Pessary

You can read pages 115 to 117 in Saving the Whole Woman, 2nd edition. Christine states that for primary prolapse of the anterior wall, "a thin pessary such as a ring-with-support will allow the vagina to flatten completely". - Surviving

That is the kind of pessary I have and I sometimes have to pull it up with my finger in order to pee. Before I got it I had to use intermittent catheters to pee. I'm a senior and just now dealing with prolapse because my Urogynecologist told me I had to stop using catheters or they would ruin my bladder but back when I was 28 a doctor said I had a cystocele and wanted to do a hysterectomy - I was devasted and thankfully didn't do it.

Hi BecCon and welcome. Good for you, avoiding surgery and getting rid of catheters. Are you able to empty completely now? Be sure and remove the pessary nightly and be sure your bladder is completely empty. Get down on all fours in the shower, just to be sure. Have you tried the posture correction that Christine teaches here? It might enable you to wean yourself off the pessary, which would be a good long-term prolapse-management plan. - Surviving

Hi Surviving60
Thanks so much for your advice. Could you go into more detail about emptying the bladder in the shower? I visiting my son and his family and there are lots of kids and commotion so I may have trouble with new experiences now. My phone is very low on power so I may have to go offline until I get back to a charger but I am very grateful for all your ideas.

Hi BecCon - the whole idea is to get the prolapsed organs to move forward into the lower belly. This is what we are trying to accomplish whenever we stand, sit, and move - it is what the posture work is all about. If prolapse is impeding the complete emptying of the bladder, you might not even realize it unless you are getting lots of recurring UTI's. So one good way to really empty is to get down on hands and knees over a basin or in the shower. If you are sitting on the toilet, lift up just a little off the seat (your skin can still be in contact with the seat) and lean forward. I sometimes do a bit of "jiggling" while in this position, helps coax those organs to where they belong. - Surviving

I have the ring pessary with holes in it and stopped wearing it due to a bad rectocele and fear of it worsening but my tailbone pain is so bad that I began wearing it again and it helps the pain to lessen. I had a complete hysterectomy 10 years ago and regret that the young doctor strongly convinced me to have it. Everything is pressing on my vaginal area and I lose hope of quality life so much over these issues. I'm doing the whole woman posture and exercises I saw on You Tube but there is not much hope here for post-hysterectomy women. I wonder if the pessary is better for me since I have no uterus and the rectocele is so painful without the pessary?

Hi Justdandy - I hope that you can continue with the posture work, because this is something that goes far beyond prolapse, straight to the heart of spine and hip health. As for the pessary, you just have to weigh the pros and cons of your particular situation. If you are better off with it, who is to say otherwise? Go with your instincts and with how your body feels. Post-hyst, it's all about keeping the remaining organs in the best place you can get them to. Posture can still help with this, and the pessary sounds like it might be keeping you more comfortable. - Surviving

Surviving60
I can now picture what you are doing. Is the idea to have more urine come out in this position?
How will I know when my pelvic organs have moved forward?

Thank you Surviving. You are very attentive to everyone's needs here and I appreciate that. I am a forum moderator for two forums of over 1000 members and have a few helpers as I spend hours in them daily answering questions from topical steroid addicted people. It is hard to see so much suffering but I've been through it and still flaring on my upper legs as well so who knows it better than those of us who have walked that road? I am using the pessary off and on and always take it out at night. I pray for healing and trust it will come. Blessings to you. xx

Justdandy, I'm glad that you are taking the pessary out at night. Sounds like you have your hands full there. I have no doubt that your efforts and attention are greatly appreciated by those that you help. I hope you manage to squeeze in a little time for yourself! Gotta take care of number one (that's you, my dear) - Surviving

BecCon, it's a little more complicated than that. Your organs will move forward when you are on hands and knees, the idea is to get them to stay there when you are upright! That's what this posture work is all about.

