Cycling a Marathon

Body: 

Hi Girls,

Been away for a couple of weeks in Brittany. Just before I went away some of you will remember I was desperately trying to get a pessary fitted by my GP. Well, it was fitting on friday morning at 8 am. (i was going away on the following tuesday), it felt good to be able to feel as if everything was being held up, however, I could feel pressure on my back passage, and felt as if it had blocked my back passage from higher up, and sitting down was a little strange. On the saturday morning I passed a motion, which was very difficult, felt as if the pessary was stopping it. Then as it passed the pessary dislodged and went diagonal. So a hot bath was in order and I had to remove it, not pleasant as I didn't know if I was damaging anything.

Anyway, been on hols and relaxed for two weeks, lovely, however, my next challenge is that I signed myself up for a 26.5 mile cyle in May (before my POP was an issue). Now I don't know if I can do it, or if it will make the POP worse. I have had a look at the terms and conditions of the cycle and you are not allowed to pass your registration on to anyone else (I thought hubby could do it). Before my hols i ordered a sea sponge pessary for prolapse and it was here for me when I got home, haven't used it yet, bit scared really. Also got my book and DVD bundle on my return, and did my first 2 minutes of fire breathing this morning.

Before my holiday my vagina area was very sore and burning, the doc gave me oestragen pessaries which have sorted that out. And I am taking Red Clover for the night sweats, I forgot to take them for two days, and this morning I woke up drenched again. Is this physcosymatic or actually symptoms?

Hope someone can help me.

Apis

Hi apis

Glad to hear the holiday went well, despite the hassle of pessary not staying in for long.

You are a bit worried about cycling the marathon. I would say: definitely do it! Cycling for me (with third degree rectocele that bulges at the vagina entrance after any shortish period on my feet) is one way of keeping the bulge in its rightful place, and it stays right for a while after getting off the bike! I am regularly cycling 30 miles or more in Welsh hills, and have not found any problems. Why don't you go out for some test runs of a few miles, to see how you get on? Make sure your saddle and handlebars are at a height where you can comfortably pedal and lean slightly forward to maintain an angle less than 90. I am very thankful that I can still get some decent exercise - along with swimming, since walking is not very comfortable these days.

Regarding the pessary - I had been a bit envious that you were diagnosed with a prolapse then had pessary fitted by a doctor so soon! I waited 6 months for a gynae consultation (my GP didn't do anything but refer), and then she said the standard NHS donut pessary wouldn't work. I ordered the sea sponge and this is my experience so far - it is still in experimental stage.
First, I decided to wait until a good day to try it out - a free morning at home when it wouldn't matter if there were hiccups in insertion etc.
so my first attempt at insertion, having wetted the sponge then coated with KY gel, was in same position as I would have used for a tampon ie bending forward in front of the loo. Well, the sponge stayed up for an hour or so, and I certainly noticed the relief from the draggy rectocele feeling. however, after that time I began to feel the sponge descend, and had to take it out. 2nd attempt next day I put it in on all fours (as someone on another post suggested). this time it didn't feel comfortable and came out almost immediately. so I reckoned I needed to do a bit of internal exploration to see what space there was inside me to push the sponge into, and decided I hadn't pushed it up far enough. Attempt number 3: inserted it lying on my back legs on the bed, legs up like having a smear test. This time I made sure I pushed it as far as I could and then went on to have three hours relief from rectocele. However, as soon as I needed the loo, the muscles used to have a wee just pushed the sponge out too. At least I could say that it didn't get stuck and came out in one piece.

That was last week, and I am going to try again and persevere: I think I may just not have got the right knack of insertion. The problem I think with my rectocele is that with the sponge high up in place, there is still room for the rectocele to bulge below.

I pulled my back this week (took the Bee Basic exam in someone else's apiary; the single hive brood box was really low down so I bent all wrong) but that is nearly OK and I did the WW workout today after almost a week's break.

Fire breathing really helps me, also sitting upright. I am at point of ordering a tub chair with vertical back so as to have something comfy that doesn't mean I slouch. Anybody else out there who can advise on best chairs for Wholewomen?

