Anatomy help please

Submitted by ScrappinChick on April 26, 2017 - 4:40pm
Body: 

I know the vagina is not a "black hole" but when I look with mirror standing, I see tissue (like rolls of fat or balls) that fills up the space. I know what my rectocele looks like and I can see it but these are above that . If I use finger to push a little seems like the tissue moves to the front towards bladder. I can also kegel this extra tissue up but it comes right back down…I have used my finger to see if it moves and it does. Seems to be bigger standing and gets smaller in different positions but it is always there. Is this a true prolapse or is this tissue visible for everyone? Meaning is this normal tissue that should be wether you have prolapse or not?

My Dr told me it is redundant tissue and nothing to be concerned about. Happens when we get postmenopausal. Of course I forgot to ask what redundant tissue actually is because I guess I was glad I did not hear the work cystocele along with my rectocele. The only thing I cn find online about redundant tissue is that it states redundant tissue is not abnormal just the way vaginal tissue folds upon itself. My PT confirmed this as well. Also found that with atrophy you loose the elasticity, could this be what I am maybe seeing.

The weird thing is that this tissue seems to always be there and does not seem to get bigger or bulgy even after a day of grocery shopping. I have even noticed it there when I get up in the morning, which I thought everything "resets". There is the occasional time that it is not there but when I actually part the vulva it is still there.

I am just totally confused as to what this tissue is and if it is normal or not.

I do have another gyno appt next week to get second opinion.

If anyone could shed some light on this I would really appreciate it.

BTW....I have been using WW posture to the best of my ability while sitting walking and standing.

Forum:

Surviving60

April 27, 2017 - 5:23am

Hi Scrappin - my best suggestion would be to put away the mirror for awhile. Running around to different doctors and PTs for opinions on the appearance of your mature vagina isn't really worth the trouble in my opinion. I don't spend much time looking at mine, but when I have, it looks pretty much like what you describe (I'm almost 67). I've never even had a formal diagnosis of my prolapse. Relax and concentrate on the Whole Woman work. Practice posture all day long, perfect your firebreathing to keep the organs pulled forward. Lose the mirror. - Surviving

Militarymom1

April 27, 2017 - 12:42pm

Mine too...except I have not yet hit menopause.

ScrappinChick

April 27, 2017 - 2:51pm

How do you know you have prolapse without formal diagnosis? I tried self exam to no avail. Very confusing and mine looks nothing like the pics in the self exam at all. Maybe because mine is mild - moderate.

I do know I have an aging vagina and I really don't like it..LOL. I guess I could accept it more if I knew what I was looking at was normal. I never really looked before I got diagnosis and yes the mirror is a bad idea and I am trying to overcome that issue. What is confusing about the tissue is I know where the rectocele is and it gets bigger/smaller when I did the prolapse self exam. but these other "balls" do not balloon out or move at all with self exam..so asking if this tissue sounds like part of my prolapse or not. Could this just be sagging tissue due to menopause? I know everyone is different but everyone I know that has some sort of cele says that with pressure it balloons out like a frogs throat. Mine does not do that.

I am not going to different DR to get "opinions" my CRS sent me to PT to help resolve the spasms and he is also the one to said I have a small rectocele. I asked him about the vaginal tissue he did not examine me because that is not what he does but just by explanation he said redundant tissue.

Aging gracefully

April 27, 2017 - 4:30pm

When I found my cervix sticking out, I didn't rush to the doctor for a formal diagnosis, Because I knew instinctively what was going on down there. The search from there was what to do about it.
We can have some loose vaginal skin that hangs a bit. I know I have that, but I also have a cystocele that bulges into that vaginal tissue, and at times I can feel the bulge of it coming through, without actually touching it with my fingers(which I have also done my fair share of).
If you don't feel bulgy down there when you are moving around in your daily activites, you either don't have a prolapse, have a very very mild prolapse, or have been diligently working on whole woman possture to keep those symptoms at bay.
Studying Christine's work thoroughly and really paying attention to my body helped me to a better place of understanding with all the ins and outs of prolapse.
Well worth the time put in.

ActiveandLapsed

April 27, 2017 - 4:45pm

Hi ScrappinChick

I do remember being where you are three years ago and it can be quite a scary and confusing time. Hopefully you find some answers and empowerment on here.

I was thinking that if you have a rectocele them you have prolapse so it is not a question of if but rather what direction you take to manage it (no cure to go back in time). For me this site has been a life saver. I didn't do this work for my first year (didn't google and find it) and my prolapse went from very mild rectocele that had no impact on me (hence I did nothing much different) to my uterus dropping and a cele developing so I would throw yourself into this work. That may not happen to you at all as some women take years to develop more symptoms. We are all different.

