New here and at wits end

Submitted by socalgal on July 6, 2012 - 10:18am
Body: 

So thankful to have found this group. I'm 48 years old, slender build, always felt weak down there, even before children. Had my cervix first drop out a bit when I was 5 weeks pregnant with my second and last child who was almost 9 pounds. Now I've discovered uterine stage 2-3 prolapse almost two weeks ago, lots of pain. Fitted with a support ring pessary this past Monday. Feels great standing or walking, good support, but can barely sit down. No matter what surface, what posture, it pinches all around. I can put it in and take it out, but the taking it out is getting more difficult instead of easier. Spent a half hour last night, couldn't reach it, finally got it and have been in bad pain since. Difficulty may be due to uterus rising with ovulation? Did go yesterday to pick up the next smaller size to try, but still so sore and afraid to irritate it more, as well as lose it more since it's smaller, though have tied a string to it which hopefully will hold and not otherwise irritate. Trying everything I can to make this work to a livable situation. I'm committed to a solution but very discouraged.

Gyn says I'm not a good surgical candidate as I've had 4 previous abdominal surgeries and they suspect lots of scar tissue and complications. All older females in my family have had hysterectomies and done well, though none with prolapse which I understand removing my uterus will make everything else fall. Thankfully I work at home typing all day, which is excruciating, but I don't have to go anywhere other than short runs as son's taxi service. I feel like my whole life has been sidelined with no hope for the future, yet I'm generally a very optimistic person. Through all my medical complications in life there's always been a fix, and this one seems so hopeless and the constant pain is always on my mind. I'm dreading when my period comes again as that is what seemed to send it down and I've never recovered.

I am fortunate to have a very loving and supportive husband who has been with me through surgeries since I was 16 years old when my first pap discovered an ovarian cyst the size of a baseball and no ultrasound in those days. Week in the hospital. He should have ran when he could, ha!

Any advice on pessaries and sitting would be greatly appreciated, as well as removal techniques, general pain relief, and suggestions for sitting at a computer all day, surgical options. No disability, self-employed but have good insurance, and my income is crucial to our household and keeping my clients.

Thanks for listening (I absolutely hate to complain).

Forum:

Surviving60

July 6, 2012 - 10:46am

Hi there Socalgal and welcome! Pessaries are tricky, and I can’t give you too much advice. Others may come on here with their comments, and meanwhile you can use the search box up above to look for threads on that topic. It’s good you can insert and remove, however difficult, as some docs want you to leave it in all the time and come to the office for removal and cleaning….I can’t picture that! Tissues need to breathe. Can you use the toilet OK when wearing it?

What types of past surgeries have you had? Anything involving the uterus/cervix, bladder/urethra, anything like that which might be having an effect on overall pelvic organ support dynamics? It might help us to know that, in relation to suggestions that we might make to you.

Have you checked around the site? Start with a couple of the on-line videos on the Resources page. Whole Woman posture is a means of stabilizing prolapse in women who have all their organs and have not had repair work done already. The idea is to keep the belly relaxed and the chest pulled up, which, with time and practice and exercise, tends to move the organs back into the rounded lower belly where they belong. Then they are not being pulled down into the vaginal space. It’s a big change to make, as most of us have been taught to pull our stomachs in and tuck our tailbones under.

Do some research here, see what you think! This is not a quick fix, because there really isn’t a quick fix for prolapse. It’s here, you must learn to live with it, but with work you may well be able to stabilize and even reverse symptoms, and get back to a happy place! - Surviving

socalgal

July 6, 2012 - 12:20pm

Yes, I have been lurking this week and found this site to be so informative as well as quite active. I agree, I prefer to be able to remove the pessary daily, if I can get the removal down that is. So far no issued with using the toilet.

My surgeries started with tangled intestines at birth and vertical abdominal surgery at 2 days old with no further complications, bikini cut ovarian cyst removed at 17, early miscarriage before full-term pregnancy at 26. after 9 months morning sickness, then infected/ruptured episiotomy when baby was a week old, second and last baby at 31, 8 pounds 14 oz, again vaginal birth, no major complications until 2 months later, emergency gallbladder surgery, again vertical abdominal, 2 years later, tummy tuck, both vertical and horizontal due to my previous surgeries, and until now had done well for 14 years.

Thank you again for your information and suggestions.

louiseds

July 7, 2012 - 10:01am

Hi Socalgal

It is hard to say whether or not all the surgery you have had will have had anything to do with your prolapse. Suffice to say that your whole abdominal support system will be irregular, but it might not affect your pelvic cavity. I am not a medic. I don't know how they do ovarian cyst surgery. I hope your abdomen has now been closed for good.

I can remember feeling my pessary while sitting, particularly in the second half of my cycle. It used to annoy my intestines or my uterus, I think. You might find that you can remove it by simply bearing down. If it is out of reach, and horizontal, it might not be the best type of pessary for you. What shape of pessary is it?

You can check out different types of pessaries here, http://www.sayco.net.au/Sayco_pessaries.html . They describe when you would use different types. Mostly women here seem to like the ring or the donut types. Some of the others look counterintuitive to me, and I think would make pressure points in the vagina, which is not good. Have a good study of this page, or various others you can find on the Net, which describe the different sorts. Then when you go to the doctor you will have a better understanding of what they are talking about. Also, make sure that you use plenty of lubricant when inserting the pessary. Ensure that you use a type which will not damage the material of the pessary, eg oils with latex, silicone with silicone pessaries, etc. Also, be aware that oils will damage latex condoms. Water-based lubricants are a safe bet, even if they are not quite as effective. You could also try a moisturiser like Replens instead. It works similarly to oestrogen cream, by making the epithelial cells of the vaginal wall complete their maturation more effectively, so your vaginal walls are thicker; but without the disadvantages of oestrogen.

I imagine that much of your discomfort is exacerbated by perimenopause, when many discomforts in the body become more obvious, particularly your vagina, which will not be as elastic as it used to be, and will be drier, stickier and more sensitive to anything. I found that during perimenopause I felt more premenstrual than I had ever in my life. I can understand your dread of what happens when a period comes. It think you just wait and see. I used to dread it for the last few years, and it was a great relief when I finally bled. Then I had the heavy bleeding to contend with, but at least I didn't feel like the black dog had me by the throat, and I didn't feel like the world was my tormentor any more. The upside of that time was that eventually my cycles became longer and longer, until they stopped altogether. Now I don't get premenstrual at all! :-) It has been an interesting journey, and one I am glad I am now through.

It will be interesting to see how you go with Whole Woman posture, opening up the front of your body and your shoulders, breathing deep into your abdomen and extending your spine. Hopefully all the scar tissue in your abdomen will not prevent this lengthening out.

Re sitting, I suggest that you learn firebreathing, to help suck your pelvic organs deep inside you, before you sit down. Firebreathing a few times each day, along with deep abdominal breathing will encourage our uterus to fall forwards as well, which is its natural position. I am not sure how this will go with your pessary. You will just have to try it and see. I have a feeling that your pessary is not sitting correctly, so that it is across your vagina, instead of running in line with it. Once your vagina is feeling more comfortable you can try a few more experiments for yourself.

Louise