There is a great video on the Resources tab of this site - it's the first one on the page and it gives a wonderful overview by Christine. There is lots to read on this forum and website about what this posture correction means, not just for prolapse but for lasting hip and spine wellness. Consider getting her book, Saving the Whole Woman, which has been my "bible" for my 3+ years of doing this work. Jump into this - it takes time but ultimately can be quite life-changing. - Surviving

Surviving60
I can now picture what you are doing. Is the idea to have more urine come out in this position?
How will I know when my pelvic organs have moved forward?

In 2004 I had rt breast reconstruction with a flap because I had had too much radiation for an implant. Now that I know about prolapse I think it is not a coincidence that I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis the same year and that my urinary retention was so bad that I was prescribed catheters a few years earlier. I searched and finally found a doctor who could do the flap without ruining my stomach muscles. She sewed together all the tiny blood vessels and used a Doppler to make sure they were still flowing.
Back in 1969 at age 28 after 2 sons, an obgyn told me I had a cystocele and should have a hysterectomy. I cried about it so much that my husband said " don't do it" so I didn't and 9 years later, had another baby- finally got a daughter!
What I'm wondering is, given the flap surgery, what special techniques should I use to overcome the effects on my pelvis?

I can't answer this question, but there may be others who can. The underlying fascia in the body is all connected up, and surgeries like yours will definitely have a whole-body effect. You might need to tell us more about how you are doing with posture now. Do you do any WW workouts now? Is any of it painful? The best general advice is to do what feels OK, and be cautious and gradual about the rest - Surviving

I have just ordered the book and the video and am out of town and will start the posture and exercises when I get back home. I have bladder pain a lot and some problems with balance and coordination. What you say about the fascia is very interesting so I can see how it would affect the whole body. I have begun walking about 2 miles a day and take tai chi. I'm grateful to have found this program and am getting some answers to lifelong questions. Thanks for your help.

Hi Surviving,

I'm new to Whole Woman and the forum, but I've ordered my book/dvd/baton package to arrive and am very interested in learning more about how to heal my bladder prolapse.

I'm a 67-year-old woman, 17 years post-menopausal, wearing a ring-with-support type of pessary. My problem began AFTER the diagnosis of cystocele and insertion of the pessary, when I began having problems with sharp, shooting pain. Imagine a needle being driven up your insides, and you've got it. NOT fun.... This pain was likely caused by the pessary rubbing against the walls of my vagina.

My doc gave me a prescription for small, twice-weekly dose of estrogen: Vagifem, inserted vaginally. I wasn't excited about taking unopposed estrogen, but he said the dose was too small to worry about. So I began the treatment, and it did work very well for a couple of years.....until about four or five months ago, when I began spotting.

I figured the estrogen was causing the spotting, so I tried stopping it, but the pain quickly returned. So I went to my gynecologist. After testing for possible cancer (negative), he eventually sent me home with me a prescription for Provera (progestin) to take orally for one week every three months.

Great, now I'm basically on long-term HRT, which I never wanted in the first place!

My goal would be to be able to function without the pessary, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to with Christine's program. At the moment, though, if I'm not wearing the pessary, the original feeling of heaviness, the discomfort and the bladder urgency quickly return.

My question relates to the pessary: Would you know approximately what proportion of women who follow the program are able to remove their devices?

Even with the spotting, I'd be okay with keeping my pessary in if I didn't get those terrible pains that happen when I'm NOT on the estrogen. But I DO get that pain, and I therefore seem to have only two alternatives: (1) Keep the pessary, which means staying on the HRT and putting up with the constant spotting, or (2) remove the pessary and take my chances.

I've been pretty long-winded, and I apologize, but I wanted to give you the whole picture. Wearing a pessary isn't anything out of the ordinary these days, but I'm the only person I know who has to take drugs to manage the related pain! I'm glad I found Whole Woman, and I'm looking forward to reading the online conversations.

Kind regards,
Cailleach

Hi Susannah - firstly, I'm not sure what you mean by (2) remove the pessary and take your chances. Are you incontinent without the pessary? Or just can't live with the bulge? (You can indeed, and it's the best way to learn the stabilization techniques and correct your posture).

