What diagnostic tool to diagnose prolapse?

Submitted by flowerlilly on January 30, 2010 - 8:32am
Body: 

I had a pelvic MRI and they didnt show anything except for some ovarian cysts. Im feeling the symptoms of a rectocele or some sort of prolapse. I can literally feel it and because I cant see a specialist at this time but have a general doctor able to send me for testing who isnt familiar with this I'd like to know what tests can be done to show any sort of pelvic prolapses. Or how any of you were diagnosed?

Also for anyone who has a rectocele do you constnatly feel the bulge or only when you are going to the bathroom.. I didnt notice the bulge till I was strainng to go to the bathroom. Im taking fiber and nothing seems to work, still straining and it scares me that I may be worsening my conditon. I alos notice a bulge in the perineium area at all times.

aza

January 30, 2010 - 1:17pm

Hi flowerlilly,
How frustrating to feel something in your own body and then not have it confirmed through testing or people who are supposed to know about these things. In my limited experience, an MRI sounds a bit overkill for detecting POP; is this a common procedure? It is a tough situation because as many women are finding, the medical community generally generally has pretty limited understanding of POP and how to assess it, i.e. a patient laying on her back while being examined is not a great diagnostic position! What position were you in for the MRI?
Regardless, it sounds to me like you know what you are feeling in your own body, and YOU are the best person to diagnose. It would be great to get an experienced person to confirm and ideally help, but this seems pretty difficult to come by these days. Knowledge is power and the women here have plenty of it, and the vast array of experiences are a resource that cannot be found in a doctor's office. EVen if you are not entirely confident in what you are feeling and experiencing, implementing the WW concepts and practices certainly cannot hurt, and you can keep an eye on things yourself and see what is happening. Get to know your body like never before and read and learn and ask questions!
(I just red your other post and hope you are feeling better. A rectocele would not make one as sick as you seemed to be, so I hope you have gotten some medical help for that part of things?)

Ribbit

January 30, 2010 - 3:59pm

That's what my OB recommended for me too, but I haven't gotten it done yet. I was going to post and ask if I should bother getting it done and insist on being upright for it.

Flowerlilly, have you tried a calcium/magnesium supplement? I like CALM. It really loosens things up and the poo don't sit there long enough to get all dried out.

flowerlilly

February 1, 2010 - 9:23am

Thank you so much for your support and help. I did purchase the WW DVD and will use the techniques. The MRI I had was lying down and they did not mention any prolaspes in the report even though I asked to be checked for it. The ordering physcian found it odd and will call and find out why it didnt look like they were looking for it. HOw have you been diagnosed with POP Aza? Is it just a pelvic exam? I definitley think other things are going on beside the possible rectocele I have. IM concnerned about a partial bowel obstruction and will probably have to see a GI specilist when I get back home which I dread because Im too frail. The ER only took xrays and I dont think that shows up especially if I was fasting for 2 days since I couldnt eat! If I had a partial obstruction it would have passed within those days but in the meantime I wanted to find out as much as possible whats wrong with me in the pelivs areqa to put my mind at ease. I have tried the Magnesium Citrate and that does help but it causes me to have diahrrhe and wonder if it is harsh on the digestive system. Can you believe how one colonic can cause so much injury? Im utterly devastated.

aza

February 1, 2010 - 1:08pm

Hi flowerlilly,
I am probably one of the few on these forums who does not personally have POP. I am a midwife and current addict to WW forums due to the fantastic quality of information and in depth discussions on anatomy and physiology. I don't work with many women who have POP and ideally we can keep it that way by preventative measures, WW style.
So there is a lot I don't know (but y'all are teaching me every day) but what I DO know is that the more women can find some autonomy in conjunction with working with the medical community, the better off we are. For example, you seem pretty clear that you have a prolapse to a degree (whatever that may be) which is causing you concern and discomfort. Arguably, this is a diagnosis in and of itself :) Implementing the practices and lifestyle of WW cannot hurt, no matter what, and neither can getting to know your body in a more detailed way than ever before. You will see how things ebb and flow and how your bulges change and evolve and how your digestion may or may not confirm what you seem to be feeling in your pelvis and with your hands. Modern technology is fantastic, but it is yet one more tool, as is the ability of a woman to know her body in ways a machine can never ascertain.
It sounds like you are really going through a rough time .... this will pass ... looking forward to seeing what you learn about your POP.