Now, my cele does not change much and is firmer feeling than my rectocele. My rectocele goes in and out depending on my posture. My uterus sits just above the two prolapses and I can just feel it with my finger inserted. I am grateful for my cele and rectocele as it keeps my uterus in. I know my bladder moves inside closer to where it should be when I get my posture right due to symptoms, such as not feeling I need to pee often or even the urine stream being more like it used to be when I was younger. I don't notice my cele changes much during the day so maybe this is what you mean when comparing it to your rectocele (which is softer and moves around more). This is just my experience. I don't tend to use the pictures but go by feel.

As mentioned no diagnosis is necessary for me as I know I have prolapse and this work is great. It has taken me time to get there but now it's all going well. I still have prolapse and always will but I love that I know I am helping things with my movements, that is so empowering. Walking and standing in WW posture took me the longest but sitting came immediately for me. Having symptoms really helped me know if I was right in the changes I had made as I could feel the difference. It's concrete proof to show WW posture works to manage prolapse and must be part of the reason so many ladies on here comment they stop seeing their PT and the gyn's once they get into WW. Christine can't say to do that but I am just putting out an opinion, you need to do what is right for you and what brings you closure, acceptance etc.

I think we all have a story of how the gyn didn't know much apart from saying we would or would not need surgery and of course they examine you lying down!. There was no empowerment, no advice for daily life apart from kegals and don't run, lift. The gyn and PT I saw were very nice, just not very useful. WW is very practical and very useful work, so we can have quality of life and be empowered in our movements. We do have to adapt and maybe give up some things but I don't see an alternative that is as good as WW.

All the best in your journey.

Surviving60

April 27, 2017 - 4:53pm

Sorry - "opinion" was your word, not mine. Second opinion, to be exact.

The best part of all of this, is that it doesn't matter whether you have a diagnosis or not. If you don't have prolapse now, or urinary incontinence, or hip issues, and you want to keep it that way, your best best is to adopt this posture and start this work now. WW posture is not something invented or contrived. It is a return to the natural spinal shape that we developed when we first stood up as toddlers (take a look at the kids around you!) before we "learned" to suck in our bellies and tighten our abs. The sooner you start, the more you can do. I started at age 60. It is never too late. - Surviving

Surviving60

April 27, 2017 - 5:41pm

Great post, and even if you don't want to say it, I will......Christine has stated on many occasions that the women who are unable to separate themselves from doctors and PTs, are the ones who are the least successful with the Whole Woman work. It's just a fact....conventional medicine has nothing to offer prolapsed women except advice that's useless at best, and harmful at worst. - Surviving

ScrappinChick

April 27, 2017 - 6:55pm

Thank you so much for all the insight. I do believe the WW posture is the key and am doing my best. I find sitting in posture harder for me for some reason. Especially softer chairs! Maybe because I always worked at a desk with a computer for years and now that I am retired I don't but still hard to make the change.

I know I should to be obsessed about it but it is very difficult. I just don't understand how I got this being that I have no kids and never really struggled with constipation until recently when I was told by a DR to up my fiber intake. But it was only for a short time. I am just very depressed about it and trying to get thru days of not thinking about it constantly. I am getting better at that but still very hard especially being home all day alone. I do find when I am with others I don't think about it constantly. Since this is all new to me I am sure once I get over the initial shock of it all things will get better. I have many friends with this issue and they live with it daily and I will learn to do so as well.

ActiveandLapsed

April 28, 2017 - 5:31am

Ah, Surviving, good point I know how you all feel about gyno's and PT's. How do they find meaning in their jobs when they don't actually help people, I know most want to help so it must be very frustrating and confusing to them!!! Christine you must get so much purpose from this work - goodness I would be very depressed without this work and my young kids would not have an active mother. Seems dramatic but it is the truth.

ScrappinChick, I have been quite obsessed with my prolapse at times and wanting to get the posture right. We all have stages we go through but at least by finding this site we are able to have a direction to go in that is empowering. My obsession was channeled into learning this work so it sounds like you are going to do great if you have that level of focus. It is a bit like grieving isn't it, letting go of one way of life and knowing yourself and your body and then learning something new with an unknown outcome.

I don't sit in soft chairs by the way as they are no good. I do miss that at times.

I don't have any friends with prolapse yet (that I know of), maybe as I am youngish at 39. I hope to have WW parties in 20 or so years when I figure most of the people I know will get prolapse and actually talk about it openly. No one wants to know now so I have had to learn some discretion as I was a bit of an oversharer. ScrappinC, can some of your friends do WW work with you??

Hoping you feel better soon
:o)