There are no statistics on how many people WW has gotten off the pessary. Most of the members I know who have used them, have stopped or cut back severely due to problems (and it sounds like you are having problems too). As time goes by, the prolapse will not improve with pessary use, more likely will get worse, and if you are just propping it up so you don't feel it, you aren't helping yourself in the long run.

Keep reading and learning. - Surviving

Hi again,

Hah, I'm not too far from incontinent even WITH the pessary, so that's not an issue. What I meant was taking my chances on the bladder prolapse getting worse without the pessary - because although bulging didn't bother me, the PAIN and heaviness before I had the pessary inserted did bother me, and it cut a big hole in my otherwise relatively active lifestyle. I had a hard time even walking around the house.

My bottom line is that, if I could get rid of that pessary and not wind up worse than before I started wearing it, then it's a done deal for me. And I'm really, really hoping that Christine's program will help me do that. I should be getting the package in a couple of weeks.

One final question, please: is it appropriate to continue wearing the pessary just while I'm getting started on Christine's exercise program and until my body becomes accustomed to the new posture etc., or should I have it removed before starting? From what I read in your note, I'm getting the idea that it would be better to start Christine's program without the pessary, even if it's painful at first.

Thanks for your patience, Surviving. I appreciate your help.

Cheers,
Cailleach

My first pessary, was not the appropriate size and I could not get it back into place. My second pessary was the white cube type with a ring to place it in and pull it out. Well, within a week I developed a UTI due to the closeness of the ring from the anus to the urethra and it was difficult to treat. Has anyone else had this issue?

I hope soon that some ladies who have used pessaries can find your posts and give you some advice. We can't give you a lot of information what best to do with pessaries for a lot of us have never worn them and in a lot of causes because we couldn't, or otherwise were lucky to find Christine before we decided to take the pessary route. Christine does not in general recommend pessaries but realises in certain circumstances that they are a helpful option. Susannah, the fact that you are 67, and please don't be insulted with my talking about your age, for I am 67 too, you may find that the pessary is helpful. However, with its use you have two major complaints and the first of these complaints i.e. the shooting pain is quite serious and the spotting and subsequent progestin are a worrying occurrence. Without the pessary you complain of discomfort and urgency.
Ok let's look at discomfort. Its heavy. It probably rubs your vagina. So look at lubrications. We talk about coconut oil, olive oil and even KY jelly and Vaseline to keep the vagina moist. This will also help relieve any friction which the rubbing of the bladder can cause. Make sure you wear kind underpants that don't rub. I wear a panty line and when in a skirt an extra pair of knickers to give myself a sense of security. her ladies wear a V supporter, and you perhaps can put that in the search box at the top of the page and see what ladies have had to say about them.
Now urgency of urination is a second thing that you can look at. It's akin to having an overactive bladder and there can be a number of causes. It can be due to a UTI which MissSuzy talks about in her post, or it can be due to incomplete emptying of the bladder so that you feel that it is always full. Christine in her book "Saving the Wholewoman" describes how it is important to make sure that you completely empty your bladder at least once a day, and you can do this by leaning forward with your weight more on your feet than your thigh muscles when you toilet. It is also an idea to look to your diet and see if there is anything there that may inflame or irritate your bladder a little. This will differ from person to person, but some people find spicy food especially chilli can have this effect, or caffeine in your coffee or tea. It is something that you need to look out for and see if there is any correlation. So the fact that WWposture and exercises are trying to realign the muscles so that the bladder via the uterine ligaments can be pulled back into place above the pelvic bone, we would normally suggest that you start Christine's program without a pessary with the proviso that we do not wish to cause you any added pain in our advice. If it suits you better to begin things with the pessary and the HRT then by all means do so. This is a self-management regime and only you can make it possible.

The only thing I know that works for a UTI is antibiotics.

