prolapse seems to be growing

Body: 

I had gallbladder surgery a few months ago. Since then the bladder prolapse has gotten worse and trying to have a bowel movement is very difficult and just makes the prolapse worse. I am unable to do the correct posture due to a spine deformaty so posture really hurts when I try it. I am terrified that the bladder will come out and not ever go back in. Can someone tell me if that is a possibility? Also any tips on the bowel issue, other than water and eating fiber? Thanks for any information you can share.

Any straining to empty your bowel will unfortunately also strain your prolapsed bladder and push it further down. So we try not to strain. So yes, keeping your stools easy to pass is a necessary first step. We often talk about magnesium citrate on this site as it is an effective stool softener and is gentle in its passing. Once you start on magnesium, you can confidently wait for your stool urge and should be able to go without straining. If things have backed up in your rectum at this point an enema would clear things, again gently.

A diet with sufficient potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C is good for keeping us regular.

We all fear in the beginning that our prolapse will just come completely out, but don’t forget our pelvic organs are held by very strong ligaments that do have some give and bounce to them and you are not to worry about your bladder falling completely out. You must however try to do something to improve the position of your bladder and obviously that is what you are trying to do by searching the internet and writing on this forum.

The basis of the Whole Woman strategy is the WW posture as you have stated.

You say that you have a spine deformity that makes holding posture painful. Not to take anything away from your statement, can I just put this into context that everyone has difficulty holding the WW Posture initially. Taking incremental steps is necessary for everyone.

What would seem the best thing to suggest to you at this point would be a personal consultation with Christine if possible. Ideally a visit, but she also can be contacted via phone. She would also be the best one to help you with modifying the posture to meet your specific needs.

But please come back onto this forum and ask any other questions you may have. I am sure there will be some other answers soon for you to consider.

Best wishes, Fab

Hi Cinder - some good advice from Fab, and I would also remind you to look back on your own earlier posts on this forum. One in particular where Christine suggested that you concentrate on all the other aspects of the posture and let the spine do what it can without forcing anything. That's basically how it works for all of us anyway. Most likely you CAN 1) relax your belly, 2) pull up your chest, 3) keep the shoulders down but not back, 4) keep head pulled up at the crown. This IS the posture....the spine will expand on its own to whatever extent it is capable of. - Surviving

I have been so frightened that my bladder would come all the way out and never go back in. Doctors are just never any help. Luckily I am not in pain, it is just that it is so much larger now than it was a couple years ago. I do try to stand as straight as possible, but I live on a farm and am always picking stuff up that I probably shouldn't. Anyway, thanks for the info.

When you live on a farm, there are always things that need picking up, and some of them are still there because somebody else has decided that they are too heavy to lift.

I can hear that you are fearful of the damage you could do to your body by doing the wrong things. To make WW techniques work you really have to commit to giving it a really good chance. This means initially *not* lifting things that are too heavy to lift without causing symptoms. This is basic. If you have symptoms at the end of the day, make a mental note of what you did, and don't do it tomorrow. Does it make a difference.

Do WW posture as best you can. If you don't you will not make any progress. The posture is also basic.

You have to want to make it work; you have to respect your body's need to be looked after; and you have to be prepared to exert the self-discipline necessary to learn how to do it effortlessly, which might take several months, or just a short time. Expect it to be hard. You might be surprised that it is not very hard at all. ;-)

No, doctors can generally do little to help these conditions. We really have to find the information ourselves, here, and do the work ourselves. What a relief it is when it starts working! You really don't know until you give it your all.

Louise