Benefit of using a pessary

Submitted by sunflowermaiden on March 17, 2016 - 10:01pm
Body: 

After years of bladder prolapse, I have put surgery out of the equation completely and turned to using a pessary. I like how it feels, because the bladder is in its proper place. I urinate completely and don't have the pressure of my lowered bladder. And I also do not have the frequent urination urges with the pessary.

It seems that through trial and error I figured out that I only can use the very simple pessary,(the one shaped almost like a diaphragm). I like to remove it at night and other shapes are just too difficult to do that. However, I am also finding out that the simple type will get expelled during bms. I am working diligently on doing whatever I can both with Christine's exercises and healthy eating and life style.

I am hoping some time in the future to not need the pessary at all. I do have some questions. Are there other women who have experience with pessaries. I would like to hear how they manage them and if they eventually did not need them. I am also taking a supplement called : "Better Woman', which seems to be helping the frequent urination. My acupuncturist, checked the herbal content , and he approved it as safe.

If anyone has any comments on either of these topics, the use of pessary, and taking the supplement, I would love hear them.

Thank you.

YES, this is a wonderful place for women to talk openly to other women! THANK YOU CHRISTINE!

Forum:

heather b

March 18, 2016 - 2:08am

Have managed to do without pessary after a couple of years wearing it on and off. Never found one I could remove myself! Wore a ring pessary. Frequent UTIs so giving it a miss, just doing WW work and hoping for the best. Good luck Sunflowermaiden.

Surviving60

March 18, 2016 - 4:53am

Sunflower, you have mentioned Christine's exercises but are you working on Whole Woman posture? That is the essence of the WW work. The exercises are to strengthen the body for this purpose, but posture is for all day long! Pessaries for the long term can aggravate prolapse, by holding the vagina open. So I'm glad you can easily remove yours, and hope you will try going without, as you get farther and farther into the WW work. The position of your prolapse is the feedback you need as you do this work. So don't fear the bulge or feel you need to mask it as you go throughout your day. Proper toileting position as described in the book should ensure you are emptying the bladder completely. - Surviving

Lavender9

March 18, 2016 - 6:11pm

I have been using a simple, diaphragm-like pessary for just under one year. It has made an enormous difference for me. I also had BM issues, so I purchased some Metamucil for extra fiber. I already eat a healthy balanced diet, but apparently need slightly softer BMs. The Metamucil made a difference.

The doc mentioned to me that there might be a possibility of the pessary expelling during elimination, but the reason might be that the pessary is too small. The pessary did expel once, early on in usage, but never again after Metamucil.

I had problems with the lubricant that came with the pessary--horrible stuff. I removed and cleaned the pessary every day and still got an infection. Turns out the problem was the lubricant. No more infections now that I've thrown the vile lubricant away.

sunflowermaiden

March 25, 2016 - 4:14am

I appreciate your response. I am curious about the name of the lubricant, even tho I do not have the UTI problem. How often do you remove your pessary. I had the type with a 'handle' it was a nightmare to remove and I threw it out. I will see about a larger one. Of course I am trying to wean myself away from the whole thing. HOwever I do feel a lot better with it in..and I urinate more completely. I guess my bladder being put back in proper position, acts a it should. again thanx!

sunflowermaiden

March 25, 2016 - 4:17am

I am very glad to hear that you are managing to do without the pessary. How do you think you have arrived at that point? I am anxious to get there. I am trying to do without it part of the day or night.

Thanx again!