Christine stresses the importance of removing the pessary periodically (i.e., at night) so that the tissues can breathe. I think that being able to take it out and replace it yourself will be important to you in doing this work. It really shouldn't stay in all the time. Can your doctor show you how to do this yourself? Otherwise you are in a rather unfortunate vicious cycle, with the pessary that you can't control, necessitating the hormones that you do not want.

If you can't handle the pessary yourself, and aren't ready to go cold-turkey, then if I were you I'd simply delve whole-heartedly into the WW study and let Christine's teachings sink in for awhile. You can certainly learn and practice posture while wearing it. But a cystocele is quite manageable with this work, and the risks associated with both hormones and long-term pessary use (yes, there is much anecdotal evidence that they do worsen prolapse) isn't a good trade-off in my book.

I am 63, have cystocele and rectocele, and have been happily co-existing with my organs for almost 4 years. This is maintenance; there is no cure for prolapse, and certainly at our age we probably won't restore all the lumbar curvature we used to have (young women: start now!). But I feel that you are stuck in a bad place, and I think you know it too. There is a way out, honest! - Surviving

Surviving, thanks so much for your help!

Yes, I do know how to remove the pessary. In fact, I've tried many times to remove the thing myself, but although I can touch it with the tips of my fingers, I can't get hold of it with fingers and thumb to actually take it out. I'm really limber, so I've been able to get into some pretty interesting positions to try to get it out, but I just can't do it. So frustrating!

After reading that it's best to remove the pessary at night, which of course I can't, I think that once I've read the book and watched the DVD to know what I'm doing, I'll practice the posture until I'm sure of it and then I'll just go and have the pessary removed for good. I'll be doing the exercises from the day I receive my WW package, and hopefully that will be enough of a start that I can stay off the pessary. And take Advil for pain if I have to.

Thanks again, Surviving - I'm so encouraged by your remarks!
Cailleach

Hi Fab, and thank you for your helpful suggestions. I did try a lubricating ointment that the doctor prescribed (can't remember the name), but it didn't work very well. However, I never thought of olive oil! I will give that a try. Underpants = I'm good. V Supporter = hmm, I'll have to look that up; sounds interesting.

My doctor said that I have incomplete emptying of the bladder, so I'll try your/Christine's trick of leaning forward on my feet when I'm on the toilet. And I'll check the relationship between my diet and bladder irritation. These are really good, practical suggestions, and I'm happy to learn from them.

When I replied to Survivor's post, I said that I had decided to stay on the pessary just long enough to receive the Whole Woman package I've ordered, read the book and watch the DVD, and begin practicing the posture and exercises. Then I'll go have that durned thing removed and hopefully be done with it and those meds that I hate taking. If I can manage to stay off the pessary, I think my body will be much happier.

In fact, my purpose in researching prolapse (which is what led me to discover this website) was to find a way to get rid of the pessary without making my problem worse, and without having to resort to surgery. And this website, and forum, look to me to be the best way possible to do that. I can't wait for my package to arrive!

Kindest regards,
Cailleach

x

Some women may get relief of symptoms from a pessary, though many will not. They can aggravate prolapse and they can cause problems of their own. They are tricky to fit....may require a good deal of trial and error. Many doctors will want you to wear it all the time, coming back periodically to have it removed and cleaned (something that really should be done more often, by the wearer).

Since you have found your way here, I'd suggest that you take a look at the content of the website and blog, and learn what it is that we do here. Our approach to prolapse maintenance revolves around making a critical posture correction that stabilizes the hips and pelvic organs. There is no cure for this, but before you consider going the pessary route, think about doing something that will really help...that's what it comes down to. So keep reading, there are lots of wonderful folks here to answer your questions. i have both anterior and posterior prolapse and have managed quite well for almost 4 years - wouldn't even consider a pessary. - Surviving

x

Hi willhealmyself,
Have been reading your posts, and would like to say welcome! I noticed you saying you would like to get some relief from the heavy dragging feeling. I remember that feeling in the beginning. One the nicest things to do that was suggested to me was to get onto knees and forearms, and just breathe deeply into your lower belly. Just something to do while you are getting used to posture work.
Wish you the best all the way over there in Ireland!

