New Here...

Submitted by Shyladare on March 28, 2015 - 8:02pm
Body: 

I'm not sure if this is the right forum but I hope so because I'm looking for help! I'm thinking I have a prolapse but my doctor's appointment isn't until Wednesday and I'm looking for advice on questions for the doctor.

About me: I'm 37 years old, never had children, always had a moderate flow period that was extremely regular (every 26 days, lasts for 4 days) and have pretty bad, but manageable cramps the first two days. Because of personal issues, I don't visit the gyno as much as I should (have only 3 times in fact) but had an event that caused me to go recently.

About a month and half ago, I got my period and on the first day I got this intense pain in my abdomen and felt like I had to have a bowel movement. It literally felt like I had to have a baby, but out of my bottom. I tried to make a bowel movement but nothing happened so I took a hot bath and Tylenol and the pain went away in about 10 minutes. The rest of my period was extremely light (I seriously could have used one pad for the entire period) and the color was light pink-I usually have a moderate flow with bright red blood. After my bath, I noticed that my stomach had distended a great amount-I looked at least 7 months pregnant. For the rest of my period I was constipated as well. I also had been urinating a lot, and no matter how long I sat on the toilet to make sure everything came out, as soon as I stand up, I leak a small amount of urine-like one or two drops (that has actually been going on for the last year). I looked up my symptoms online and saw such things as ovarian cancer, IBS, and prolapse. So, I immediately made an appointment with a gynecologist and my diagnosis was a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, and two 1.2cm ovarian cysts on both ovaries. Well, I had no real symptoms for the first two (no itching, burning with urination, etc) so I thought that was odd. So, as I was applying the yeast infection cream in front of a mirror, I noticed that my vaginal opening was quite loose and I could sort of open it and see this pink looking tissue, like a ball almost. For the last couple of weeks I've been checking it and it's still there and it doesn't seem normal, so I made another appointment with the gyno.

What I don't get is that if I have a prolapse (and all signs seem to indicate this) why the gyno wouldn't have noticed it on the first visit. Are there specific tests that need to be done? Because I can see this pink tissue with my naked eye. At my first doctor visit, they did an abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound and I even suggested that I feared I could have a POP due to things I read online.

If I'm diagnosed with POP on Wednesday I know for sure that I do not want surgery because everything I've read so far indicates that it's not very successful and can lead to other and worse symptoms. Do you all have any advice for questions I should ask my doctor...and if I should be diagnosed with POP what do I buy on here for beginner treatment ? Or does treatment depend on the type of POP?

Forum:

Snapcracklepop

March 29, 2015 - 4:27pm

I'm a newbie myself, but I just wanted to say hi and that I'm really glad you found this community. From what I've learned here, all variations of POP are pretty much dealt with in the same way, by relearning the posture that we had as a child. It's not an overnight fix, but it sure has helped me cope with the ever changing nature of POP. I'm sure a more experienced member will be in touch with you soon. All the best on Wednesday and on your WW journey!

Snapcracklepop

Pack Momma

March 29, 2015 - 4:33pm

Hi! Welcome to the forum, you are definately in the tight place. It sounds like you have a lot going on there. As for the prolapse there isn't anything that can't be managed with WW. I would never want to have surgery and as far as I have read other peoples experiences with corrective surgeries it is not worth it! Sorry I don't have more constructive to add but I too am new and learning WW posture and exercises. Good luck and well wishes.

Aussie Soul Sister

March 29, 2015 - 5:03pm

Shyladare - hello and welcome to the Whole Woman journey.

If you click on the resources tab above and watch the first video, Christine shares comprehensive information about prolapse and what you can do for yourself.

There are research blogs by Christine as well, and many discussions here to get you started.

I embraced this journey nearly 3 years ago and will never look back as Christine's unique approach is so holistic, bestowing benefits that go far beyond prolapse.

Aussie Soul Sister

Shyladare

March 31, 2015 - 9:08pm

My appointment is tomorrow at 8:30 so hopefully I'll know something definitive. I wanted to be proactive so I've already scheduled acupuncture this week for prolapse and am starting Chinese herbal medicine, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang in tea form. I'm already pretty good nutrition wise, I think. Mainly fish, veggies, fruit, legumes, and quinoa. I sneak in dairy here and there, mostly eggs.

ActiveandLapsed

March 31, 2015 - 10:06pm

Hi,
Sounds like you are off to a great start with your healthy way of living. Posture is the key to helping along with your diet for good bowel movements (something many of us with rectocele prolapse have to watch carefully) and low stress. I'm almost a year into my WW journey and two years into (known) prolapse. I find it great to have this information and forum.

