Cystocele and rectocele consultant's approach

Submitted by Diamond on April 1, 2011 - 7:37am
Body: 

I wanted to share my experience with you on my visit to a top UroGyno specialist yesterday 31 March 2011. Just to summarise prior to my visit.

Early February 2011 I saw this consultant at her private clinic where she physically examined me and said I had cystocele grade 1 and rectocele grade 2 by having me on my backside no other tests were carried out. My symptoms were rushing to the loo urinating more than normal, no leakage and certainly have no issues with rectocele my toilet habits are just fine. This lady came across friendly and understanding I somehow felt OK as a patient. I was prescribed Ovestin cream 0.1 g to be used at night time for two weeks and then 3 times a week to strengthen the vaginal muscles etc.

This top consultant that is head of the Urogyno in a well known UK hospital wrote to my GP so she could further investigate cystocele and rectocele. My appointment at the hospital was yesterday to see her. My consultantion with her was literally no more than 15 minutes! she asked me whether I was applying the ovestin cream and should continue for another 3 months then visit her again for a follow up. She suggested surgery to be done via the vagina to fix cystocele and rectocele and categorically stated that this was the best option for me as the prolapse will get worse. I conveyed my fears about surgery that could cause other issues but she stated that after the op I would be up within 2 - 3 days walking and getting on with my life. There were no further tests, no physical examination and to actually make matters worse although I met this Urogyno lady at her private clinic only a couple of months before she did not acknowledge me as a person she had met before nor did I feel comfortable, I was treated a total stranger meeting for the first time.

I feel sick in my stomach, have reservations about the whole approach, how could she suggest surgery before proper evaluation and testing! my gut feeling is telling me to walk away and if necessary go back to my GP.

Your feedback will be appreciated.
Thank you

Christine

April 1, 2011 - 9:33am

Hi Diamond,

You have received the standard of care for medically managed prolapse. Women receive different variations of the same treatment - in the US, UK, Australia, NZ, and now underdeveloped countries all over the world. The only treatments the medical system has for prolapse are pessary, surgery, PT and HRT. You have been treated no differently than millions of other women who enter into the system.

If you are interested in stabilizing your prolapse naturally, read all of the information here on the website, as our moderators have already suggested to you. The new edition of the Village Post is up, which should be of interest as well.

Begin the WW work! There is only one thing to be done and that is to move the organs forward toward their natural positions. There is no other secret about prolapse. Women are getting results with this work all the time - however, there is no blanket guarantee that you will achieve a level of result satisfactory to you. We can only hope that you will.

Wishing you well,

Christine

louiseds

April 1, 2011 - 10:18am

Hi Diamond

I can understand your feeling very let down by this specialist. She treated you as a number, and didn't even examine you. However, Christine is right. This 'top' Gyn specialist doesn't really have anything else to offer you, examination or not. Whenever the word 'top' is used in relation to a gyn I become suspicious, thinking it means they have their head in the clouds from all the hot air they generate. I think she was touting for business.

Moving your organs forward is the only way to reduce the symptoms of prolapse and giving your body a chance to carry your uterus and bladder in a more normal configuration.

It is up to you to choose which doctor you consult. I think you have made up your mind, and maybe learned a thing or two about the quality of medical care along the way.

Christine's DVD and the book Saving the Whole Woman will teach you so much about how your body works. You will then be able to decide what to do about your prolapses.

How are you going with Wholewoman posture? What other things have you changed?

Louise

Diamond

April 1, 2011 - 11:16am

Hi Louise

Kegels I know dont work and to be honest I get a backache when I do them. I have added more fibre into my diet and I am active as I do lots of walking and will start swimming now summer is approaching. I am not ill so my daily life continuous as before with the exception of no longer carrying heavy items. I do try and have at least 1 hour to myself to relax.

Yes this specialist has let me down - she has not inspired confidence and feel actually vulnerable under her care, the good news is I have options and no one will pressurise me into doing something I dont feel comfortable. It puzzles me how any consultant for that matter before undertaking tests to determine exactly what the prolapse is all about could suggest surgery. Being the person that I am, want to have a discussion about my prolapse with medical people we are not stupid people and must not be treated as if we were inept this is what has really annoyed me that they know best where in fact they should be following best standards for patient care.

This website is godsend, I know I am not alone.

Thank you Louise and Christine

louiseds

April 2, 2011 - 12:13am

Hi Diamond

I am sure you will get lots of benefits by taking on Wholewoman techniques and finding what works for you. It sounds like you have made a great start.

I have given up on Urogyn or Gyns to be likely helpers of women with POP, because of all the personal stories I have read here. There have been exceptions to that and there are Gyns and possibly Urogyns who endorse women's wish to avoid surgery (hooray!).

I think the real problem is that they are trained by Uro/Gyn teachers, so they become narrower in their focus as they do more specialised training, rather than stepping back every now and then for reality checks.

As I said before, they don't offer anything else before offering surgery, because the GP has probably been through the pessary discussion with the woman already, and they literally do not have anything else to offer, except surgery. We don't see them as primarily surgeons, which they are, because "Surgeon" is not in their title, which could be seen as deception on their part. Just because there is a sign on the spider web, saying "Spider lives here", doesn't make it any less of a spider food trap, does it? Labelling it "Spider food trap" would be warning the fly and starving the spider! (Not that I think all uro/gyns are all predators, but it is hard for me to see them in any other light, re POP. This is my generalisation, of course.)

