An inversion table will allow the organs to move further 'up' into the abdomen for sure, but if you then do crunches you create a straightened lumbar curve which means that the intraabdominal pressure will act straight through the vagina and *may* take the pelvic organs backwards and down with it, and pack intestines down the front where your uterus and bladder should be. I would try it very gently first and see if your bulges, when up and about again, are worse. Just wondering though, why you want to do crunches?

Cheers

Louise

The gym I go to has an inversion table but I haven't used it. However I do sit ups on a decline bench which is comfortable with my POP. I have been doing these for almost three years usually once a week. As my abs continue to strengthen I am able to stay in posture with more ease. I'm not going for ripped abs here but rather this bit of mild/moderate ab work has been a nice compliment to the WW philosophy that I have incorporated into my life.

I too have one but haven't used it much. I have a curvature of the spine and retroverted cervix that was elongated til my 1st op in 94. I tore badly having my daughter at aged 19 in 1992, and prolapsed badly. 2 more ops in 05, both bodge jobs, have left me with my bladder still bulging thru my wall and a rectocele. Hospital daren't do anymore. To top it all, I have I.B.S,a double kidney, so i pee more, and last year I had my gall bladder out. I'm an active gardener, and can't be on my feet long due to back pain and gravity on my bits. THROUGH STRESS, MY EATING/DRINKING HAS BALLOONED MY WEIGHT TO 15 STONE, AND i'M 5FT 2, AND EXERCISE IS A PAIN ON MY HIPS AND KNEES. I'm trying to loose weight and can only swim to take weight off everything. My toiletries are dire, and emergencies follow with constipation. I eat plenty of veg, take actimel, stopped drinking, and nothing is helping my many problems. HelP!

It sounds like you are dealing with a lot of different things that are all related in some way. I am guessing that you are in a vicious cycle of symptoms > stress > more symptoms > more stress, etc.

It all sounds pretty out of control. You, my dear, are the only one who can do anything about any of these things, esp. now you have had all the ops your doctor is prepared to do. Thankfully (though it may sound heartless for me to say it) he doesn't want to do any more. The first op seems to be the most likely to produce a good outcome. Subsequent ops are less likely to help.

That leaves secondary POP, weight gain, hip and knee pain that stops you exercising, and lack of opportunities for different types of exercise, toileting problems and constipation, your kidney, your IBS, lack of a gall bladder, curvature of the spine and retroverted cervix.

I would guess that your hips and knees are only going to get better and allow you to exercise if they are carrying a lot less weight around. Gardening must be hard work as it is, and you would well remember how much easier it was with a lighter body. Gardening is obviously something you get a lot of satisfaction from.

There are some digestive issues in there, related to overweight, lack of gall bladder, IBS, kidney, toileting and constipation. I would think that some professional, face-to-face help from a dietician will help you to come to grips with what you are eating and how you are eating it. Once you have lost some weight you will find exercise to be essential and also much easier.

Wholewoman posture is good for every woman, no matter what her state of health. I have found that my retroverted uterus has moved to normal presentation over the five years I have been doing it.

I suggest you make yourself a written plan that has baby steps to reclaiming your health. Make sure they baby steps are realistic, or you will just fall back to old patterns. Put the baby steps into some order, so you do first things first, and give yourself a little reward each time you achieve a baby step. Be kind to yourself, and see that every step is a step towards good health. Your health may never be perfect, but it can be much better than it is.

You are the person who lives in your body. Nothing will change if you don't change it. You are the person who can make the changes. Nobody else.

Now, what are you going to tackle first? Keep us posted with your progress. We'll give you pats on the back for success!!

Cheers

Louise

Hi. Since I last wrote, I've lost 3lb- wow. Sitting on the loo, I've found holding in my upper abs, encourages my bowells, but if I'm not bunged up, then I'm racing to the loo with the opposite. I've cut out wheat products, but my I.B.S still is unpredictable. I saw my GP, who wasn't very helpfull. Today, my daughter and I went swimming.I managed 30 lengths at a leisurely pace in an hour and a half. I'm trying to do things at a steady pace, as when I've joined a gym before or excercised like a bull in a china shop, all I do is turn lard to muscle, so I stay the same dress size, and heavier. My friend is a size 24, is the same height and weight as me, and yet I'm a size 18! I have retained more muscle I think, which is good for my job,yet a drag on my bits. I have a cross trainer, but it bothers my knees and back, so I'm sticking to swimming until some significant weight is lost- I hope! I'm trying to not comfort eat, though my baggage recently is wearing me down. My GP couldn't set me up with a counsellor in my area, so I'm just going with the flow. I will look into how to get a better eating plan, so I'll see the GP on that. I don't want to join weight watchers though, just something tailored to my specific needs- thanks for that advice. HELENA

I suffered from horrible IBS for a long time. Oh it's horrible! I'm really sorry you are going through that.

