When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
If you are already a registered user you may now log in and post. If you have lost your password, just click the request new password tab and follow the directions.
Please review and agree to the disclaimer and the forum rules. Our moderators will remove any posts that are promotional or otherwise fail to meet our guidelines and will block repeat offenders.
Remember, the forum is here for two reasons. First, to get your questions answered by other women who have knowledge and experience to share. Second, it is the place to share your results and successes. Your stories will help other women learn that Whole Woman is what they need.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, welcome! The Whole Woman forum is a place where you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of thousands of women around the world!
Best wishes,
Christine Kent
Founder
Whole Woman
louiseds
September 24, 2006 - 10:03am
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rectocele and cystocele surgeries
Hi Cleaning Machine
Welcome to the Forum. I am afraid I can't help you on the surgery side of things, but I would encourage you to visit the FAQ's section of www.wholewoman.com and check out the things you *can* do to help your prolapses while you wait for information on surgery.
I figure that Christine's methods are not at all invasive and help my body to position its organs back where they are meant to be. Numerous testimonies from other women have encouraged me with this, and I now know that twelve months down the track from diagnosis and several years of knowing that my pelvic organs were descending slowly and surely, I can now say that it has all stabilised and is now comfortable and almost undetectable to me unless I become constipated or do a lot of coughing for a few days, or do a lot of careless lifting, *and* it is not getting worse (which my docotr said it would). I now see no point in investigating surgery any further. You may reach the same point without surgery too, with a few months of practising Wholewoman methods.
I know that these methods will not cure my prolapses, but the problem with prolapses is not that they will kill us, but the unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms that they produce. With the symptoms no longer bothering me, I may as well say that the prolapses are any more of a problem than the sagging wrinkles that come with aging, so prolapse is no longer an issue for me.
Best of luck. Keep calling in to the Forum.
Cheers
Louise
jmqphd93
September 24, 2006 - 12:38pm
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rectocele and cystocele surgeries
Hi Cleaning Machine,
Ditto the comments by Louise. Don't forget to check out Christine's blogs from the home page also. Please browse through the forum discussions (among them, search for WHOLE WOMAN FIRE BREATHING), and come back with more questions and comments. There are some women who have posted here who have had surgery, so you may hear from them as well. Most importantly, educate yourself thoroughly before you make a decision that will have life-changing consequences! We know how devastating this can be at first, and we are here for support.
J.
cleaning machine
September 24, 2006 - 5:58pm
Permalink
rectocele and cystocele surgeries
hi louise,
thanks for your post. i'm currently 45 years old-46 in one month.
i've always have had pain before and during my monthly starting at age 13 and ever since. doc always said once i had my first child it would go away. somehow it only got worse. i have 2 children and i had one miscarriage. all were pretty easy births. but the cramps came back with a vengence. i had to take ibuprophen(?) every 2-3 hours a day for around 4-5 days. well needless to say after all that i developed 3 bleeding ulcers. my doc finally said die of the ulcers or get rid of the uterus. well that was a no brainer because i didn't want any more children and i couldn't find anything other than ibuprophen that helped. i even tried narcotics. they turned my head off but the pain was still unbearable. well here i am 4 years from my hysterectomy and i'm very happy i did it because i was always in pain every 24 days. anyway, now i have this issue. my problem isn't my doc=he really says it's not that bad, but i'm one of those fix-it
now people because i want to go on and do what i want. this is just the grosses feeling. sex also has changed because i feel not very pretty with this thing coming out. (by the way,i do have the most understanding husband of 25 years that says do what you need too) but this is a hard decision. i have done kegels ever since i heard about them when i was 21 years old. so i guess i'll read these other posts and weigh these options. but my question is do you feel this particular surgery is not a good one? some people tried to talk me out of my hysterectomy but i have to tell you it was one of the best decisions i've ever made. i have lived 4 years pain free and my ulcers all have completely healed.
thanks for any advice. i appreciate it.
cleaning machine
louiseds
September 26, 2006 - 12:42am
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rectocele and cystocele surgeries
Hi cleaning machine
It sounds like your uterus has been conspiring against you all its active life, and you are indeed better off without it, now it has given you two beautiful children. Tough being pushed into it by side effects of ibuprofen though. How frustrating for you. I think in the same situation I may have made the same decision on hysterectomy.