My prolapse did get worse not doing this work so whatever they say at your appointment do try to make this work part of your life and then you will stablise or maybe reverse (a bit) whatever you have and not put yourself at risk for further problems. It's good for all of our body too - hips, feet, back, knees so all of the ladies on here would say do this work no matter what.

You can search from the home page for the self exam info if you like. They will lie you down for your appointment but our prolapse changes when we lie down and take weight off it so the specialists can't feel or know what it is like when we are standing/active. Just something to keep in mind.

Good luck tomorrow.

Shyladare

March 31, 2015 - 10:17pm

If she can't see or feel this when I'm laying down, then I'm going to be seeing and feeling a new doctor, lol. I'm already sort of peeved that I went in three weeks ago, when I very rarely go to a medical doctor, with fears of a prolapse and it was overlooked. The only reason I'm not uber upset is because I can't say that the tissue was visible before and I wasn't feeling the symptoms that I'm feeling now-which literally feels like I have a wedgie in the front southern parts! :(

I definitely want to start the new posture regimen and order the materials I need to change certain things. My husband is an acupuncturist so he's talked a lot to me about the lumbar curve, and the correct way of breathing (through the nose and belly distending out when taking in breath, and receding when releasing breath-I always did it backwards!!), but I really want to learn about walking correctly and the types of exercises I can do without worsening the prolapse.

ActiveandLapsed

April 1, 2015 - 4:09am

Yeah I hear you about doctors!!

I had symptoms like tampons not working and indications for a good 3 years prior to my first bulge. These were all overlooked by the medical profession (and me!). I was freaked out when my rectocele bulge first came down (after I strained while rushing). They took my word for it at the doctors and referred me onto a gyno but I knew in that waiting room it was prolapse and then had bits I had heard come to me and I thought oh this is what it is. Surely this can't really be happening to me and why the hell don't I know about this and what to expect. I thought I was going to hemorrhage blood or had cancer at first.

Goodness me, how the doctors can they be so wrong with all that training and supposed expertise and trust placed in them by "modern" women. I still can't get my head around how they can all study the skeleton and yet still make the pelvis into a bowl with a big hole at the bottom when we can all clearly feel the pelvic orientation Christine talks about with on our own bodies! Rant over now.

Sounds like you will have a wonderful support in your husband and he will love your new WW posture. Maybe he could get destination prolapse free and put it through as a business expense for him and then you get all the materials and he can learn so much that will help his clients. Just an idea, sorry if I'm getting ahead of myself but I think many of us get quite passionate about how this work changes our life for the better and certainly helps us retain quality of life/normal life/a better life with prolapse. If you just want to start more basic I would buy the book and 1st Aid for Prolapse DVD. The reason being that the book explains so much and 1st Aid is a good day to day thing with exercises too. The posture is the key.

At times in my journey I have tried to do things too right and not been relaxed enough in my body and this is bad for prolapse so if you can try to relax and get that breathing going as your husband said. It's taken me quite some time to unlearn but I watch my 2 year old daughter all the time for inspiration and read the forum and look at Christine's You Tube channel and go through her DVD's and books that I have and my symptoms guide me.

You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WholeWomanInc?app=desktop

Re your period my cycle sounds exactly like yours with light flow and it used to be 4 days and is now 6 days but still very light. I don't think that has a bearing on prolapse but I do get much more uncomfortable in my prolapse with the heaviness in my uterus prior to menstruation and normally get constipation then too.

Best of luck.
:o)

everhopeful

April 1, 2015 - 10:49am

I so agree with u about the doctors. I am a lot older than u but I too went to get advice ten years before the full prolapse and they did not even give me the word Prolapse or I would have investigated it. Wouldn 't it be wonderful if the WW website was given to patients for information. I hope one day that will happen. I agree with you that the book and dvd first aid for prolapse r a really good start for this work. I rant with u ,lol!!

everhopeful

April 1, 2015 - 10:53am

I empathise with your frustration at the doctors and also the examination whilst laying down ,so unhelpful. Your husband sounds so helpful and his understanding of the breathing is quite right. Has he read the letter which Lanny has written for husband to read,it us very ,very helpful? the letter is here on this site. I think u start at the library section and do a search. Good luck:)

ActiveandLapsed

April 1, 2015 - 3:07pm

I'm so with your everhopeful. I am reaching my acceptance that I did not get onto this work earlier but it sooooo would have been the most incredible gift if someone, anyone had given me the WW work earlier when I was asking questions about subtle changes I was noticing and the feeling that they were not right. At least I wasn't classified as mad with womens hysteria as might have been the case 100 years ago!

