Post hysterectomy - another prolapse

Hi,

You have some lovely experienced ladies who will answer later today (different time zone). Sorry to hear of your story. I expect you will find similar stories if you search under Hysterectomy on this forum. You can do a self exam (I appreciate it's a bit scary but we get to know our prolapse here as we can tell better standing up than a specialist can while we are lying down - often).

Here is a link to a PDF for the self exam.
https://wholewoman.com/library/?p=115

Re the materials some are streamed directly through the web while others are sent by post.

In the meantime here is the link to the Whole Women You Tube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/WholeWomanInc?app=desktop

I would be interested to know if you see much of the WW posture around you with the traditional women and girls of Uganda. The posture is that which we all had as little girls and lost when we adopted a more Western approach of sucking in our tummies and tucking under our tailbones and relaxing into soft furnishing rather than using our spine to support us while sitting.

It is often mentioned that post hysterectomy you don't want to push anything and need to listen to your body. Just a note of caution - until you get more posts shortly.

All the best. You will definitely be able to start this work over there and as mentioned may have some lovely role models from the local women.

Hi mamaandrew and welcome to WW. Active&Lapsed has given you some good resources and an introduction to the WW work. This is much more than an exercise program - our goal is to use posture, belly breathing and gravity to stabilize our prolapse by moving the organs forward.

Be aware that surgery changes everything....the dynamics of natural pelvic organ support are completely altered by surgeries. We've been here for over a decade trying to bring this message to women.

You probably had a cystocele "repair" in addition to your hyst - so either that surgery has failed as they often do, or you have developed a rectocele due to the bowel moving into the void. Or quite possibly both.

How much the WW work will help you, will depend in part on how much vaginal length remains, whether there is enough for the vagina to flatten against intra-abdominal pressure when you learn to implement the posture. That's what keep the organs from encroaching on the vaginal space. You have a bit more of a challenge than a wombed woman would have, because the uterus with its attached round ligaments is the "heavy lifter" that helps pull the remaining organs forward.

You also could have sutures or mesh holding things in place (a prolapse of the vaginal vault is a danger after hyst, so most procedures will endeavor to anchor the top of the vagina to prevent this).

I would recommend Saving the Whole Woman because it is the basic DVD that explains everything the best. If you can afford a splurge, Destination Prolapse Free includes streaming of all Christine's video's.

Hyst. causes lots of changes to the hips and pelvis, so, as A&L says, approach this work with care and caution. Walking in the posture is great; be sure to wear comfy shoes and socks for lots of cushioning. Avoid some of our more extreme moves like firebreathing. We don't know enough about your surgery to know if that is safe.

Good luck to you! We have a great community here, so feel free to ask more questions. - Surviving

The majority of women here have not had hyst or previous repairs, and this work is not a quick fix for any of us.....it is maintenance. It is important for all women to return to natural posture for pelvic and hip health and well-being. We have post-hyst members who are indeed being helped. Further surgeries are not going to improve things for you. The failure rates are higher with each attempt to "fix". There is no surgical cure.

You can contact Customer Service and inquire what might be the best route for you. All the dvds are available in streaming format if you subscribe to Destination Prolapse Free. I don't think they have come out yet for individual sale as downloads, but this might be happening in the near future.

This is a posture correction, not strictly an exercise program.

Hi mamaandrew,
Getting a good understanding of Christine's work would be the best thing to do. The mail will probably be slow to Uganda, so as Survivibg said, anything streaming would be the best idea for you right now.
If you can get the First Aid For Prolapse DVD in streaming, it will show you all the sitting positions properly, and loads of other practical information for day to day living with prolapse. It also has a ballet style exercise routine in it, that is very affective in strengthening the body into whole woman posture.
And, if you are doing any amount of walking in your work, this is a great opportunity to really work on your posture principles.
With whole woman we learn to live and move around in our daily lives in the proper posture we were always meant to have.
But, yes, since you have had surgery, this all should be taken gently and slowly, with getting a good understanding of the work your first step.

and welcome. I have been using the wisdom here for a year and I too was abroad when my pop happened. I am managing well with posture and exercises as in the First aid for prolapse dvd and Christine's book but I have not however had any op and do not think that is a long term answer. I really hope the posture , advice and healthy eating plan provide an answer for you as they have for others in your situation. The sitting is explained in the dvd but soft chairs r a nono! When a I watch tv or read I lay flat which is a kind of nutral position for prolapse I believe. I have a cheap plastic back rest which fits into the small of my back for use on an upright chair or a car seat.You may be able to use a rolled up towel for similar support. There is so much good help here,keep reading this web site. I would like to send u a virtual hug too,(( )) !