Neverthele, you now have another problem to deal with. The doctor may say it is minor. Understandable comment,coming from a person who doesn't have to live with prolapses. But you do, and you are not finding it easy. I can understand youseeking out surgical options. As I said previously, I have not had surgery, nor do I have any knowledge that would be better than you could find with a bit of research. In Christine's book, Saving the Wholewoman (for which the second eition is nearly ready, and which you might be able to still pick up the first edition from Amazon) she gives a pretty good rundown of most of the different types of surgery for prolapses, all in one cover, along with references to all the scientific papers that she referenced the information from.
It is not comfortable reading, but useful for an overview. There is also plenty of information on the risks and possible complications from each procedure, which made me wary of seeking surgical options as a first choice. Thankfully I haven't had to explore it further. The book is a good place to start your research. There are also numerous websites where you can find out about the different procedures, many of them written by medical practices where they do these procedures, so be aware that they are often sales/promotional material to some extent.
The sex question really is a hard one. I can only say that it is no longer an issue for me, as my husband is not worried about it, and it does not bother me either. We may have unconsciously adjusted the positions side of things a bit, but people do that all the time, prolapses or not. It sounds as if you feel simply gross and unattractive, which is not a nice way to feel about yourself during one of life's best ways to have fun and expressing your love for your husband.
Learning to love this body of yours which has borne a lot of pain, and produced two lovely children, and will need to be a vehicle for your being for maybe another 40 or 50 years, will probably be as important a part of your recovery as any other treatments or changes you might make.
If you have surgery is there a guarantee that you will be any better than now, even five or ten years down the track? Sadly, I think not, but you are the only one who can judge that risk for yourself. The good thing about non-surgical management is that you can change your mind at any time and go for the quick surgical fix. With surgery, once it is done, it is very difficult or impossible to undo if you don't get a good outcome.
Christine has had a lot of surgery, and been through a lot of exercise and therapy to get to where she is. She inspires me to keep on without surgery if possible.
BTW, there are quite a few posts about the use and misuse of Kegels. As I understand it, Kegels are only really useful for incontinence, and may make prolapses worse. You need to be careful how you do them. Do a seach of the Forums to find out what other women have to say on this. You may find something on the www.wholewoman.com homepage under the FAQ's link.
Of course, posture amendments are one of the important aspects of non-surgical management of prolapse, as is diet and exercise, but especially posture (See FAQ's).
Enough from me. Good luck in your search.
Cheers
Louise
cleaning machine
November 24, 2006 - 12:41pm
Permalink
problems with cystocele now
Hi Louise,
I've been doing kegels for my problems with the rectocele. But a few weeks ago it also turned into having a cystocele I think. I'm leaking urine and when I sneeze, laugh or cough, well forget about it.
I also am extremely embarassed by this but I'm constantly showering and using wet wipes and I still have problems with extreme odor. I've just started noticing this and I ABSOLUTELY FEEL GROSS! I guess now I have to figure something out. Have you ever heard of having odor with rectocele and cystocele? I had a vaginal hysterectomy about 3 or 4 years ago and never had a problem with odors before. What is my problem? HELP, HELP, HELP.
Thanks so much,
Jeanene cleaning machine
MeMyselfAndI
November 25, 2006 - 12:54am
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Calm calmmmmmm
Take a deep breath and think...
Are you doing hundreds of Kegels a day? Cos that reallly will NOT help - In fact I have found things much better since I only do about ten a day and not the 200 I was!
If your problem have suddenly gotten worse thru doing Kegels then try to do less Kegels and see what happens. Try this...
At different points during the day - D ONE OR TWO Kegels - That's it - Hold for 5-6seconds
Simple - and effective - No more leakage - because if you do too many you tire the muscle out and leakage will get alot worse :) Soo 'less is more'
Impliment the Posture and along with your new smaller Kegel routine then you should find life much less of a Kegel-Fest...
I am sure that Christine will come in with some other tips to help
Goos Luck
Sue