confused on way to proceed

Submitted by Maisy on September 1, 2012 - 2:48pm
Body: 

Hello everyone, I'm 63 and could use some advise.

Is this the correct place?

Thank you

Maisy

Forum:

Surviving60

September 1, 2012 - 4:44pm

Hi Maisy, yes, ask your questions here and maybe we can help you!- Surviving

Maisy

September 1, 2012 - 5:23pm

Thank you,
six months ago I was diagnosed with uterus prolapse. My GYN inserted a buttonlike pessary and told me most people couldn't feel this one once in. I did, it felt like it was going to fall out. She came back in with the attitude she could not remove all the sensation. I told her it felt like it was falling out so she checked and replaced it with a larger button. I could feel the pressure inside but felt it was normal to hold my uterus in place. I felt like crying. She left and none of my questions were answered. She had a nurse speak to me but her advise was to take it out during sex but the doctor said to leave it in during sex. I followed the GYN's orders for 3 months. My husband felt it during sex and it wasn't comfortable for me either. After 3 months I asked her if we could try another style. I thought the balloon type might work better. She told me she gave me the one I needed due to my desire to continue sex and replaced it. We tried for 3 more months. The pressure was constant and made my body ache. Before the pessary I would wake every two hours to pee at night. With the pessary I was waking up every hour on the hour. This time I told her I wanted to take it home to show my husband what he would be feeling.
I also felt he could help me with the removal and insertion after sex. She removed it very slowly so I really felt the pressure I might feel if he removed it to slow.

I was so frustrated, frazzled and exhausted when I went in. I am back to 2 hours of sleep at a time but my body feels so much relief from the pressure I don't want to put it in again. Is my next step a hysterectomy or can I live with a prolapsed uterus without a pessary?

Maisy

Surviving60

September 1, 2012 - 5:55pm

Hi Maisy. First let me say, yes, you can manage uterine prolapse without a pessary, there are many here who do just that quite successfully. Pessaries are tricky to fit and they don’t help everyone. Even the most patient and sympathetic doctor (which it sounds like you DON’T have) can’t always come up with the right one.

And as for a hysterectomy, heavens no! Please don’t even consider that. Hysterectomy for prolapse makes no sense because it removes the hub of the wheel of pelvic organ support, and leaves a nice big space for your other organs to prolapse into.

What we do here is postural. Christine Kent, who herself had a profound surgically-induced uterine prolapse, discovered over years of struggle that correcting the posture can pull the organs forward into the lower belly where they belong, and away from the pelvic outlet. It takes time, lots of practice, and a positive attitude. You can restore the lumbar curvature that is the central element of pelvic organ support.

Please poke around this forum and the entire website. My favorite place to send new members is to the first video (look under Resources and find the video page). It is about 20 minutes long and it’s a great overview of why surgeries aren’t the answer, and how the posture principles apply. Check it out and come back with more questions. This is a wonderfully supportive group of women here. - Surviving

Maisy

September 1, 2012 - 7:04pm

Thank you, I have dialup, so watching videos is out of the question. Could you tell me about "firebreathing?" I see it mentioned over and over here but cannot find how to actually DO it! I am so happy to see someone rejects surgery. Before finding out the bulging sensation was the uterus, I thought it was a returning Bartholine's cyst that came back and hoped it could be drained as before. I am not experiencing the bulge as much since the Pessary was removed but I believe the constant pressure may have caused a swelling inside that has kept the uterus from dropping as far. Then too, my husband and I have enjoyed a session of comfortable togetherness that may have resituated the uterus temporarily as well. :)

Maisy

curiousity

September 1, 2012 - 6:57pm

Oh that's lovely Maisy. Bless.

Maisy

September 1, 2012 - 7:05pm

I'm sorry, was that too much information?

Maisy

curiousity

September 1, 2012 - 7:08pm

There is no such thing as too much information on Whole Woman. I just loved your phrase. Can I steal it for my own uses? :-)

And yes, you are right, a session of comfortable togetherness will often push things back into place.

louiseds

September 1, 2012 - 8:54pm

... that we have once again proved the WW adage that there is nothing like an erect penis for repositioning pelvic organs? What's more, there is always a person attached to it, who can remove it, clean it and insert it again periodically. ;-)

prolapse2012

September 2, 2012 - 6:56am

Reallyy???? LOL REALLY?

I have been too scared!!

Really???????

Surviving60

September 2, 2012 - 7:08am

Sex and prolapse are a great combo. Just use some extra lube if there is any discomfort, and/or try different positions.

