Surgical re-positioning of organs

It is my great hope, Sammy, that WW posture will prove to be the best strategy for the post-hysterectomy woman, too.

If the medical system is going to continue to perform hysterectomy (which they most certainly should not, except in the most rare of cases), then my hope is they will abandon all A & P repairs. Mesh implants only came about because these repairs do not work. Narrowing the vagina is part of a conceptual framework that has the organs sitting on top of a "hole" in a soft tissue "floor" at the bottom of the torso. Narrow the hole and nothing can fall through. Unfortunately, the entire concept is devoid of reality. Post-hyst women need as much vaginal length as possible, so the walls can close toward the front against intraabdominal pressure.

The only logical recourse post-hysterectomy is to do what we do: learn to hold the organs forward into the hollow of the lower belly, and away from the pelvic outlet at the back of the body. If you are holding your organs at the front, they can't further prolapse out the back. Hip joint stability can be reinforced from the outside with an SIJ belt. Vulva irritation can be addressed with phytoestrogens (red clover tea), a barrier salve around the urethral opening (against inflammatory, post-menopausal estrogen metabolites in urine) and a good oral probiotic tablet placed vaginally every 24 hours.

I talked to a very nice woman today who was 20 years post-hysterectomy and miserable with all the common complaints we hear about routinely. She has a urologist, gynecologist and colo-rectal surgeon - none of whom have been able to help her symptoms. I think we are getting closer to figuring out how to stabilize the post-hysterectomy woman enough to avoid the second, third, etc. surgeries - which only do more damage.

Hugs!

Christine

Oh, Sammy, that is such good news!!! You got some relief from the pessary! That's great! I, too, for a while felt "ah!!" from the final stop of that downward pull! : ) A couple of times it felt terrific. Now I realize maybe it was just me all stopped up that was adding to the problem. I didn't take any supplements today and I am feeling pretty good. Even more so as the day goes on, which is so opposite that usual worsening of the drag as the day goes on.

So the intern was good to talk to. Excellent. And yeah, if the surgeons saying the pessary's the way to go....that's clear advice, egh? : )

I am hoping we get more and more used to it. I have gone two days without it though. Just to rest it up in there, but mostly because I am scared to try putting it in again, so I totally hear you!! I also would have liked more coaching. I feel like I need a description of the landmarks that tell you here, push up now. KNow what I mean? You fold it, push in, then you have to sort of push the "top" side up and make it then in a position that's no longer the same direction as a tampon goes in. I can see it's hard for the dr to describe. But I mean, someone told the doctors how, right? So I wish we could get a description too. I don't ever, ever want to criticize her, my gosh my dr was so good to me. I never mentioned here that one of my visits as I left I said to her, "How about doing this pro bono?" She looked at me, then said simpley, "Ok." And that was that! What doctor does that?

She's great.

Back to the pessary. I can get it ALMOST all the way in. It's that end part where you have to kind-of tuck it behind the bone or something that I find tricky. I am not sure how far above that it goes, or if it clicks right next to it. What I feel there is like a velvety ridge. I am guessing that is what they mean by the bone. Does not feel like bone at all to me, feels like HARD, rounded velvet at a slant. lol Sort of like a mushroom TOP. I guess that's what confuses me. i was expecting like a cavernous feeling, but it's the opposite, it feels like...when the ocean floor or the bottom of a pool suddenly slop up or down - that's what it feels like to me. A sudden rounded slope. I wish I could draw it here. lol I guess that's all a really poor description. I'll think about it and try later. But for now, know it's two of us trying to figure out how to get our pessaries in. : ) We'll get it, I think!!

Anyway, so glad to hear!!
csf

Oh, my other comment is that when I pushed up Nicki today she went right up. Yay! But later in the day I could only get her so far up, until after another visit to the ladies room. : ) BUT one thing I noticed, Nicki is so slippery! That she kind of rolls over. And I end up sometimes feeling like I am pushing her up sideways because she twirls a bit. I find that kind of confusing too.

Sammy, I've been trying to write you all day...am on Grandma-time thru the weekend. I have great faith you will heal through this. If the donut doesn't work (too uncomfortable, hard to insert and remove yourself) ask for it to be replaced with a ring-with-support, which may offer as much or better support (vaginal walls aren't held so far open). The little bit of mesh that's left will surely become covered with scar tissue eventually. You amaze me!