Cheers my dears

Marigold

Hello apis

I was pleased to see your post as I'd been thinking of you and wondering how your holiday went and if things were going Ok for you. Glad you enjoyed your holiday, but sorry to hear of your problem with the pessary, especially as it had all sounded positive before you went away. I really wish they offered removable pessaries here, but they don't seem to, my GP looked shocked when I asked about it and said it wouldn't be possible. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the sponge, it does seem to be a good solution if it works and I really like the idea of being in control of when you use a pessary. I've got two in a bag as well but after one unsuccessful attempt I'm waiting before trying again. My advice would be to use plenty of oil/lubriction on it, as well as soaking it with water before use. I didn't use the oil and it got rather scarily stuck to me!! My own fault though. I've read Marigold's comments on her different attempts, I do hope you find a way that works Marigold.
I have also tried Christine's suggestion of cotton wool balls. Unfortunately I think the ones over here are too small, I had a lot of trouble fishing them out again, (the things we do!) but I'm thinking of improvising with larger pieces from a roll roll and trying again
I don't know about cycling a marathon, but everything I've read here about cycling is positive. I'm sure you'll practice with shorter rides first, so if you're ok after those then I should think you could give it a go and see how you get on. I'm thinking about dusting off my old bike and pumping up the tyres and having a go myself, you've inspired me!
You mentioned red clover for hot flushes, I drink soya milk and eat other foods high in phytoestrogens and take soya tablets and and I have had a virtually sympton free menopause, no real night sweats and minimal daytime 'moments'. Maybe it's just coincidence and I would have been lucky anyway, but I do think the soya helps. Didn't stop me getting a prolapse though, more's the pity.
Looking forward to hearing how the marathon goes.

Tintagel

Hi Apis

I sometimes get hot flushes at night. I find that a black cohosh tablet before bedtime seems to help. I drink lots of red clover tea, but I don't find it helps with the hot flushes. That may be because I have my red clover tea in the mornings so it has all worn off by night time. Now I am out of the stressful period when I was having so much night waking and hot flushes at night I no longer need the black cohosh.

Louise

Dear Apis
I'm new and learning but wanted to encourage you.
Last year I went on a solo 62 mile charity walk having had to cancel the year before as shingles stopped me wearing a backpack and I couldn't have done it anyway then. Just after shingles and before the walk planned I discovered the Pop and went anyway. I survived although at that time I couldn't sit flat in the bath on account of all the slipped undercarriage especially first thing in the morning. A year later after Christine's book and DVD and all the tips I've learnt on this forum I find the Pop stays up pretty well until the middle of the day by itself and if I need support because of being on my feet I use an unbleached large tampon with masses of KY jelly pushed in my case well up and to the side; I think it acts like the old fashioned clothes prop they used to use to keep up the washing line. Your challenge in May 20012 is a long way away- a lot can happen before then.
I don't cycle but I bet the angle on the right sort of saddle is pretty good for the pelvic region. You will hurt in other places too I expect as I did but the satisfaction of having done it will be wonderful.

Do hope things turn out well
Best wishes
Amel.

Hi Apis

Check out this page. Some women's bike seats. http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/women-giant-unity-comfort-groove-plus... . This is the one Christine bought for her bicycle but the link Christine provided to the product on Alameda Cycles website no longer works. This appears to be the same product from a different supplier. There are also links to other women's saddles on the right of the page. You can probably see Christine riding her bike in one of the Youtube DVD excerpts. You may be able to source these products locally to you.

Louise

Sorry I think I have misled some of you. The 26.5 mile cycle is on 21st August, I booked it in May (when I felt fine).

I went out today and bought a super gel saddle, and will be trying it out tomorrow. To see how I get on. I had a look on that link of Christine's saddle and apart from the hole in the middle mine looks very similar.

Thanks everyone for advice

Apis

Hi Apis
I don't think I ever saw an update from you about the cycling. Did you go ahead and do the the cycling marathon and if so, how did it go?
Hope all is well
Tintagel

Sorry. I am sure I did do an update.

No I didn't do it, have had lots of issues with my eldest son, which really flipped me over the emotional edge, and I felt with a very sore you know what I just couldn't do it. However, I did raised over £300.00 which all my sponsors agreed I should still sent to Breast Cancer Care.

Hi there,

Did you pass your basic?

I took my basic last Wednesday, and have just heard that I passed, I have been extracting honey all last weekend I got about 130 lb.

We have our local honey show this weekend, so I am hopeful for a few silver cups, I won three last year. Just hope I can keep the standard up.

Hi Apis
Sorry, I must have missed your update. Well done on raising the money, there's always next year for the cycling, if you feel like it. My own bicycle is still gathering cobwebs in the garage but I will give it a go soon.
I remember my son's teenage years as a long dark tunnel, I was a single mum and he was an angry young man. I thought we'd never get through all the rows and upsets, but very gradually we did and now (he's 28) we have a very good relationship. These things all do pass.
Tx

Well done Apis for the money raising effort. Tintagel's words are very wise. If you are the one who gets a challenging teenager you need all the help you can get. Hang in there. You did the important hard work when he was little. Just keep him alive and as healthy as you can, and he will grow up eventually. Some of the world's most amazing men were a pain in the a*** as teenagers.

I have a 26 year old daughter who has come through OK. Our boys were angels compared to DD!

Louise