Damage during gynae check-up

Good to hear from you again, Moy, but so sorry you have suffered such mistreatment. Have you been wearing a pessary all this time? If so...were you being fitted for a larger one?

Yes, we do hear similar stories now and then, with women feeling certain the abuse caused worsening of their symptoms. Your pelvic interior is quite dynamic, however, and I have no doubt with proper self-care you will be back in your previous condition within a couple of weeks. This is a perfect time to apply or doubly-apply WW principles! You might try putting a little dab of honey high in your vagina once or twice a day for an extra healing advantage. This calls in the microorganisms that produce lactic acid, making the vagina more acidic, moist and comfortable. Add lavender and rosemary essential oils to your bath for relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects. Perhaps write a letter to the gyn department expressing your anger...then light a candle and let your worries go as you give thanks for being a strong and healthy woman who is in charge of her own health.

Do we really need annual gyn check-ups?

Wishing you well,

Christine

I am so sorry to hear this. I believe what Christine said, but what a horrible experience. You deserve better.

the ulcerating comment? does it just mean a rubbed/irritated area on the anterior wall?
You probably already suspect that won't happen to you since it has not happened yet :) right?

Hi Westlothian

I can hear that you still carry some fear of what might happen, and your recent brutal treatment at the gyn's office has now made you fearful of returning. I can understand your feeling violated and not feeling as if you were treated with respect.

I agree that you should write and complain about your treatment, and ask for a reply within 30 days. You may have a Health Industry Ombudsman you can contact for advice on the best way to get a response out of them. Most people do not complain, which is in itself an endorsement of status quo. Even if you don't ultimately get a reply you have taken action, and gee it feels good expressing to the perpetrator how badly you were treated and how you will be recommending that others you know will not be using their services.

I would absolutely recommend that you do not darken their door again, and that you find a better pessary fitter. Where do you live? A Member might be able to suggest someone a little more gentle and positive about pessaries.

I am sure that some gentle Wholewoman TLC will help to get you back to where you were. The body is amazing what it can suffer and recover from.

Louise

hi...although I have been reading the website for awhile now I have never joined or posted anything until now. About 7 years ago I was diagnosed with about every prolapse there is I think. My babies were large...10 pounds and more. My epsiotomies (sp) were tough...my last baby I was cut 3 times to get him out. Nowadays a c-section would have been performed. My gyno wanted to do surgery but I resisted. Now my last appt he told me surgery causes more harm then good! Ha!! Told him so!! I have been using the "Fembrace" and that has worked well for me these years but I think the time has come to get a pessary. But he told me I had to go to him to take it out and cleaned every few months. That doesnt sound very hygenic to me. And I have read that they can cause open sores on the vagina wall. Is that true? That cant be good. Any opinions? Open to everything! He also told me that with a pessary I cant have sex. True? I am also afraid to douche or put in a moisturizer for dryness or a cream for yeast infection because my bladder is out.
Had antibiotics for flu and sinus infections and it gave me bladder infection and yeast infection. Trying to get over it myself..no more antibiotics! My urine still kinda cloudy once in awhile but no pain. Dont know if that means im over it or not! Anyone that can help me I would be so grateful! Thank you!!

Just noticed I put this in a comment instead of a topic. Crap!! How can I move it?

Hi Angee and welcome. Don't worry about your comment, it's OK. You mention you have been around here awhile, and yet your post mentions nothing about Whole Woman. Are you aware of this posture work as a means of stabilizing prolapse? - Surviving

Yes, But have been very lazy lately and have no excuse. I did pick up a book a while back at a garage sale and wish I could buy more things but the economy has hit us a bit hard. As everyone else Im sure. I have been roaming thru the forums to try to find the answers to my problems. I dont think I do the exercises right. All these years I sucked in my stomach to hide my extra weight and now am trying to undo all my bad habits. I am serious about this as you have read things are far worse than ever. My fembrace made me very lazy as far as exercises. It was great while it lasted but I think that ride is over.

Angee- Shoot me an email. We have some dinged up copies of DVDS that we like to use to help women. [email protected]

Hi again Angee - just a quick note to say that WW is not merely an exercise program for prolapse. It is something that you will learn to do with your body every waking moment. Just wanted to point that out up front. Check out the video, "Whole Woman 101", that you can find at the Theater tab at the top of this page. This gives a good overview of what this is all about. Do you have an old book (orange cover) or the new book (blue cover)?- Surviving

Orange cover...I didnt mean to imply we are destitute or anything. Just frugal. Will watch the video now. Thank you.