That back rest sounds interesting everhopeful. I have to drive 1300km over the next 4 days for family. Not looking forward to it and I am thinking your backrest might work better than a cushion and it's hard to hold the posture on my own in the car for hours. I just have to find one. Any ideas - I am not in the states.

There is only so much one can do to make driving prolapse-friendly. Adjust the seat for maximum comfort if you can, push your butt all the way back in the seat, and keep something behind the small of your back (I find a rolled-up towel or sweatshirt works as well as anything). Stop as often as you can to get out and stretch and walk around. Do you have to do all the driving? - Surviving

Hi, Mamaandrew, I had a hys. and prolapse repair about 15 years ago (I'm 72)....the prolapse is just now returning.....my bladder. I've been using this work for a few months now and working on my posture a lot; and life is pretty good. It seems to be helping....bladder isn't low very much any more. I have to constantly work on it, though. Good luck to you!!!!!

I have been using the First Aid for prolapse dvd for a year now and dipping into sections to remind me of the posture and I try to do the exercises ,or I should say some ,every day along with the dvd. I am 65 and fit for my age,although I was not as fit as I thought given that I did not avoid a prolapse as I discovered this site ten years later than I would have chosen,lol! I have answered your question re the bundle u r looking to buy ,on the other page. I think that bundle is ideal for you.

Hi mamaandrew,
I had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago (had fibroids, but I now know I probably could have have avoided the surgery).
Last Dec I was misdiagnosed with an urethral prolapse but then found out I have a stage 3 cystocele with a stage 1 rectocele I've been doing WW posture for about 3 months so I'm a lot newer than some of these experienced women who can give you great advice and support.
I still have my cervix which may make a difference but here's what's been helping me:
staying in WW posture as much as I can; taking lots of walks while staying in the posture makes a big difference. When I sit too much my tailbone aches like crazy, so I stand and walk in the posture as much as I can. I take baths with Epsom salt and Himalayan salt. I went to a mayan massage person and she taught me self massage. I do some of the exercises on the WW DVD (never the nauli) and as warm ups for walking. I try to eat right to keep my bowels moving so I don't strain. I also do the belly breathing -out when inhaling, in when exhaling - makes a difference to me.
Christine sent someone on the forum a picture of a pose on knees and forearms. Sorry I can't find it again but whenever I feel achey I get into that to relieve my symptoms.
I feel like my prolapse might have slipped some more but lately it's felt stable and sometimes I don't even notice it. Ive gone off being diligent about how I sit and stand and I suffer for it - it takes me a few days to get back on track.
I do worry that I will have a vaginal vault collapse, but in the meantime I'm doing pretty well as long as I do my walks in the pose.
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. Best bets

Hi bets - this is a wonderful post, very encouraging to our post-hyst readers. Please keep us up to date.....we tell people we have post-hyst members who are being helped by this work, but nothing makes that point better than when we get a post like this.

And here is the link to the picture you are referring to. Thanks bets - Surviving

https://wholewoman.com/blogpix/CAKonfloor.jpg

Thanks Surviving 60,
I'm glad to be encouraging to others since you were SO HELPFUL to me during my initial very scared stage. This has been a journey that I am managing due to Christine and all of you on this forum.

Thank you for including the link to that pose, it has saved me many times. Christine also said something about rocking gently but that was specific instructions for certain symptoms.
Spring is here in the Pacific Northwest!
Best bets

Thank you Bestbets for the kind remarks. If you ever want to go back and read that whole thread for the context of that photo, it's called "Unhappy Tummy" and here it is:

http://wholewoman.com/forum/node/6192