Thank you for the welcome Aging gracefully. I will def try that.
take care, willhealmyself

i have been using a pessary little over a year, mostly for support. In my job, I lift, bend and walk a lot, I only wear it when I'm working. I remove it every night and leave it out on weekends. I just ordered the materials and was wondering if i should use the pessary while I work or get rid of it completely. I'm afraid that the prolapse will worsen without the support. Please anyone? Any feedback?

Hi natural - in my opinion, what you're doing sounds fine. As you get further and further into the WW work, you can exxperiment with leaving it out longer. You will be your own best judge of this. Even if you ultimately decide to keep using it for the most difficult parts of your day, you will still be practicing the posture and the bending/lifting techniques that are best for prolapse support, even while you are wearing the pessary. But do take note of what Christine has to say regarding different types of pessaries. If yours is of the type that holds the vagina open, then there is greater chance for eventual worsening caused by the pessary itself. Good luck to you, enjoy the WW work and post your questions as they arise. - Surviving

Thanks so much for the advice. I would feel much more at ease using the pessary until I feel more comfortable with the techniques. My pessary fits pass the vagina. ( like up and over) The only reason the vagina is slightly open is because of my organ prolapse that is creating a bulge of vaginal tissue. I hope my pessary is not the one that you were talking about; one that worsens the prolapse. Anxiously waiting for the WW materials to arrive. Thanks again!

My doctor is after me to get a colonoscopy done. I am afraid that it would worsen my rectocele but she says it's fine. I have a consultation scheduled with the specialist but I am still hesitant to go through with it. Any feedback or experiences?

Hi natural - this is a topic that comes up from time to time. You can use the search to look for conversations - here is one:

https://wholewoman.com/forum/node/4740

We can't give medical advice here, and much would depend on the reason why your doctor is urging it. I had mine prior to "discovering" prolapse. Since it was negative for polyps, and since I now have a rectocele, I don't think I will ever do it again. There were several years between the colonoscopy and the worsening of rectocele, so I don't necessarily blame the procedure for anything, but I feel it is terribly invasive starting with the prep, which was awful for me. But there are plenty of folks who feel it was life-saving for them. - Surviving

Hi, I am new to this. I did awhile back buy the Whole Woman CD/Video and a book but wasn't ready for a whole new philosophy on life. I found Christine to 'new age' for me. This was probably about 7 years ago.

When in Canada I had a bladder sling operation (15 years ago) that was done at the same time I had fibroids removed. At that time they found a hernia in my vaginal canal that was repaired during the surgery.

I am 64 and went back to the doctors here in the US about 7 years ago as I could feel my cervix coming down into the vaginal canal. At that time they recommended surgery but I did not want that so opted for the pessary. That is when I looked into The Whole Woman program but didn't think it was for me.

Well, I'm back. I went to the doctors again as I felt the cervix in the vagina was protruding even more. I wasn't able to exercise with the pessary (more leakage). I was concerned that the prolapse was getting worse. Now they want to do a 'robotic' hysterectomy and insert mesh into the vagina wall and rectum. I was scheduled for October but canceled it until I felt more reassured, especially about the mesh. I haven't been reassured. I am scheduled for end March but will be canceling that surgery too.

I, too, was having spotting and each time this occurs, they want to do a biopsy (which isn't pleasant, as some of you are aware). I have had 4 D&Cs, the last one was about a year ago for fibroid issues. They say that the next step is a hysterectomy. Now, I am thinking that the pessary may be causing the occasional spotting???

Therefore, I am going to try the Whole Woman program again as I have run out of options. Even if the only progress I make is to stop the progression of the prolapse, it will be the better way to go for me.