Maisy

September 2, 2012 - 8:09am

Hi again,

I was so relieved to read something can be managed and surgery is the last resort. Is it too much to ask that aging women want to live normal lives until our last breath is drawn? I'm a home health aid and work for many so much older than myself. I can see what they are going through and I refuse to give up in the ways some of these lovely ladies have. Now that I am experiencing some of this aging thing I must learn a better way so I can help myself to stay active and possibly help them as well.

I've been pushed around by the doctors and forced into health decisions because I respected their knowledge and my lack of it. I have been studing homeopathic medicine and bio-feedback electromedical therapy so have stayed away from doctors with the use of these ways. I had to go in and renew thyroid meds so approached them on the pressure I was feeling. The GYN had a goal to meet in a Colonoscopy offer her clinic had to meet for some future funding so she gave me a poke and drew back blood declaring I HAD to have a procedure I DID NOT ASK FOR or WANT even, FREE. I now not only had to deal with the POP but the colonoscopy and results. I went through the procedure and was given a good report and told not to return for 10 years, YEAH!

MY dear husband has been there to steady me through this all the way, and he has his needs to be close to me. Before getting the diagnosis of the POP we were active and in fact our activity was what gave me relief from the pressure as I went through my busy day. Once I found out it was a POP I realized the very action of our love making was a natural way of pushing my slipping uterus back into it's home. It's just that I work more than I have time to play and didn't know just when I would lose my battle to not fall apart. Not knowing if I could battle this new thing happening to me was still ahead. Now I feel the GYN's statement to have sex with the large button inside me may have been her way of estranging me from the one action I had to control my problem in the best possible way. I was told by another (male) doctor, "There isn't enough room for a pessary and the male instrument to fit, period" Who do you believe? My GYN is demeaning, condescending and cruel but the only one I had to work with at the time and it took a bit of experiencing her to realize her true nature. My asking for a referral to a surgeon was my only outlet to see someone other than this woman. I am still waiting for her office to call me with the referral. It takes time and we are in holiday mode so it may be a week or so before I can see yet another doctor to speak to. Now, however, I am clearer in my thoughts and feel I have an army of real people standing with me to say there is another way. THANK YOU many times over for helping in my 'fall apart aging days'. I now feel younger and more in control once again.

Surviving60

September 2, 2012 - 9:04am

It's fairly safe to say that if you go to see a surgeon, the surgeon will most likely recommend surgery. Don't be in any hurry even to get an appointment. Spend your time soaking up more wisdom and strength from Christine's body of work and the wonderful support that is here. I too live with examples of aging that I do not wish to follow, and no great confidence in the medical system to help me through this. Good luck and keep posting your observations - Surviving

Maisy

September 2, 2012 - 9:46am

Is there an "email notification" setting anywhere here to alert me if someone replies to this thread?

Thank you

Maisy

Surviving60

September 2, 2012 - 10:05am

No, but if you are signed in and go to "recent posts", you will see all the threads that have been commented on since the last time you were signed in and checked that thread.

sevilla555

September 2, 2012 - 2:38pm

Hi Maisy,

I read your post with interest.

Wondering why you were not able to see a different Gyn. from the one you were seeing and who was obviously not sympathetic or understanding to your prob. Is your health plan limited to how many Gyns. they employ? And as another poster stated on one of the forums here. A surgeon will more than likely advise some ''kind'' of surgery. That is, after all, what they do. Unless you happen to get one who's more open-minded and ''may'' say that often, complications outweigh benefits, in a lost of cases. Just depends on the doc and how open-minded he/she may be.

Another question. I understand you use a pessary. What kind, how long have you been using it, and how often do you remove it for cleansing? Is it the kind you can remove every night and put back next morning, or do you have to keep it in for a few months, and then return to the doc's office to have it removed? And are you comfortable with it? And do you intend to continue using it? One last question. What kind of prolapse were you diagnosed with?

Sorry for so many questions, but I am curious. I have my own Gyn appt. coming up later this month and don't intend to just roll over and obey her every command without getting as much prior knowledge as possible, which I seem to be getting from this wonderful site.

sevilla555

Heavenlyflower

September 2, 2012 - 3:38pm

Hi Maisy, I am here to tell you that there are a bunch of rude, unfeeling, and demeaning drs in this world both men and women and I feel the reason they act like they do is because they really don't know how to help some of us who has a POP problem they feel defeated and then when you say no to surgery they really go nuts, I saw a man GYN a while back, after I told him I had a prolaspe uterus ask me " what was my old vagina doing these days? because he had a friend who was a dr in another hospital who could help me by sewing up my vagina , I haven't gone back to see him anymore and I really wanted to punch him in the mouth.
I hope you find some help but like Christine says surgery is the start of more problems, so if you can get her bundle and start helping yourself.
Mahalo and much ALoha,
Heavenlyflower

