Diseases or conditions causing prolapse?

I would also like to know if my having surgery for a Paraumbilical (above belly button) Hernia could have made the prolapse worse?

Sue

I'm not sure if this helps but I believe my prolapse is related to my vulvodynia, vestibludynia and pelvic floor dysfunction.

I think everything is connected somehow. I have fibromyalgia and generalized low muscle tone. I'm sure this extends to my pelvic 'floor' as well. Interestingly (to me anyway) I first noticed my prolapse immediately after my very first yeast infection. My gut tells me that whatever it was that made me susceptible to the yeast is the reason my body was no longer able to hold my pelvic organs in place. of course there is nothing scientific to back this, it just makes sense in my own mind.

Hi Foxglove, I definitely think that there is a connection between certain diseases or conditions and prolapse. I had a problem some years back and was tested for various auto-immune diseases such as RA.
All my blood work came back normal but I still had all of the symptoms so my doctor put me on plaquinil. I was on this for several years and it did help me but I am suffering now with this unusual condition - something like prolapse but it is called perineal hernia.My bladder and small bowel are prolapsing. I also had a severe flu and a terrible cough a couple of years ago and this defintiely made the situation worse. I would like to see if Christine has ever heard of a connnection between certain auto-immune diseases like connective tissue disorders and prolapse. Hang in there - you're not alone.

Hi Foxglove and everyone else,

I have to say yes, I believe, in my particular case, connective tissue disorder is the cause of my prolapse. As I've posted before, I've had a double mastectomy and been left in horrible shape. When they did the mastectomies, they scraped my chest wall including scraping the connective tissue. By doing that, they left anywhere from minute to large holes to long jagged tears in the connective tissue all over my chest from the clavical to the bottom of my rib cage which my immune system jumped in to heal as quickly as possible. Connective tissue cannot be seen on x-ray, but the scar tissue is glaringly white and obvious! Accordingly, my chest is covered in major scar tissue which grows, constantly pulls me forward and is excruciatingly painful! The connective tissue is on and in the muscles and surrounds every single organ in the body. It is also connected to our bones so if it's pulling at the top of the spine, it's pulling all the way down to the tailbone where the muscles of the pelvic floor are attached. The "posture" is very hard for me to do but I keep working at it. Saturday a week ago, while practicing the posture, I had a massive back spasm that came around to my chest and down into my belly and pelvic region and that has caused me no end of pain.

I also had what is called ancillary dissection of the lymph nodes in both armpits which left me with connective tissue disorder that spreads from there down my chest, up my neck and down both arms. I never had a prolapse, incontinence or anything else until after these surgeries. Our connective tissue is like a cobweb that goes all over our body and if it is damaged somewhere in the body, it can cause problems both at the site where it is damaged and at other places throughout the body.

I have laughed and cried and sympathized with everyone of you and think of "Fried Green Tomatoes" when I imagine all of us using a mirror and taking a looksee. I agree with someone else who posted about their PT releasing the levator (or something like that) in the pelvic floor. I am starting two weeks of physical therapy April 3, with therapists who do a myofascial release (release of the connective tissue) throughout the body including internally on the pelvic muscles. Two years ago, they helped me tremendously but I couldn't afford to keep traveling to them to get help, and I didn't have the prolapse then. Now, I've decided nothing is stopping me. If I have to stay longer than two weeks, fine, I want some relief. I've spent money and time and energy and cried til I couldn't over this connective tissue pain. I've been to upmteen different therapists, doctors, chiropractors, etc., in our area trying to gain the kind of relief those people in Austin gave me. The D. O. tried working on me today and every time he tried to manipulate my spine, I could feel the bladder poking out! I also noticed he put down Fibromyalgia on my chart.

So for whatever this is worth, I will let all of you know whether or not treatments daily for 2 weeks does anything or nothing for the prolapse. If nothing else, maybe it will loosen me up enough to be able to do the posture and keep my spine in line! I will say this, I had to quit eating most food (if you want to call genetically modified organisms food) found in the grocery store. I eat organic food, stay away from chemicals (it irritates connective tissue) and use organic skin care products on my body. I even have a shower filter so I don't have to feel, smell, or breathe in the chlorine.

And no, if I had it to do over again, there is no way I would allow the medical protocols be performed on my body. The lies are too numerous, and the consequences too heartbreaking.

Sorry, I guess this feels like I'm venting, maybe I am, but I love you all for listening.

