About pessaries

Body: 

I got a pessary two and a half weeks ago and so far I'm really happy with it. I can't even tell it's there and I started tying a string on it so I would have a way to check. I went to a urogyn and he talked up surgery and I told him I absolutely didn't want it so he got serious about pessaries. Before I got it, I was so bummed, I hated to walk around the house because the prolapse would do the bulge thing. I really feel it gave me my life back. The doctor said you only have to take them out every two to six weeks and clean them but I do it every two or three days. Mine is a ring with support and is easy to insert. When I got it, first the doctor tried a bigger one and it wasn't comfortable and I told him and he went a size smaller and I was happy with the smaller one. I do have an aunt with a prolapse and she tried a pessary and gave up on it after two days and I don't know what kind she had or anything. She is now going to have surgery but everyone is different and I kind of think she wanted surgery all along. I told her about this website but she didn't even check it out.
I wish you luck and hope you have good success with it. We don't have a lot of urogyns where I live but this one is okay, he's nice and when I told him I didn't want surgery he dropped it for good, which I appreciated.
Best of luck, Carrie

SusieQ: May I ask what type of prolapse you have? I am getting ready to go to the urogyn for a rectocele discussion, and want to discuss pessaries with her. Glad to hear yours is making you more comfortable. Many thanks.

To SusieQ and BaNa48,

There have been many posts on this forum about pessaries. Use the search to find the threads titled "Pessary" and "Choosing a Pessary." After you read through some of the posts, please come back with more questions.

Remember to read the FAQ page of the website as well as Christine's blogs.

Also, BaNa48 had a question about choosing a doctor. My suggestion would be first to ask other women - nothing like a personal recommendation from a trusted friend. You could also ask your primary care physician for a referral. Try calling a few gyn practices in your area, or even visit in person to ask about how much experience they have in dealing with prolapse issues. There are some practices that have only female doctors and staff. Good luck (-:
J.

Hi, Jomama5,
My primary prolapse is a cystocele with, as the doctor put it, the uterus going along for the ride. He didn't rate it with a number, just said it was moderate. I have heard that with pessaries a good fit is important, and urogyns do a lot of this. I wish you much success and would love to hear how it goes.
Many hugs, Carrie

I recently did a google IMAGE search using the word pessary, and found lots of sites with many pictures of the different styles and explanations of the types of prolapse each is commonly used for. Lots of technical information, very helpful. The only thing not covered was the actual real experience angle - like the views I am thankful are shared here on this site. Take care, Glor