PROLAPSE SURGERY

Submitted by angeleyes on May 30, 2006 - 3:05pm
Body: 

I wish I had listened to my inner self, or at least, checked out everthing more in detail. Yes, I had surgery for Prolapse--------all three--even though I didn't have symptoms of all three. I was told by my surgeon that eventually I would so he wanted to fix them all, so I wouldn't need further surgery. Well, guess what, I am now three weeks past surgery, and between the pain, nausa, wearing a cathater for a week, and a list of other crappy details my uterus has prolapsed again. I go back to my doctor Thursday and I know I have no options expect a pessary or surgery and I don't want either one. Please, if someone out there can give me some EDUCATED advice I would appreciate it. I have read up on my surgery and I've been told I should have a 94 percent sucess rate, well so much for statistics. I just can't believe this has happened, not to Miss healthy me. I have done so well recuperating and now feel so let down due to my own ignorance. Why can't our bodies just belong to us and God, and not to money grubbing, non-caring doctors. Yeah, I'm pretty bitter right now but I guess it could have been worse----maybe I just needed to vent. Now, do I trust my doctor to repair what he sould have done the first time around(he is supposed to be the best in my area and actually teaches the surgery at our teaching hospital)or what other alternative do I have. Thank You--Sincerely---Judy.

Christine

May 30, 2006 - 3:33pm

Hi Judy,

So wish I could offer some advice, but I really don’t know what to say.

I believe the only way we’re going to get past this dark period in history is to educate women on their anatomy, the procedures, and the effect the procedures have on their anatomy.

I read a post today on another forum written by a post-surgical woman who was trying to convince the rest how marvelously well she is doing two years after having her cervix amputated, her front vaginal wall pulled to the front of her body, and what was left of her uterus tethered to her spine. Oh yeah.

Only when women truly understand the anatomical scenarios set up by these operations will they be able to make informed decisions.

Wishing you well!

Christine

angeleyes

May 30, 2006 - 3:51pm

Thanks so much, I know I have done a bad thing to myself but now I have to figure out what to do next. I just wish I could see inside myself, kinda like a X-RAY VISION---LOL, and see what was really done to me.Also then and only then could I see if I am really trussed up like a Thanksgiving Turkey----OR WHAT. I don't know but now I just have to have faith in God and ask my doctor a list of questions when I go in Thursday. I guess I had a beautiful idea of no more bulge, no more embarrasement when I have sex(yeah, I could never bring myself to tell my husband what was going with me down there-----I hid it from him)being able to go to the gym again and of course most of all I wanted to feel normal again. I really felt like a man, the protruding bulge was hard to hide in my tight gym clothes and even in jeans, at times. I trusted my doctor when he said he could fix me, as good as, new. I truly believed all my prolapse problems were over, NOTTTTTT. Anyway thanks for the support. Judy.

ann.helen

June 2, 2006 - 1:25pm

hi judy

i'm so sorry to hear about you're surgery, but noticed how you said in you're e-mail about "what you had done to yourself".

Try not to beat yourself up over it. You've allready gone through so much and it's soooooooo hard not to be persuaded by all the so called facts and statistics and the voice of "authority" of the medical establishment. Plus all the promise of not having our bulges and all the complicated feeling's that come with it wiped away by a single procedure.

When you ask about educated advice what in particular were you wondering about by the way Judy.

Best wishes

anne-helen

sammsav

June 2, 2006 - 5:16pm

i'm 30 and have a mild prolapse, now you said youve hid it from your hubby i wish i had a hubby now when i get a new boy friend then im gonna have to explain shit cos i dont wanna be on my own with an eight year old all my life but thats what im considering cos i feel so shit, ive thought about surgery also but ive read so many scare storys on here so i dont know what to do stay in touch with me and let me know how things go chick as i need some advice xxx cheers

sammsav

June 2, 2006 - 5:24pm

god thats what im scared of you are so brave and as im new to this i dont really know what to say but i understand why youve gone thorough it and i'm considering it but i think its just gonna cause problems for the rest of my life so do i just try and cope as so many women are but how long can this last untreated thats the question am i gonna suffer in the long run any way ?

mommi2three

June 2, 2006 - 6:53pm

I think it is a mind blower to many of us who get prolapse. There are quite a few of us who joined recently in our 30's. ALthough when you go to the gyn, they act so shocked that someone so young can get prolapse. They won't even acknowledge sometimes. But how come there are so many of us encountering the forums?

I know it stinks and you feel a loss for your old body. We still think about the good 'ol days too. But it does get better! The first thing is to stop straining on the toilet and start standing and sitting in the posture. I found pt helpful for stress incontinence. Then, getting enough rest and diet is very important.

YOu ask, "how long can this last untreated thats the question am i gonna suffer in the long run any way ?" This is a great question! The answer is definitely here. It is not a terminal disease and we can slow its progression and decrease the symptoms.

The treatment is lifestyle changes. Read Christine's book. Thank goodness you are ahead of the game...you found us when you have MILD prolapse. That is news to celebrate! There is so much hope for you. I came here with moderate to severe prolapse of bladder, uterine, and rectal. I have made alot of improvements. So gather all your info and start putting it to work.

The prolapse won't go away but we can still have productive lives. I know that surgery is not for me. I couldn't imagine anyone reconstructing my vagina and butt area. I just feel that those areas are sacred. I would rather get breast augmentation! :) Even with surgery, you would need to modify your lifestyle with lifting restrictions and diet. The success rates for surgery in younger women are also lower.

We wish you well. Stick around. Everyone here is very encouraging and share their experiences. The beginning stages are really rough (at least for me). You need to make changes right away b/c mild can turn to moderate prolapse if you don't take care of yourself. Get rest when your body tells you too. Maybe you can make some changes at work to adapt to your prolapse needs. You will be just fine. Keep posting and get Christine's book.

angeleyes

June 3, 2006 - 1:20pm

Thanks for your imput and I have now seen my Doctor again and he doesn't see anything wrong but I can see my cervix in the mirror, so the surgery didn't completely work. I hope it doesn't go any lower, he said he could amputate part of my cervix-------I THINK NOT. I am still recuperating from the first surgery so I am taking a wait and see attitude. Hugs----Judy.

Michelle68

June 5, 2006 - 9:06pm

Hi there. I have just returned from a visit with the supposed guru of urogyn. They insist on talking about surgery. "You're far too young to have to put up with this for the rest of your life". Even though I say I'm not really interested in surgery until I feel I can't really live with the problem any longer they still insist it's the only way and that eventually I'll be in there begging them for it. I told them of my concerns about recurrence etc but still they feel that it's so slight it's not worth worrying about. Then there's the 6 weeks recovery time. With a 21 month old to run around after I don't think it's even a possibility in the short term. They've sent me home with some 'information' sheets which are so technical and medical in their terminology that you have to be a doctor to decipher them. Of course there's never enough time to spend with the doctor to talk about this in detail as they always have another patient waiting. The urogyn's associate is a female and she even said she would not hesitate to have the surgery if she were in my situation. But reading all you've been through puts me off even more. The prolapse isn't so horrible that it affects my day to day life in any serious way but six weeks out of action and then the possibility of it happening again would seriously affect my life. I hope you can stop blaming yourself. I know that's easier said than done but I, like you, am not a doctor and don't understand fully what it is they talking about all the time and it's so easy for them to take advantage of that and fluff around the real issues.