Maisy

September 2, 2012 - 4:36pm

Hi Sevilla,
I have no insurance or medical plan so I am on my own and amat the mercy of clinic doctors. My only medication I have need of is Synthroid for a thyroid condition. I have been using and studying homeopathic medications for the past eight years and have taken care of myself and family and friends when I can. The POP is something I can't find a homeopathic to fix. I tried to tell one general doctor that I used homeopathics and she dropped me as a patient. Her reasoning was, she wasn't comfortable knowing I was self medicating for such things as headaches, diarrhea, constipation, rashes, poison ivy, bug bites, or any other pains my meds work on without side effects that drive you to other meds with side effects to treat. I was able to get another doctor for my synthroid but I didn't make the same mistake I made with the first one. The POP was diagnosed 6 months ago as a stage 3 by my new general doctor. My med dictionary says third degree is entire uterus is outside the orifice so she must be wrong on the stage.
I asked to try the pessary that worked like a balloon to inflate inside but my GYN told me the one that looked like a button was the best one for me since my husband and I are still active sexually. She said we didn't have to remove it but he felt it inside me and it was uncomfortable. We used it 3 months and then I went back to have it removed and cleaned. I asked her for one I could remove and she told me I had the one best suited for me. I tried 3 more months, so after 6 months of the button pessary, I asked again.
Her comment was that this free clinic didn't keep all pessaries on hand and it would have to be sent away for but she was sure that I wouldn't like anything she gave me and advised me to stop messing around and have a hysterectomy. I had asked her for a referral to a surgeon at the beginning of out visit but she told me I wouldn't be able to get a 'charity surgery'. I wasn't looking for a charity surgery, just a doctor or hospital that might allow payments. I was under the impression I had no choice. Pessary or surgery. When my conversation went back to the pessary her attitude changed back to referring to a hospital with a sympathetic ear to someone who can't pay for a surgery. The button put so much pressure on my vaginal nerves I ached, and my sleep pattern was waking every hour on the hour to go pee. I was so tired I couldn't think straight. It came on gradual and really wasn't all that uncomfortable in the beginning. I describe it as, a feeling of someone holding your hand tightly and never letting go.
You can get used to it but it is most annoying after 6 months and you can't get anything accomplished. I have felt so much better since it came out. I am still sleeping two hours at a time at night but I am able to dream. I hope with the posture training I hope to learn here I can get more sleep. I can think better now that my nerves aren't being stressed and my uterus isn't pushing on my vaginal opening as it was before. My husband is happier and our natural practice is helping me keep it from the true stage 3. I will continue to look for other options like the balloon pessary. I kegel more now and that may be what I needed to do but my GYN didn't think it could help me. I couldn't kegel with that pessary in, too much pressure. I hope I answered all your questions. I tried not to be to redundant.

Maisy

sevilla555

September 2, 2012 - 6:50pm

Maisy, Hi Again,

Do you think that the fact your uterus is no longer pushing on your vaginal opening is due to having worn that pessary for 6 months?

And thanks so much for answering all my previous questions. I appreciate your taking the time to reply.

sevilla555

Maisy

September 2, 2012 - 7:14pm

Hi again,

I gave that some thought as well. I felt swollen after it's removal so I couldn't tell exactly where my uterus was. I started kegling so I knew I still had that function. I think the constant pressure of the pessary was causing the muscles to press back making the vaginal wall stronger. It may still be to soon to know what effect the pessary pressure may have had. Everyone I've talked to (doctors) say those cell do not reattach. After a long day on my feet I do feel the uterus, it just doesn't make me feel so fearful or urgent and I am trying to posture as I have read here and I feel it is working. Time will tell but I feel I have time now.

Maisy

louiseds

September 8, 2012 - 5:49am

Hi Maisy

Glad you have found us. The reason why there are no homeopathic remedies for POP is that POP is a result of physical damage to connective tissue which may have many causes. They are all related to the physical positions of organs relative to the bones of the pelvis and to each other, ie broken or stretched soft tissue, constipation, or surgical damage, that is exacerbated by poor posture. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these organs, though the malpositioning of them can affect their efficient functioning.

Fixing your posture to one that will position your pelvic organs on bone instead of soft tissue is often enough to make a difference to your symptoms. Back that up with high quality diet rich in fruit, veges, unrefined grains, nuts, seeds and a variety of proteins. This will help resolve and prevent further constipation. Learn to use your body differently to keep your organs inside you. Learn to breathe with your diaphragm so that your organs are repositioned with every breath. Wear clothes that do not compress your abdomen. There are so many things that you can do for yourself that will keep you out of the surgeon's hands and make your body work better.

Louise