I seem to have suddenly acquired a clitoral abscess which stings and itches like crazy . I keep bathing it in warm water with tea tree oil in it and it does seem to be easing a little so hoping it is in the process of bursting now . The thing that concerns me is that I have only had just one before which was years ago in my whole life . Have recently started using honey applied vaginally and hoping that it's nothing to do with that as I have felt so much more comfortable since starting using the honey ? Could anybody help with this ?

Hi Pauline,

I have no way of knowing what it is, but you can bet it is microbial.

All I can tell you is that I had small, hard, itchy bumps too, which went away with honey - but it took about 3 years! They never came back and the skin is smooth and healthy. Itching suggest fungus, which vinegar (1/2 and 1/2 pure water in a small squirt bottle) help immensely with.

Hope it resolves soon!

Christine

Thankyou Christine for your reply . I have actually started treating it with the cider vinegar which you advised on your earlier posts and it does appear to be soothing it thus far . Do I still continue with the honey ? When I apply it in the vagina ,after a short while I feel a gush of fluid in the very area that I am getting the itch . Do you think it would help if I then rinsed the fluid off ? I have had such comfort with the honey until this happened .

Unsure now if it is an abscess or a small swelling .

I really can't help with anything other than stating vinegar and honey restore the natural microbiology of the vagina and vulva. What the swelling may be I have no idea. Bartholin gland swelling is extremely common.

I can't tell you to continue or discontinue the honey, but only that such self care is more alchemy than prescriptive and every woman must experiment on her own to see what helps. If I had a blocked bartholin gland I would consider warm sitz baths with epsom salts.

It would be good to get a professional diagnosis if it persists.

I remember my grandmother having that abscess or swollen gland that Christine is talking about. She actually had it lanced at the doctor's office. There was puss inside, and they cleaned it out. I don't know if that would be the current proper thing to do for something like that now or not.

I was plagued with one of these in my teens and early twenties. If the bump is on one side or the other, I would consider this a possibility (though that is not how you have described it so far). Very painful. But not stingy or itchy as you have described. So I don't know. I waited it out with hot baths most of the time, had it lanced/drained a couple of times, eventually the gland was removed. No great loss as we have several such glands on each side. But my memories of the pain are fresh in my mind after all these years!! - Surviving

Thankyou everyone for your help . I am sorry if I sound a nuisance . I applied some more vinegar about an hour ago and then it started to bleed . I think I will leave off putting anything on it for the time being and just use warm water for now . Thinking it could even be just a scratch that I have given myself while applying the honey and not realised . Case of wait and see . Thanks again .

wow!
-think I have just read something I was definitely supposed to see!
Have noticed that urination sets off this indescribable feeling all around where I have a post rectocele op scar/ perineum/anus. Is this the metabolites and what does this mean? Can anyone explain? Also what is barrier salve - a special cream? what sort of probiotic should be inserted vaginally?
Info on these would be greatly appreciated.
warmest wishes to everyone.
blissedout

Hi Everyone!
Thank you so much for this wonderful forum. Everytime I am stressing about my post-hysterectomy prolapse and wondering whether I should get some kind of surgical correction or start to worry that the pulling feeling in the prolapse is abnormal, I log on here and read all the wonderful, helpful comments. I am very curious about the post from blissedout about barrier creams and probiotics. I use the honey twice daily, and it is great! I am concerned about my prolapse drying out because of exposure to air or rubbing against my panties. I have been using diaper cream, but wasn't sure if that was ok longterm. I would greatly appreciate your advice! Thanks, again! It is SO relieving to know that I am not alone!
Meems

Hi meems - I'm not sure what blissed out was reading specifically, as she did not reference any article or post.

You can use a zinc-based diaper cream as a barrier on that part of the 'cele bulge that is far enough out to get irritated in that way. I used to do that on occasion, but it was never a regular thing. It is just that.....a barrier so that the external tissues can rest and heal if they have become irritated from contact with moisture and secretions. But not for lubrication. - Surviving

Thanks, Surviving! I do find the diaper cream soothing and helpful! Does anyone know about probiotics inserted vaginally? I had never heard of that, but then 6 months ago I had not heard of using honey, and it is fabulous! Thanks SO much!
Meems