Thank you for this forum as it is difficult to discuss this as most of my friends and associates are younger and I would be uncomfortable talking about this with anyone I know. I do have a supportive mate, but he is a 'guy' and just doesn't understand.

Barblee973

Hi, I had been diagnosed with a prolapse 13 years ago at age 50. Luckily I did not take the surgeon's advice but opted for a pessary. I had no problems using the pessary for 10 years .It was a ring with support. However as I aged and my vaginal wall thinned, I developed ulcers in my vagina from the pessary. So I discontinued and last year discovered WW. Things have greatly improved. My G.P. thought it may be a good idea to see a specialist to reassess my pop. To my surprise the gynaecologist did not suggest surgery, but told me that if I wanted to wear a pessary that I would have to take estrogens, ie vagifem 10mg twice a week. She insisted that the dose was so low that there would be no side effects and that the estrogen would thicken the vaginal tissue so that I could wear the pessary when needed. I am quite ambivalent about this suggestion . It was helpful to hear the comments regarding the estrogens .

The doctor wants me to have it just cause I'm over 50, no other reason. I was hoping that you were going to reply to my comment being that we both have the same conditions. (Cystocele and rectocele) Thanks for being here for me Surviving60!

x

Hi barblee and welcome to the forum. So glad you have found the strength to resist the surgeries that are being suggested to you at this time. You will get all the support you need right here!

Can't be sure about the spotting, but leaving the pessary out would be worth trying to see if this is contributing. A pessary can be irritating to delicate tissues. Are you using any type of topical hormones in conjunction with the pessary? Docs often prescribe them together, sometimes insisting that they are safe and not absorbed into the system.......which is not entirely true. I would think you are far enough past menopause that fibroids would be less and less of an issue as time goes by. Docs can put such a fear into us when it comes to what MIGHT be going on with the uterus.....maybe you can just give yours a break for awhile, put some good WW teachings to work in your life, and see how things go.

I'm curious about the hernia in the vagina that was repaired. Pelvic organ prolapse is sometimes mistakenly thought of in these terms. Is it possible you had a mild cystocele or rectocele which was "repaired" while they were in there doing the other stuff? Do you know the name of the procedure that was done?

Anyway, good luck with the WW work and please post your progress and questions. This can be a journey with many twists and turns! - Surviving

Hi Astronaut. If you are doing fine managing your prolapse with the Whole Woman work, there doesn't seem to be any reason to go back on the pessary, in light of the problems you had, and the prospect of needing hormones just to be able to tolerate the pessary.....sounds like vicious cycle best avoided! - Surviving

All the ladies on this site seem to be able to name their diagnoses and seem to be quite educated about their condition. I am sure I was told what I had but really never wanted to know. When I had the fibroidectomy 15 years ago, (I had a lot of pain so did not question the diagnosis) they also did what was commonly called a bladder sling, using material from my body, according the the surgeon as I had some leakage issues but that was small time compared to today. It was my OB/GYN who told me I had a vaginal hernia that needed a repair. After reading your site, it would appear that I have a uterine prolapse, stage 3 (that I do recall), as well as a rectocele as I can feel the bulge near the entrance of the vagina.
The pessary does help, however, when I wear it, I leak and have to wear pads... so far only ones for light to moderate leakage. What I find best for me is to wear it for a few days, taking it out at night, then I find I can go a few days without it. Once I feel the neck of cervix moving down into the vagina, I again wear the pessary. I cannot wear the pessary if I am exercising, except for yoga. I would be afraid of a major accident. The technician who fitted me with the pessary said to insert with KY but I do not need it to insert so don't use it as it made me feel 'messy'. I do fit the pessary high into the vaginal canal and it is flat upon insertion but sometimes when I remove it at night it is in a vertical position in my vagina.

My reasons for going back to the doctor in 2013 was I felt the cervix was protruding father into the vagina and with all the ads on TV re catherders, depends, urgent bladder needs, etc. I was concerned that it was getting worse and as I got older that I would have more and more difficulties and would end up smelling like my husband's grandmother who I took care of for a year.

