Grade 2 Cystocele & Rectocele

Body: 

I have been here before but not added anything. After 10 years and 2 failed IVF attempts, I finally fell pregnant. A couple weeks after birth I felt great but then after tidying up I felt uncomfortable. I went to Doctor who Diagnosed 2nd Grade Cystocle & Rectocele I was devastated and still am. The physiotherapist I was sent to has been so negative and not helpful. I used to run 3 times a week and the odd half marathon so to be told "enjoy the time with baby" is hard news. The final straw yesterday on my 3rd visit to physiotherapist without exam just going by my picture I took she said I am worse and think about a Hysterectomy. Is this the answer? I have been unwell so she said the vomiting and pressure has made the condition worse, is this true? My baby is 9 months old and I feel like I'm back to the beginning and not sure how to feel better. I am interested in buying a Incostress or Incofree I was wondering has anyone ever used them?

Any information appreciated :((

Hi Bitterk and welcome. What you are experiencing is very, very common and widespread. There is much you can do.

At 9 months PP your body is still healing, despite what anyone else will tell you. If you’ve been on our site before, you probably know that is all about the posture. As an athlete you have probably been taught to suck in your belly and tuck your butt in the name of good posture. Unfortunately this might be OK for men, but in women, over time it causes loss of support and the pelvic organs begin to fall back towards the pelvic outlet. If you make the posture correction now, you will be in an excellent position to manage prolapse throughout your life. So please do read up on this forum and website, and check out the FAQ’s and video on the Resources page.

You have received some of the worst advice imaginable from your physiotherapist. I won’t even address her comments, they are so misguided. You have been done a great disservice there. It’s time for you to take this matter into your own hands, educate yourself about how pelvic support works, and what you can do about it. Adopt the posture, understand the concepts so that you can carry them throughout your day, consider getting Christine’s book and/or a video to help you “get” all of this and put it into play. Absolutely no straining on the toilet. Re-learn how to carry your body throughout the day. Good luck, this is a great community with lots and lots of PP moms who have seen it all. - Surviving

Hi Bitterk - the Whole Woman way of life is just that - a lifestyle choice - advice here is supportive, educational and very helpful and encouraging.

One thing I would love to be more widely known is that so many new mums suffer prolapse in some form ... and that it takes a good deal of time for the body to get back to 'normal'. The WW posture will certainly speed up the process and allow for the best possible outcome.

I think also these days the terms cystocele and rectocele seem to be more commonly known - there is more familiarity with body terms and health issues and with the internet it only takes a second to research and give a name to the fleshy protrusion that freaked me out some twenty years ago. Back then there was no WW, however in time everything went back to where it was, but I spent many months in distress and just being told to do kegels, when I was afraid things were really going to drop out.

But now we have so much more information, advice and best of all - this site. But it will take time - hours and hours - to read through all the posts - use the search tab to check your diagnosed outcome - and adopt the way of life. It can only benefit you now and for the rest of your life.

As for the vomiting and feeling unwell - absolutely it can cause the condition to worsen, as can coughing incessantly, stress, grief, trauma etc - but it just means it has probably delayed the pregnancy/birth recovery process and if you begin to do all you can according to the recommendations - I am sure you will be able to say in months to come that you feel a great improvement.

Thank you Surviving60 just someone responding and reassuring me has made me smile tonight. What you said about my physiotherapist is so true, she is a disgrace in my eyes. I will definitely read more here and think positively...well try for now. :)

Thanks takecare and you to have made me feel better tonight. I'm looking forward to that day you see my post saying I feel a great improvement. I think now with the help of this site I can actually turn my unhappy feelings around. Thanks

Welcome and Congratulations on your baby. 9months old....a special time and a very wanted baby! I hope you have the time to really read on this forum and in Christine's blog and library. It sounds like you have had a very unfortunate medical experience. I am glad you found this site. Try to read a lot, maybe order the bundle and little by little start walking in WW posture. That is what saved me....within a couple of weeks, my symptoms lessened. I also do either the Prolapse DVD or the First Wheel (almost) every day. I am getting better all the time and feel much stronger. Yes, you will probably even run again, but you should first adopt the posture and make it yours. The big challenge can be in relaxing the tummy muscles. Post your thoughts and questions here---these lovely ladies are amazing at sharing their ideas and successes---you will too. Best wishes to you.

Bitterk, use the search box to look for Incostress. I don't think we have discussed Incofree yet, but we have discussed the former.

Posture, clothing design, appropriate exercise, and appropriate ways of using our bodies are the key to prolapse management. Give yourself at least another 15 months of pp recovery before you decide that your prolapses are forever. WW methods really do work to help in that recovery, and for the rest of your life.

Hello MsNightingale & louiseds and thanks for taking the time to welcome me. Today is a good day as had Doctor appointment me who is referring me to a Gynacologist if anything just to ease my mind a little more. Maybe tell me I'm not as bad as I think...I feel freakish somedays. I wear my husbands speedo's lol. My Boy is a bundle of joy and on a bad day he helps. I will be reading here and ordered Incostress today, I pray this will be useful. It's the tampax feeling I can not tolerate, this is what I find hard to live with. I am so surprised that women are not informed this can happen.....aaahh. Thanks guys :)

Curious to know Bitterk, if you did as Louise suggested and reviewed some threads on here re: Incostress. Christine has cautioned that anything holding the vaginal walls open isn't a good idea. If you are reading this forum, what exactly about Incostress appealed to you? And are you also looking at posture as a solution? Maybe a good one to try first. - Surviving

Hi Surviving60 the Incostress has been ordered by my sisters as I have been so upset and going on about my condition. I haven't had or used it yet. I have been away few days and carrying wee guy a lot so back tonight and my old feeling is worth than usual. I am going to try now with the posture. I have used the search box as suggested as I love to read stories where like myself the forum can make you feel better and there is hope.