As ever,
Grandma Joy

Wow, thank you for sharing your story. YOu are a very brave woman and your very presence here is a testament to your strength and bravery. I could not imagine what you have been thru physically and emotionally with your double masectomies. You will get thru prolapse too. Get pt and the rest that you need. When the pain is better you will feel like a new person again. Let us know your progess. Wishing you well.

I second all your sentiments Mommi2three. Keep your wonderful spirit strong Grandma Joy and we are all here with you as you continue on your healing pathway!!!
Love Michelle.

You are an inspiration, Grandma Joy! Thank you so much for taking the time and care to share your story. Wishing you healing and vitality, please keep us updated on your progress.

Peace.
Michele

((((Grandma Joy)))))
I hope the PT brings you some relief

I have a severe 70 degree curve with my spine and I have had Fibro for 20 years. Each day I seem to get weaker even though I walk for at least 30 min. every day. I do the posture as best I can but I can tell my muscles are not strong enough to hold me up straight. My connective tissue is knotted throughout my body and when I get work done it helps for awhile. I believe the prolapse is just another area that has lost strength. What to do........ Peace, Linda
My Healing Pages:
http:/foreveralive.homestead.com/touchit.html
This page offers links I have found useful for bladder prolapse and women's issues.

Linda, You are such an inspiration to me! Thank you for sharing. May your positive attitude give you added strength and courage. Our bodies are indeed marvelous--so interconnected in that what affects one part also affects the rest of us on all levels. May knowing that others care for and about you make a difference for you.

Thank you granolamom, mermaidsd, mickuo & mommi2three for your very sweet words of encouragement. You have no idea how they made me feel, especially since I really wasn't expecting them, but I assure you, it was extrememly uplifting to come back to these posts and find your comments to me. You are all sweethearts to reach out to a stranger and I feel blessed to be the recipient of your kindness. Well, I guess we really aren't strangers since we talk about our most private parts!

Blessings to you all.

Grandma Joy

First off, let me say thank you, Christine, for this forum. How wonderful to be able to discuss this topic in such detail.
The ARVIGO did not help me after trying it over a period of months but the nurse who taught me was wonderful and I learned a lot and I still practice the procedure for general pelvic health.
She suggested a tie in between the prolapse and earlier physical problems. Speculation, mind you, but possible, I think.
At 4 years old I was hit by a car. Luckily I came out of it with just a fractured thigh. However the young bone overhealed leaving me with a limb about 3/8 of an inch longer than the other. Over the years the body, compensating for the imbalance, has given me a rather interesting looking spine and mild but annoying knee and pelvic discomforts not to mention a tilted uterus.
With good detective work we probably could all find the origins of the prolapse when it is not connected with birthing.
Gary Null attributes prolapse problems to apesiotomy which I also had.

I was crying out to God about this pain on top of numerous neck, tmj, headaches, I could go on and on but seeing this testimony from you Grandma joy has made me realize that I can't quit now you are an inspiration and God bless you for helping others. An adopted grandaughter o.k.?

Most certainly you can be an adopted granddaughter, that will make two for me! My precious little granddaughter Savannah(age 5) will be here tonight to help pack tomorrow for Austin. I will be staying with them there while I have daily treatments. I know exactly how you feel about the prolapse pain along with the neck, tmj, etc., yesterday, I thought I'd lose my mind with all of it. You do have to stay focused (sometimes it's not easy) but you do have to tell yourself every day "I will be better". I will let you all know the progress of the treatments. I remember the relief I got two years ago and can hardly wait! Austin is the only place in Texas that has this kind of PT. BTW, they also did a release on the inside of my mouth for the TMJ. It works!

Hugs to all,
Grandma Joy

Hi Rachel,

I'm unclear about the nature of your severe pain - did you have breast surgery too? feel you have a connective tissue disorder? Most of us here are dealing with painless conditions.

Thanks for clarifying,

:-) Christine

Sorry Christine for getting back to you so late. Yes I have pain when my menstruations arrive and on top of that I have TMJ, neck and shoulder pain. (not related to uterus prolapse) I am going back to my specialist on the 24th to see if anything else is going on. I am glad that grandma joy knows about TMJ also. Don't other women experience pain with prolapsed uterus? Thanks Rachel