Shyladare

April 1, 2015 - 4:14pm

No, we haven't read the letter but I will check it out, thank you!

Shyladare

April 1, 2015 - 4:29pm

Supposedly I do not have prolapse. I am so frustrated because I think the doctor (or rather, NP) thinks I'm just overanxious or something. But I know my body and there's something not right. I'm okay with being wrong that it's not a prolapse (although I feel right) but I would have liked her to some other examination than just feeling and looking. Isn't there some kind of exam they can do to test the strength of your pelvic floor when you do a kegal or urinate? I also just feel like she's not taking my symptoms seriously. Please if anyone can tell me what they think about my following symptoms, your input would be greatly appreciated. While I am for treating as many things naturally as possible, I would like to get a diagnosis or know if I need to go to a specialist or something.

Symptoms (started in February):
1.Sudden severe pain the pelvic area with a pressure to greatly push something out of my bottom. Lasted 10 minutes, haven't had that pain again.
2. Had a very light, light colored period-unusual. Same happened on the first day of my period this month (March) but regained normalcy on the second day.
3. Sporadic aches and pressure in my pelvic area and sides of abdomen and lower back.
4. A feeling of looseness in my vagina, also looks looser, like the labia minora/majora? dropped some and the vaginal opening seems wider.
5. Frequent urination with small amounts (measured yesterday and less than 1/2 c most times unless I squat, then I can get at least 1/2 c, sometimes a bit more.
6. Inability to "hold" my urine to the point where I leak a drop or two if I have to urinate really badly, sneeze or cough too hard, am about to take a shower. And almost every.single.time I get finished urinating, I leak a drop or two when I stand up from the toilet.
7. Abdominal distention (to the point where I look 9 months pregnant, but I'm only 140lbs at 5'6).
8. A feeling like I have a wedgie or something I need to pull out in both my vagina and bottom.

It's the last three symptoms I'm mainly worried about. I really don't understand the abdominal distension. It's like it comes out of nowhere. Sometimes it's distended with a feeling of a bloatedness, sometimes it's just distending with no bloat. Do any of these seem familiar to those of you with prolapse? Or have an idea what sort of specialist I should look into going to? As of now, the doctor scheduled me for a well woman check after my next period, which will be late April. She says maybe my 1.2cm ovarian cysts are causing these symptoms? She also saw a couple of skin tags or pimple looking things by my bottom and I'm freaked out that it could be HPV but she says you can't be sure without doing a biopsy and she didn't want to do that just yet and instead prescribed me Aldara. So, I looked that drug up and not only will it cost me $200 but there are some horror stories out there! I don't think I'm going to fill the prescription but will try ACV instead and see what happens.

Surviving60

April 1, 2015 - 5:13pm

Most women end up with prolapse eventually, to a greater or lesser degree. Since the doctor's office doesn't seem overly concerned, and you're going back in a few weeks, why not just work on the Whole Woman posture for awhile and see if you don't see some improvement in some of those symptoms? Doctors don't always "see" prolapse, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, because their ideas of how to treat it are not usually very helpful. You seem determined to get a diagnosis of some kind, and if you keep going to doctors, I'm sure they'll eventually come up with something, for better or worse!

Get started on the posture, and that includes firebreathing to suck the organs forward, and good toileting position (with a little jiggling) for best possible emptying of the bladder. We aren't medical folks here, but it sure sounds like prolapse to me, and the only good thing a doctor can do for that is to rule out something serious, so that you can relax and get on with this work. - Surviving

ActiveandLapsed

April 8, 2015 - 1:54am

That sounds like the doctors have no answer so they put it down to you being anxious. OK it's better than labeling women loony like 100 years ago but sadly still along those lines. I don't have any medical answers for you but I have had the pain a few times you mention in my pelvic area. I first had it 4 or so years before my prolapse was known to me and when I get it now I put it down to feces trying to move down in my intestines or into my rectum. It is not often and not for long so not a big deal to me but it was worrying the first time and very painful.

I'm with S60, if you don't have a prolapse they can see yet (bear in mind they can't see it until it would be well down) then yay do this work and you may never get symptoms.

I'm not saying don't get pain and what no checked out by doctors though, I am just saying my experience. Can you try getting down on your hand and knees or at least in posture when you get that pain and maybe it will help.

Oh and what you say does sound like my prolapse on many of your points. Re the abdomen I get bloating if I eat things that don't agree with me and that makes my prolapse feel horrible as there is less room for my organs. Years of that would have played a big role in me getting prolapse.

I assume you are well onto that one as it sounded like you were not putting it down to food. Generally I am not bloated in the morning and things feel tighter below for a little while.