I eventually discovered it was a gluten allergy in my case. You say you've cut out wheat, but might be worth cutting out other foods to see if there is something else going out. You can do an exclusion diet, where you cut things out for 3 weeks by which time you'll know if you if something is affecting you. Dairy is another common one, and if it's gluten also cutting out oats, rye, barley, and spelt will help you suss that out. and be aware, it everywhere so you have to read every single label.
if you google exclusion diet--you get lots. if you can see a dietician, they can help you through it too, especially ensuring you get everythign you need. Be aware that the gluten free products you get (i'm thinking you are in the UK?) are full of sugar, refined carbs, and chemicals so aren't doing our bodies any good...i'm finding it better to just go without rather than try to substitute.

I have found eating a low GI diet also helps my body a lot as it regulates my system and keeps my blood sugar level which helps with the sugar cravings, and I've had amazing progress with some dietary recommendations from Christine posted about 3 or 4 weeks ago under a post about Prolapse as an inflammatory disease--and actually following those two together in addition to helping my POP and other health issues, I'm finally losing weight that I've put on the last few months--added bonus!

I agree with Louise--think baby steps. make a plan, and take it one bit at a time. Think long term, and take it one bit at a time. choose a way forward and stick with it long enough to see if it's helping. even gentle walking is a great start to getting your body moving, and so good for the POP in the WW posture...

Hello, and thanks for your advice. Since your post, I began swimmimg 3x pw, ate healthier and tried to remember to keep posture, and do pelvic floor excercises. All was going well- lost a stone, felt energised, til a barrage of issues ensued. 1) the pool cut swim days to 1 day pw, 2) my dad goes into hospital and came out 3 wks later with diabetes type2, he was in and out having attacks for weeks later. 3)my stepdad dies and my mum expected me to drop everything to sort everything out, and as soon as she was comfortable, she hurled abuse at me and wont answer my calls to this day. 4) my bunnies start dying from pasteurella, and i've non-stop been saving the lives of the others, to which work took a backseat. 5)neighbour, and youth problems on the street led me to stressing over the harrassment and had to give evidence at court,-perp found guilty on both counts. 6) no verbal support from hubby, and he wont initiate,and he has stopped sex altogether, even tho i wish to be intimate despite my inards are worse-, the rectal prolapse is much worse, as is the vaginal prolapse, and siick of being on the loo around an hour at a time. 7)my alcohol drinking is elevated, as is my weight. when once before the probs i went from 14st 9lb, to 13st 9lb, at the moment, i am 15st 9lb. my docs done many blood tests and all seems normal, and cholesterol level is down thanks to a year on benecol. i take many vits/minerals, yet my thyroid count is at 1.2 (the norm supposedly 0.5 to 5.0). I think if i wasnt taking iodine in my vits, the test would show an even lower result, and would explain many symptoms in my body, incl easier weight gain. i've read underactive thyroid can still be the result when in the so-called normal bracket, but my doc wont do anything. to top it all, my brother announced on 13/1/2010, that he's to be a father for the 1st time and to a woman he's known for only a few months, and i cant give my hubby of 10yrs a child, and although i want to be happy for my bro, i'm also reminded of my uselessness as a wife and mother. Not any of my family is supporting me or trying to encourage me, and so i feel what's the point anymore in trying. Everytime i try to get back on my feet, it isnt just 1 thing that knocks me down, but many things, and in a blink of an eye, i'm back worse than where i started.

I am sorry to hear of all the hardships you have been suffering. Dealing with POP alone is frustrating let alone all the added stresses that you have had. I don't know what to say except that you have a great support system in this forum. My hubby had a hard time dealing with the POP for a bit. I think mainly, like most men, he was afraid to hurt me. Keeping a good line of communication open worked for us. I even made him take a look at it. He protested for a bit and finally gave in. And as he always does he joked about it which eased my nerves. I say "see it isn't normal is it?" He says, "don't look like it, but maybe I should get a playboy to double check". His humor brings us thorough a lot. He never takes anything too serious and I wish I could too. Now, he is always in the mood, but me that is another story. I too suffer from a underactive thyroid. I had a hard time getting regular until I went to a Endocrinologist (spell) they specialize in it and maybe that is what you need??? Sometimes they don't tell you, but you should take your med first thing in morning on empty stomach and wait an hour before eating. 4 hrs for any meds/vits. It helps with the absorbtion. Also, maybe you could try a good laxative and stool softner just until you are "regular". I know a lot of ppl on here only agree to natural forms of medicine, but a lot of the items they talk about I can't get where I live. Some of it I have never even heard of. I didn't know my town was soooo behind the times, but I am slowly learning!!! Sorry if any of this is unwelcomed advice. I am new to this & could feel the desperation in your words. Sending you lots of hugs & well wishes. STAY STRONG!!!

