Rectocele Question

Hi Militarymom and welcome. I think you are on the right track, you just need a little bit more self-confidence in the process. Diligently observing posture throughout your day is crucial, and it will eventually become more or less automatic; but if you're like me you will always have to be a bit mindful when driving, lifting, and so forth. Other tools like firebreathing can make a big difference as well. Around the period always seems like the worst time for symptoms, so keep moving, but rest too. I experience the same type of bathroom sensations, and I can say that it has gotten better over the years. I'd take the pelvic PT with a grain of salt; they typically do not go far enough in their posture recommendations and are mostly centered around the traditional model of the pelvic "floor" as a basket of organs which requires us to tighten the opening with kegels and other tools to see how tightly we can squeeze - totally wrong for prolapse and will eventually make it worse (I am proof of this). You're fine! My most notable improvements happened in my second year. - Surviving

Hi Militarymom1,
I have what could be termed stage 2 rectocele, it sits inside the vaginal opening.
There are times when I am aware of it and it seems fuller. For me that is an indication that I need to tweak my posture, or diet.
I used to have horrible large round BMs after having my children and occasionally over the years, due to rectocele but more importantly from thinking that eating dry fiber like bran cereals would help. I drank a lot of water but the BMs would bulk up and I didn't eat very many vegetables or fruit...
Lately I have been trying out eating more fiber from root veg, fruit and legumes,brown rice and oats, and no animal products, no animal or vegetable fats or oils,sugar or added salt.

I found that too difficult so included avocado and nut butters.
If not eating animal products isn't an option, then more vegetables and fruit and less meat/dairy is helpful. If I eat this way I have to make sure that I eat more vegetables than I would otherwise, as often meals based on meat/dairy tend to include less vegetables, therefore less fiber.

One of the best benefits of this way of eating was much easier elimination, which was so much more comfortable to the point where my rectocele is not "noticeable" as I move about as if it isn't "there" anymore.
Before that, even with more fruit, I would often have incomplete BMs and more discomfort in general and I was more aware of my rectocele.

Christine has some great advice on toileting position as well as the posture and so much more.

Wishing you all the best,

Aussie Soul Sister

When I first got diagnosed with a small rectocele from my CRS he suggested splinting and more fiber. I tried that and seemed to make things worse and I think it was because I really did not like splinting because i was afraid it was going to do more damage to my post menopause vagina. Plus the fiber was bulking it up too much even though I upped the water also. Not comfortable and got a fissure because of it all and then that put my pelvic floor into spasms and was in pain all the time.

After that he suggested PT for the spasms and she is the one who told me to use Natural Calm. This has been a life saver! I no longer have to splint and no matter what I eat I get easy peasy BM. Plus it has helped me sleep better since that was also an issue with menopause. Try it it may help you. I started with 1t and worked up to 2t. Research it....

I have food Nat Calm and staying in posture all day has really helped my cele and does not seem to bother me so much anymore. I have the occasional bad day but I think we all do.

I looked up Natural Calm, and I see it is magnesium based. Magnesium has been suggest quite a bit here on the forum; type it in the search for more threads on the subject. Diet and elimination is very important in our management of prolapse, and it is a very personal process for each of us. Again, lots of threads here on the forum with suggestions that may apply to you. I did it on my own, finding what worked and didn't for my body. It was a very empowering process after years of constipation.

This is very interesting reading and I thank you all for sharing your personal stories.

I posted my story about Pelvic Floor Dsyfuction/Bowel Disorders. I've had chronic constipation for 20 years. I'd love advice on how to fight these illnesses. I've been turned away by doctor after doctor for seeking treatment for the Pelvic Floor Dsy and Intussusception (Bowel Disorder). Pelvic Floor training and high fiber diet have been the recommendations of most ColoRectal Specialists.

I feel so alone...I'm a mother of a 15 month old babygirl and a wife. My conditions have pretty much destroyed my self-esteem...I'm unemployed...not of my choosing. I've been down for most of my marriage and i absolutely hate it. It doesn't help that mom in low had been bad-mouthing me for the last 3 years...pretty much entire marriage.. Found out about it last year around Thanksgiving.

Before we got married...I had a job...felt a lot better about myself..after 4 months of marriage i had to leave my job and marriage really haven't recovered from that. I haven't recovered from that.Damn near every job I've had...has been a disaster where i live. I relocated to the midwest from cali a few years ago...to be with fiance...WORST thing I ever did! Before I moved out here...I had a GREAT job...I had it going on..and left it all for him. Now I don't have a dime...and my fam is 1000mi away!

Sex can be so embarrassing and down right humiliating when prolapse gets in the way. There are bouts when my vaginal opening is closed completely shut and penetration isn't possible. Sometimes I have to stop mid session because i lose sensation, get dizzy, or vagina closes.

I feel like a loser...a failure...like I'm holding my hubby back. I've mentioned divorce several times...due to the problems I have. I tried for disability and got denied twice. I tried finding a part time job for 8 months only to get rejected horribly. Doctors shunned me..I really need help!

Response here:

https://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/7402