Symptoms

Body: 

Hi, I am 49, and apart from my tubes clipped and a D &C 13 years ago have never had any problems with my womens bits, I am new here and have found this site after trying to find out what the symptoms I am having may be related to. I do intend to go to the Drs as soon as I can but live in a remote area so not sure when I can get in. I don't expect anyone to diagnose me, just wondering if my symptoms may be similar to any one else, i like to know what is going on in my body and am worried when i don't know what is wrong with me.
I first noticed a few weeks ago that I would wake in the night needing the toilet and feeling like there was a tennis ball in my pelvis and was a bit tender, I would notice this again when I woke in the morning too but not through the day, i have no real urgency and no leakage.
The last couple of days I have woken 2 or 3 times and along with the ball feeling there is an ache like a menstruation ache and slightly to the left, today the ache stayed with me for a few hours after i got up and sitting seemed to make it worse.
Anybody's symptoms like this?
Sorry if I have picked the wrong Topic for this, not sure where to post it.
Thank you.

It sounds like you need a pelvic ultrasound and a urine and blood few tests to negate anything more concerning while considering prolapse possibilities.
Often with prolapse it's a complete surprise when your 'womens bits' start to make their presence more obvious .... although on reflection it was probably a 'downward trend' just not that you are so aware of it.

Anything which feels swollen and painful out of the blue with ongoing symptoms is worth investigating ...

Thank you, I intend to go to Drs, just a bit of a worrier and prolapse symptoms seem to be only ones that match a bit. the ache and swelling is only there in night and morning which is what throws me, i will come back and post the outcome.

Hi BDancer

I too would agree that it is worthwhile getting checked out by a doctor. Women in perimenopause experience all sorts of strange sensations at that time of our lives when our reproductive organs and hormones are going a bit silly, before pulling down the shutters for the final time. This is why doctors' waiting rooms are full of women like us. Ruling out anything sinister like tumours can make it much easier to relax and learn to live with these difficulties. They often go away after menstruation has ceased for good, especially if you learn Whole Woman posture and exercise, that will help to reposition your pelvic organs in their normal positions.

Night time bladder emptying seems to be quite common with middle aged women. I don't know why. Perhaps it is just the sensation that plays tricks on us? Perhaps our kidneys process blood differently as we get older, or fluid gained during the day is filtered out during the night while we sleep? Perhaps we drink more at night as a result of dry mouth from snoring? Perhaps we sleep lighter, so we don't sleep through it like normal? Who knows?

The menstrual ache. Maybe your uterus is cramping for some hormonal reason? I did have two incidents close to menopause of uterine cramping like advanced first stage labour contractions that didn't stop. The first one had me half-crawling into the pharmacy for some Ponstan, which relieved it within 10 minutes of taking one capsule. I couldn't believe it!. This was about 4 days before a period. Same time next cycle the same thing happened, but it wasn't as serious. It never happened again. I wonder if a period is due?

It could even be that you were doing some strange manoeuvre in a dream, and pushed your uterus into an awkward position.

I suggest that you try Whole Woman posture and see if the bulgy feeling will go away. This would be because the bladder and uterus move forwards off the top of the vagina, to above the pubic bones. You will probably find that your vagina will feel more comfortable. Relaxing your belly gives your organs more room at the front as well. Untucking your butt will help to allow your pelvis to tilt forwards a bit too. It all helps.

Now, get yourself off to the doctor to put your mind at rest.

Louise

Thanks Louise, made my appointment and was sitting correctly yesterday and had a better night last night, I am worried because at the end of next month I have to sit on an international flight for 14 hours, I would not like to get off at the other end and have to go straight to a Hospital in a foreign country. I teach Middle Eastern Dance and have correct posture for that but if it is a Prolapse it would be from really bad posture at my desk nearly all day........Guilty!
Appreciate all the advice.

Don't worry BDancer, you will be fine. Just ask the flight attendant for a small pillow or a little blanket that you can roll up and put against the small of your back. - Surviving

Hi - I did 20 hours of flying a couple of months ago ... was very worried about what I would end up like.
I used the little pillow to keep in the small of my back - but often I was sitting in WW posture and it was just a reminder to do so ...
What I found really helped - even though it may look strange - was to sit cross-legged while in WW posture just for a break ... my husband was next to me so he didn't mind my knee slightly touching him.
I also got up and walked a lot (I don't sleep much on flights) ...
and found particularly helpful going to the loo and in standing position bringing each knee up to my chest and clasping tightly and holding to stretch out the lower back, hips etc. I would spend as long as I could doing that - also going down the back of the plane and doing stretching exercises ...
Constantly moving my feet and toes and whatever movement I could. Would make me a little weary and then happier to sit still.
I am sure my prolapses were made far worse by all the sitting I have to do ... that's why this posture is so important - it is difficult at first but every time I slouch I think of what it is doing ....
no thanks!