I've never even heard of these! We have pap smears here (Aus) every 2-3 years, but your regular doctor performs them, not a gyno. How bizarre. Why would you need an annual check up down there?

I can hear my own doctor's voice at my (now) annual PAP smear. "Yes, you still have prolapse". Really? No! I don't believe it!" What do they expect?

Except that this last time the doctor had a helluva time finding my cervix which must have been up around my belly button on that day, and she said I had a very mild cystocele and no rectocele. Hmm, that's news to me. True.

However, I am being flippant.

USA and Australia have very different health insurance systems. In spite of having 'universal health care' I still find in Australia that I am paying $$$ after rebate (because I do not have a health care card), for doctors, some pathology tests and physio, etc. I believe that in USA once you have paid for your insurance, and you stick to practitioners who are with that insurer, there will be almost no out of pocket expenses. Also, most health insurance seems to come as part of a paid job in USA. However, if you don't have insurance, or if you don't have a permanent full time job with health insurance benefits it is a very different story in the USA. Am I right?

Methinks the relationship between doctors, insurers and government is very different in the two countries.

Louiseds, having a health care card makes no difference where we live. And this is the 2nd biggest city in my state. Doctors are in such short supply, they just charge what they want, and we get stuck paying. Last week I took one of my boys to the doctor's as he had a throat infection. I briefly asked about the other kids health (1-2 sentence per kid - they do x, does that sound normal? 'might be, might not be. I'll print you out a pathology form'). When I got out, I got charged $70 for DS1, and was told that he had put the other 2 kids as bulk billed (meaning that there is no out of pocket expenses for me. So for that 10 minute appointment, he got $140 into the coffers. I feel seriously annoyed that he can do that, but here I am, with 3 miniature kids, a husband who hasn't been able to work for the past 7 years (due to anxiety issues), and I have times where I need to take the kids to the doc, but don't, because I can't afford it & he won't bulk bill. That is seriously wrong. :(

No wonder our local hospital is clogged up with people who can't afford to go to the doctor.

But I guess if we lived in the USA it wouldn't be any different as we wouldn't be in a position to have insurance either. But then again, maybe we wouldn't have had kids!

I've taken to trying to research everything online for natural remedies instead, in the hope it will save us money!

Not health care system. I used to just take my kids to the doctor without even blinking, but I have hardly darkened the door since then.

I think bulk-billing for two kids who are not even at the consultation is a bit rich! i guess he covered himself by writing out a pathology referral. Medicare might like to know about a general practitioner earning $840/hr for consultations that were not sought, and which the patient did not attend, even though you were not more out of pocket?

I had insurance through my employer but was a waste of money. Had surgery 2 years ago and ins only paid 500 of total bill no i,m left with over 12 grand to pay off.

Miss Kalypso- have you used the women's health clinics available at most community health centres in Aust? I am in Nth NSW and can book in to see the women's health nurse with a wait of a month or so. If I have a more serious issue, we have a female women's health GP but usually takes a bit longer to see her. They do not charge at all. Check out your local community health to see what services they provide. I have talked with our local women's health nurse and given her info on WW - but I don't know if the nurse took it any further. I do know that the GP agreed with WW concepts. I use the clinic rarely but when I do, I take from it what I find useful and try to drop a few pointers at the same time.
Check out different GP's in your town-some will bulk bill if you have a health care card. In city areas, it is much easier to find a GP who will bulk bill- our town has limited bulk billing GP's. Pharmacists can be helpful for providing advice. Australia also has a free telephone helpline 24 hour health advice line. 1800 022 222. healthdirect Australia ...they have an internet site too. In general, I find that GP's have lost touch with their role in society. then again. I also acknowledge that with people wanting to sue at any excuse and with people expecting their GP to "cure" them - instead of taking responsibility for their own health, a GPs job is not enviable.
There is possibly more help available for your husband to get him back on deck again. Sometimes, it is a matter of getting the ball rolling and sometimes it goes a bit wonky but eventually, you get answers and solutions. You have to rock the boat a bit.
Nice to find another aussie. What state are you in?