Newcomer Questions

Body: 

Hi, all.
I have some very basic questions. I know you've probably repeated yourselves over and over, but I am having trouble finding the very basic answers, so please bear with me as I learn.
I'm 46. I began menopause last year and it was horrific because I had a rushing surgical doctor who tried to rush me into a hysterectomy. I put the brakes on, and was able to confirm within a few months that it was, in fact, menopause due to my hormone levels (or absence thereof.) So in less than a year, I've gone from six months of bleeding to nothing for six months, hot flashes, changes in digestion, changes in body hair, and so on. I had a sinus infection last month for the first time in a decade. I was on antibiotics, sudafed PE and guafenisin (mucinex.) Well, a day after coming off all those, I started having issues "down there." It felt like I had a half inserted tampon, is the best way I can describe it. I used a mirror and looked, and instead of seeing a canal like last year, I see a wall of tissue. It doesn't look like my cervix unless it's sideways? It's sitting right at my vaginal opening, which is why it feels like a tampon, I guess. But everything is suddenly also so dry that I'm not sure it isn't just a problem caused by that. I've got an appt with my dr but it isn't for a week, so I'm looking for some relief and answers during that time.
I tried the replens but it burned like heck. I was desperate the night it started and used olive oil. That helped more than the replens but it doesn't seem to last long. I went and got some Gel Vit E. That seems to help, but only for a short while. But whatever is pushing down still does so.
So I've been reading through your discussions. Here are my basic questions:
-When you talk about coconut oil, do you mean plain food grade? Is that for dryness all the time or are you just using it to be sexually active? (I'm not - I just am trying to stop the pain.)
-Is there a picture anywhere of the exercise poses? I don't know a thing about yoga, and it sounds like that's what is being described, but I really can't figure out in my head the position. Or can someone tell me the name of the poses so I can look them up?
-I've never had kids, never been pregnant, etc - It doesn't appear I have any of the risk factors except lifting a lot. Is there anyone else here who had it happen like that?
I'm hoping I'm over reacting and that it is just dry. But I haven't read anything anywhere that talks about your cervix dropping down just because you suddenly dry out. But maybe I haven't found the right search words or something.
I don't have a mother who ever was communicative about such issues, so I have a hard time talking about them, so thanks for the existence of this forum and your participation. I'll have more questions soon, I'm sure.
I hope I'm putting this in the right forum.

Welcome Moonlight! Based on how you describe your symptoms, it is possible that you might have a cystocele or rectocele. If so, that’s not your cervix you’re seeing, but rather the bulge created by your bladder or rectum protruding behind the vaginal wall. The dryness could be a menopausal thing. Prolapse is definitely not limited to only those women with certain risk factors – it’s basically a silent epidemic. Believe me, none of us learned about it from our moms.

I’m glad you stood up to your doctor regarding surgery. If you have prolapse, you’ll be under more pressure to consider it. Glad you have found this site.

When you speak of poses, are you referring to the Whole Woman posture? There is a good description of it under the FAQ’s on the link above. The main features are the relaxed belly, and the chest being pulled up nice and strong, creating a space for your organs toward the front of the body instead of pushing down and out. It's the opposite of what we've been taught to think of as "good" posture (with the stomach pulled in, the butt tucked under). It isn’t just an occasional move, but a different way of carrying yourself all the time. Stick around and learn more! I haven’t answered all your questions, but others will have good advice for you, and there is an absolute wealth of information here. Good luck to you!

I'm sorry, I guess I'm dense, but I cannot picture this description: "Relax your lower belly.
The abdominal wall will be pulled up instead of in. This is a much more graceful and beautiful look than when the stomach is pulled in and the tailbone tucked under."
All I can picture is my flabby belly hanging out. ....... [snip snip] Okay, I decided to look on youtube, and there's video. So now I see the posture. How does it work? I wish there was an anatomical drawing of what it is changing, but I see the posture.
I went walking today. I know I need to get more exercise. The first 3/4 mile was okay, but then suddenly, it felt like my insides were chaffing against my outsides. I hope that my descriptions aren't inappropriate, but I'm not sure how to better describe it. I don't know when that happens if I'm walking too fast, have bad posture, or just need more vitamin e. I just feels like I need to push everything back up inside. Ug.

Hi Moonlight,

Yeah, it's not like we can take a walk in natural posture and suddenly have everything improve. How about at the next 3/4 mile mark you bend over and do a little firebreathing and nauli (use the search function) then strongly pull up into the posture and go again until you need to use more force to pull things forward.

Menopause takes away the vaginal carbohydrate that feeds beneficial microorganisms that keep us moist and non-itchy-burny. Check out my paper on glycogen in last month's Village Post (Christine's Column). You may find that coconut or olive oil work okay for you - but often we just need our natural flora back, which is what vaginal supplemental estrogen jump-starts, but not without risks.

Christine

I'll check out the nauli and firebreathing and glycogen..... as for the estrogen, I'm really, really hoping to be able to avoid all that. It just seems like that effed with me a on cellular level the two times they put me on it. I felt terrible. I'm headed to the dr today so maybe I"ll get some answers.
Thanks!