Karla

Hi 3opslater

No wonder you are feeling down. Sometimes life hands out lemons by the truckful, and you seem to have copped a lot lately. It is very hard to stay positive when all these negative things are happening around you. You sound exhausted and wrung out by everything. I really don't know what to say.

Perhaps it is time for you to nurture yourself for a change, and not think you have to take action to save others from their troubles all the time. It can be very rewarding helping others but it can take its toll when you start to think negatively about these people.

Your brother's impending fatherhood will hopefully be joyful for you eventually, but I can see that it stabs you like a knife right now. That's OK. Give it time. Can you share your frustration about that with your husband? He is your partner in this. Don't isolate yourself in this pain.

He may be feeling the same frustration and just not saying it. Men can close down completely when they are hurting and they cannot make sense of it. You may need to be very gentle on him too. Perhaps seek some relationship counselling to help you (personally) to deal with his lack of interest in sex and how you can respond to it. He might go himself in time if he can see that you love him and can see that he is unhappy.

Meanwhile, give yourself a little pampering every day, and care for your body as best you can. It doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming, but it will remind you every day that you are worthy of love, care, and good food, and rest, and time to yourself, so you can enjoy being you and in turn give to others.

Best wishes

Louise

Thanks Louise, I just made hubby sit and read your response to my message, and thankyou so much in your words of how men shut down! I asked him if any of what you said rang true for him, and to some he agreed, but sill about as forthcoming as usual not!, He didn't say what. He's never been articulate since we married, 10 yr ago. Sometimes, no matter how I've explained indepth over the years, he doesn't reciprocate, and i've even considered an affair- purely to keep my bits in good condition'- tho I've never gone through with it, as I'd prefer my hubby to be the one to do a ''deuce bigalow'' on me. I am the one who wants to 'get down', not only to keep our relationship on track, but he knows I've found that our previous sex actually helps tighten, and lessen the prolapses. It fails on non-usage. He thinks it would hurt after graphic the explanation of how my bits sit, and aeons sat on the loo every day. I told him, that no matter how I see my bits are crappy, that I still expect to have a sex life, and just to be a bit careful (as in stoke the fire before filling the oven!) However, we'll see if the idea prolapses in his head like past performances, and I'm back to square 1. As for my bro, I hope he isn't creating a child for carrying on the line, just cos he's the last in line of our name, however, he can't keep a relationship down, and the women he picks are just out for what dad leaves in the will. I say this as my bro only split with his wife of 18 months, as she was doin his best mate for 6mnth prior to the split, and she married him in the hope dad would die- her words! So shortly after, my bro gets together with a woman with 2 kids, who also spent all xmas with her kids father, and now she's 10 wk pregnant, but exactly by whom, seeing as she was supposedly abused by this man for years, and she spends all xmas to new year with him- and I'm not sure any woman would , even for the kids, if their partener was known for violence! Something just doesn't sit right there. Sometimes I just want to drive to the top of a hill, and primal scream. Must make another app with the doc, as I want her to try me on thyroid meds. As for toiletry issues, I could make a video on bog-exercise, 'How to salsa your butt'. Would your hubby be daring enough to share his thoughts and tips on here for my hubby to help deal with what we're dealing with? Sometimes men deal with men better, that way they don't feel they have to cover all angles to appease us, talking with other men, they tell it like it is.

Thanks for your reply. I have tried laxatives, but it made things worse, as I have I.B.S and a bran intollerance. I've made my bloke read my replies in the hope he can see that its our problem, and not just mine, but he keeps alot inside, as I have also said in a reply to Louise too, I'm looking forward to thursday (providing no bunny probs) as its the only day left in the week my pool does ladies hour swimming, and I tend to belt around the pool trying to swim away my probs, followed with a baked spud eaten in the car, in the countryside. Pending a good salsa session on the loo before I go, I can enjoy the swim.

Thanks for your indepth reply. I did try to send you an equally indepth reply on the address that came with your mail, and sent it but it came back failed. please may you directly e-mail me the correct address in that I may send a reply that explains further what I tried to send. You brought me a great deal of insight. Helena

Hi Dreamer8,

I have one of those inversion tables and I have been thinking of using it too.
I think I'll try hanging upside down doing the fire breathing. I'll try tomorrow. I'll let you know. I have a stage 2 cystocle. Today and the last month or so it has been stage 1 or less. I keep my shoulder down in back (not just pulled back but the blades down, this pulls on the abdomen etc..) I always exhale when bending over. I sit straight on the edge of my seat when at the computer or dinner. I do a few kegels while sitting straight on the edge of the couch, with legs apart during some commercials at night. And I am doing some yoga.
When ever I feel the presence of the cystocle I'll go to the bathroom and lean over and to the fire breathing.... amazingly it moves back.
Hope this helps,
Sarah1354