Louise

MeMyselfAndI

April 2, 2011 - 2:19am

Alot of these surgeons seem to only offer that - Its like it is all they are comfortable with doing - Or they sdee it like a conveyor belt kinda system

Thursday I saw my Mums Gynae (I dont call him mine anymore as I dont go to see him any more - LOL)

He used to offer both myself and my mother the 'little operation' But in the end gave up as he knew damned well he wouldn't get his mits on my underparticles!

I did get to ask him (He does my Mums pessary that he has for about 4yrs maybe and she is very happy with) I asked him why he chose this specialty - He thought for a moment and then said that he chose it as he didnt want to go into Elderly medicine etc as he didnt want to se his patients all die soon after and he liked to see people who have found help and get some quality of life back.

He is not the normal run of the mill Doctor tho - Well not from what I have seen. He does like to listen, and he sems to have listened to the fact that my Mother and I will NOT under any circumstances have the 'little operation' so he has given up on that a couple of years ago and now he does what WE say - Which in my opinion should be how it is in doctoring! OK Maybe I am just bossy :-|

He is one of the top Gynaes in my area and works for both the local NHS and privately... I am I guess not 200% sure how he treats everybody cos I am a totally mad lon who chats about utter rubbish when I see him - My Mum likes this as she finds it stressful and I am a 'deflector of questions' LOL - She primes me on what she wants and does not want and I make sure he is aware of this - LOL

I do not believe any doctor should say anything until they have done proper testing, and have SPOKEN to you about your wants and needs like you are a person and not just a lump of meat. If your gut is telling you to walk.... Do it! Ask for another doctor is=f you have to and explain why to them. Remember - This is YOUR life and YOU are in charge! This is YOUR future! And more importantly YOUR body!

Be strong - WW will give you an inner strength where you know what is right for you and you will gain an amazing strength in that - You may find that you will become a much stronger woman, and even feel more womanly as you know what's what!

Good luck to you

louiseds

April 2, 2011 - 3:22am

Hi MeMyselfandI

very wise post to Diamond. Bravo!

It is wonderful that you and your Mum are a team on this. If only all Mums and daughters could do this. Sometimes the older woman is wiser, sometimes the younger woman is wiser.

Louise

MeMyselfAndI

April 3, 2011 - 1:31am

Thanks - My Mother adheres to the knowledge imparted to me here :-)

Years and years ago (maybe 15 or so) they offered her a Hysterectomy to cure heavy periods or some rubbish - She said no cos she was scared - She is VERY happy now that she said no - And she knows that I don't want any doctor attempting to 'fix' me - In any way shape or form as I AM NOT BROKEN :-))

Arya

April 3, 2011 - 4:15am

Hi Diamond,
I've just read your reply to Louse, thank you. I too want to know what the facts are about my condition from a consultant but don't wish to go down the surgery route. Your determination is inspiring.
I am suffering from excruciating lower back pain (having done Kegels, whist lying down - as directed by the physio - the day before yesterday). You said Kegels give you back pain - can you say more?
Thoughts with you,
Arya

louiseds

April 3, 2011 - 5:04am

Did I say that? Can't think why.

If you are having excruciating pain after doing what the physio said to do I think you need to ring them and tell them, and find out what you should do, and if you will have to pay for it. If I was a physio I would be keen to get my client better, but also to clear my name. There is no reason to wait. Do it asap.

I guess it is possible that the physio is involved somehow, so you may be worried about making it worse. discuss this with them when you ring for an appointment. I have heard of this pain going down the leg thing, but I haven't experienced it. Someone who has had it may answer you.

In the meantime you could use the Search box to look for "leg pain".

Louise

Galadriel

April 4, 2011 - 4:34am

My Mother had a prolapse for 40 years, lived until she was 96 and would not let a doctor near her ! I am following in her footsteps.
Bravo for Mums everywhere ( especially as it was Mothers day in the UK yesterday !)

Diamond

April 8, 2011 - 11:41am

Well I will share something with you - not to dissapoint my GP she is a lovely caring good doctor she suggested that I go along and learn about Kegels to help strengthen my pelvic floor muscles. My first visit to physio was to just register that was one month ago, yesterday I had my second visit and this time I was examined by the Physio lady and checked by inserting her fingers against the vagina walls whilst I was doing Kegels whist I was lying down, we went through many kegels and she told me as she could feel the vagina muscles that my pelvic floor muscles are very strong.. what I did not tell her I have not been doing kegels! what I have been doing is walking and swimming, bending my knees when picking things up from the floor etc. When I first tried keggels I felt my back aching so I stopped, I do not have a backache now feel well. I am doing everything possible and following my body instincts, I also have a rest whilst watching telly in the evening lying down on the sofa -

louiseds

April 9, 2011 - 1:49am

Well, there you are! I had a feeling this would be the case with any woman who has adopted WW posture! This is affirmation that WW posture works by exercising the pelvic floor with only everyday activity!

Have any other WW Members, who do not do Kegels on a regular basis, had similar comments from a physiotherapist?? Christine would love to hear what you have to say, because it is pretty compelling evidence that WW posture works in practice.

Louise