I am looking at Christine's program again, but I have a hard time with all the philosophy, and if that makes me sound like a heathen, I'm sorry. I am looking for practical steps towards improving my overall health. I am a strong supporter of yoga as a form of exercise but mostly as a de-stresser. I look forward to this journey and for the few days I have been back on WW, I have learned much and look forward to learning much more.

I would definitely recommend the WW yoga. Traditional yoga and pilates contain many moves that are really, really bad for female pelvic organ support.

Barblee, this is a return to natural human posture, the posture you will see if you look around at children and others who have not been brainwashed (as most of us were) into doing the "suck-and-tuck" abdominal core strengthening thing. It is the essential posture for pelvic and hip health and well-being. It is really self-evident as Christine has pointed out on many occasions. There is no better collection of practical steps towards improving overall health, if that is indeed your goal, as it should be. - Surviving

Thanks for the reassurance , surviving 60.

Hi to everyone ,

I am new here to the forum but not new to my problems. I am 30 now and had a High Risk Pregnancy in 2011 and had a bad labor too. ever since the Epidural was Injected, I started seeing lots of pain. I had no Help during and after my pregnancy. I had to handle my Baby all alone with some support from DH.
I had been suffering from terrible low back pain, urinary Incontinence, Bowel Incontinence and Pain in Stomach. I had a Colonoscopy , GI ednoscopy done and with several visits to sevarl doctors nothing derivative. Chropractor visits have been helping me. Last year My MOM passed away and I suffered from severe depression and I am on strong Anti-psycotic medications now. I also tried going to Curves Fitness for weight loss and started doing 3 hrs of Recumbent cycling at home and then suddenly hit this new problem.

I have also been getting treatment for severe constipation and My GI's medicine made me sit in Toilet for 3 hours continuously with Hemorroids and Bleed. Having said all these, last sunday I asked my DH to check for my Hemorroids and he noticed a Bulge on the Vagina. I can see that when I widen my legs, I can also feel it and feel like something would drop out if I move, I went to the ER and they told me it's a Uterine prolapse at stage 2 or so. MY Gynaecoogist has given me a Round Pessary with support. I feel like my Bladder is blocked and I strain to pass Urine. I spoke to MY GI over phone and they are routing me to Gynacologist again and the OB/GYN is suggesting a Hysterectomy if it does not work. My DH is trying hard to get an appointment from a Uro-Gynaec. I am not sure what's going on and Feel Terrible. I don't have a family or Friends who can come down and help in case I have to go for a surgery. I also have an active 3 year old. My DH saw this nice site and is planning to order some materials for me. I shall be thankful to any and all if you can share your thoughts on my situation and guide on my next step.

God Bless all of you.
Prad

Hello ladygirl and welcome to WW. You are going through a lot right now, and I want you to know that you will be OK. You have a wonderful supportive husband and you've found your way here, and things will get better for you.

Christine has given us a wonderful gift, the knowledge and means to stabilize and manage prolapse naturally and without damaging surgery. There is no surgical "cure" for these conditions, and the surgeries that are offered come with great risk. The doctors you are seeing are surgeons, and they may try very hard to send you down that road. I wish that you would take some time to learn what we have to offer here, before you get to far along with those doctors.

While you are waiting for your things to arrive, you can certainly start to learn the basics of Whole Woman posture. It might feel really different if you are used to pulling your stomach in tight. Instead, what you want to do is RELAX your belly, pull your chest up, and keep your shoulders down (not back). This stance gives your organs a chance to move forward into the lower belly, with the help of the round ligaments of the uterus. Restoring lumbar curvature that has been lost....moving everything into a better position.

Please do not use the recumbent bike. Christine actually gives this as an example in her book of one of the types of exercise that's really hard on the pelvic organs. This may have contributed to your latest setback. You will learn to avoid those obtuse body angles, greater than 90 degrees.