Hi Rachel and everyone,

Just thought I'd let you know my progress ---- s-l-o-w, bah! But it's working, just not as fast as I'd hoped this time. The scar tissue from my surgeries grew down into my lungs and around other organs, hence - the reason I couldn't breathe very well when the back spasm hit. They are working on releasing the scar tissue in my upper cervical, chest, neck and shoulders right now and believe it or not, the cystocele is up about an inch. They have not worked on the pelvic floor yet and it will probably be a couple of weeks away before they even get there. Nor have they specifically worked on my TMJ but it will happen and I must try to be patient. Rachel, you might want to try to find a therapist who does myofascial release to get them to work on your TMJ. If you can't find one a temporary solution is to buy a box of wax and cut two little oblong pieces of it to stick between your teeth on each side. Cut them about 3/4 inch long and less than 1/2 inch wide. You may have to gently whittle them down to a smaller size at first until you are sort of comfortable with them. I've done this for years and it does give temporary relief. You should rest, although you don't have to, while you do this and let the muscles turn loose, just don't go to sleep and swallow them! Please feel free to email me if you want to discuss the wax, or the myofascial release, I don't mind at all.

Wishing you all well,
Grandma Joy

Hi,

I'm back home for the weekend, must pay those lovely bills! Hi Michelle, saw your comment on the "blog" and decided to answer here instead of there.

My progress is going well and things finally began to turn loose in a major way by the ninth treatment on Wednesday. At the beginning my left hip was 2-1/2 inches higher than the right hip. Wednesday, the connective tissue in the lower back finally turned loose and I can now shrug my shoulders without my hips pulling up with it! Sounds strange I know, but I've been walking around shrugging my shoulders just because I can and it's not painful.

Having a great deal more mobility is heavenly! Totally amazing is the fact that I can also do "the posture" without any pain, and I couldn't do that before. I'm not doing it much because they want me to gently go into any stretching exercise. They don't even want me to take walks yet because walking would make me tighten up and just shut me down in minutes. The connective tissue in the lower back and hips would pull on the rest of the connective tissue and the scar tissue in my upper back and would tighten in the chest, thus shortening my breathing. You know that old song is true "the knee bone's connected to the hip bone, the hip bone's connected to the..., etc." Our musculoskeletal system is what holds us together and it has to have constrictions removed in order for us to successfully treat ourselves.

They will probably work on the pelvic area next week, if we progress that far. They do have a stretching class I've not attended, but in it, they do the stretch on the floor with your buttocks against the wall and your legs straight up the wall. I will ask what value they put on that and post it here.

I know now that I will successfully be able to do the posture and work on the prolapse.

Blessings,
Grandma Joy

I'm so glad to hear of your improvement! I had a feeling the scar tissue could be made to stretch into better anatomical alignment and it's wonderful you found the people that could make it happen! Many hugs!!!

Hi Grandma Joy,

So wonderful to hear your progress. I can feel you doing handsprings across cyberspace! We are so happy to hear that your pain is lessened. A little "shrugging" of the shoulders really brings your spirits up. :)

Btw, i have tried to put my butt against the wall but i am sooo stiff. Maybe I wasn't doing it right but I felt like my chin was pressing against my chest and i couldn't breathe right. Maybe my butt is too heavy?! :-)o

Best wishes, keep us updated.

I have a painless lump in my lower abdomen (on the left side almost to the groin)for a few days now and am wondering if it is a swollen lymph node or something else.....any thoughts?? Ive got my yearly pap coming up so i suppose i will ask my dr. but you know how that goes...Has anyone else experienced this or know anything about what it could be?
thanks,
Amanda

We are not qualified to diagnose and have no way of knowing what you are dealing with.

oh ok...thought maybe there might be some connection with prolapse some where way down the line..just wondering if anyone here has ever felt the same thing....not looking for a diagnosis at all I know that would not be possible...
Amanda:)

.. for my short (and not so sweet) post. This job is not easy and sometimes the needless pain and suffering get to me. My sincere appologies. (((hugs)))

Hi Amanda

There could be a link, but whatever it is, it is important that you see a doctor to find out. It could be a hernia, a cyst, a lymph gland, a tumour or anything else. They are all quite different in both causes and treatments, or indeed whether any treatment is called for. It may be that treatment will be offered. It is up to you to ascertain whether or not to take treatment, based on what you find out. Sorry I cannot be more helpful. Take a deep breath, go along, and call back and let us know how you go.

Cheers

Louise

okay thanks Louise...I can understand that Christine...im super sensitive right now anyways and probaly took it wrong...looked too much into it. Im really not too concerned with the lump...i had one a few years ago and it went away within a few days this one has been there for about a week now. I go to the dr. in a few weeks so ill let you know what they have to say about it.
Amanda