There's a lot to learn and I know you are feeling overwhelmed. Just take a deep breathe and realize that you are in great company here. - Surviving

Thanks for the reply Surviving60
I am also trying to find out whether the prolapse could contribute to upper abdomen pain or ( pain below the ribs and above the belly button) . It looks like there is a lot of stuffed air over there. I am also planning to go for a upper GI Endoscopy even though my GI could not find out clear reasons yet. My pessary is helping me with #2 but I do feel it is causing bladder retention. I used to stoop over to front while using the cycle due to my short height. I have stooped cycling for a bit now. Thanks for the Help.

Hi ladies,

I joined the WW group a couple of months ago because I had been using a pessary for bladder prolapse and stress incontinence for three years. However, from the day it went in (and in spite of trying several models), I couldn't stand the pain of the pessary, which was far beyond any discomfort I had had with the cystocele! Nothing alleviated it, either, except estrogen tablets inserted into the area twice a week for nearly the whole three years.

Then one day about four months ago, I began spotting.....seventeen years after completing menopause! Just staining, at first, and then progressing to actual blood, every single day. My gynecologist's solution to this new problem was to put me on progestin in addition to the estrogen. Oh goody, now TWO hormones, with their attendant risk of breast cancer.

I went home from the doctor's office that day fed up to the teeth with the medical profession's answer to drug side effects, which is to prescribe ever more drugs. I sat down and did some research, found WW, bought the book and DVD etc., and soon made an appointment with my family doc to have the thing removed. It was a bit scary for me to do, frankly, but I figured the worst that could happen would be that I'd have to have it re-inserted.

Within a few days, however, the bleeding had stopped completely. I began practicing the WW Posture every day, all day. And guess what? My pelvic discomfort is very nearly gone! I can't believe it! It's true that if I'm on my feet all day, I feel some heaviness, but even that is not as bad as it was when the cystocele first happened! No pessary, no drugs, and who would have thought that just standing, sitting and walking a little differently could make so much difference!

And the stress incontinence, although not gone, is much improved. Sometimes a sneeze will catch me, but most of the time I don't even bother with a panty liner nowadays.

In addition to the exercise in the book, which I began last week, I've begun tentatively doing the fire breathing, and I'm hopeful that this exercise will eventually help to tighten all the muscles and strengthen the whole pelvic area, so that perhaps even sneezing won't be a concern.

I'm very, very grateful to WW for all the information that's shared here. It makes such a difference not to feel alone in this!

I'm sharing my story because I really do empathize with the fear and worry that pelvic prolapse can cause, and I wanted you to know that even for us newbies, it doesn't necessarily take very long for the WW Posture to make a difference in our lives. And I'm old, fat and sedentary!

Hi Barblee,

I had a biopsy too, which was more painful that I was led to believe, but which I'm glad I had done because at least it ruled out other possible causes for my own bleeding. (Which, by the way, stopped completely once I stopped taking the estrogen and progestin I had been prescribed to deal with the pain the pessary caused. I finally had my pessary taken out, too, so I could get off the estrogen.)

But more importantly - and I would never have believed it possible - just a couple of weeks into the new posture and I'm starting to realize that much of the time I'm without even the discomfort and heavy feeling I used to have with the prolapse. And that's just with the new posture alone, because I'm barely getting started with the exercises.

So hang in there, Barblee, you're not alone. I think we've both found the right place to be, along with many, many other women!

Best of luck to you,
Cailleach

Hi Cailleach! Great, great posts! You are a woman after my own heart. Find WW, recognize it for the wondrous thing that it is, start the work, do the work, see/feel the benefits, come here to make your report. Many many thanks!

Just don't get bummed if you have some bad days. Two weeks is so early.....we are all in this for the long haul (i.e.,forever). Management, not a cure, as we always say. Keep up the good work! - Surviving

Is there an actual name for the ring pessary that Cristine recommends that can be inserted & taken out by oneself. I don't live in the States, but would like to have the information available so I could suggest it to my gyno here
; )

Thanks