Describe your rectocele

Dear Scared Mom, I am not going to call you "Rectomom," because your rectocele does not define you! Here's my "-cele" experience: I was diagnosed with both a cystocele and a rectocele. Eventually there was protrusion outside my vagina. When the protrusion was at its greatest, it was around the size of a tennis ball. Felt like a huge balloon! :-) I was never sure which "-cele" was protruding. It really is true that our pelvic organs move around constantly -- they're soft, moist, and squishy -- so it may have been the cystocele one day and the rectocele another, for all I know! I had not yet found Whole Woman, and ultimately my cervix was also protruding. Those are all scary things for you to read, I know. BUT the important thing is, I did find Whole Woman! I've been into WW work for 6 months now, and things are noticeably better.
Pointers that have helped me: (1) Getting more familiar with your body by feeling and looking is very good. At the same time, trust that your body doesn't need to be monitored daily in order to heal. The WW work will take care of it. Really. (2) To quote a very wise and compassionate woman, "Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. That's an awful way to live. Whenever you notice yourself doing that, replace the frightening thought with an image of something you love: the faces or voices of people who are dear to you, your favorite spot in nature, the memory of laughter shared with a friend, the starry night sky, a beautiful song -- whatever warms your heart." You can make a mental "treasure chest" of those images, and open it as often as you need to. It may sound woo-woo, but it works. (3) Expect the protrusion to be greater at times, and minimal or nonexistent at others. See if you notice patterns, causes, and effects. Expect change to be gradual, with good days and not-so-good days. Over time, good days will predominate.
I hope you'll share Lanny's letter with your husband when you're ready. Emotional support from him (and from others too) speeds your healing. Know that your rectocele is likely to recede when you're making love (remember that the organs in your pelvis are always sliding around: when you lie down, things move). Your husband might not even notice any difference -- everything will probably just feel squishy and warm in there, like it always does :-)

Yours sounds pretty "plain vanilla", relatively mild, and will certainly be responsive to the postural work and other tools in the toolbox (firebreathing, safe toileting/lifting/carrying, prolapse-friendly exercise, long walks in posture). As Udara says, the organs are moving all the time, and that is why these practices are so effective. But it takes immersion and commitment to internalize the posture....lots of practice. And don't obsess. You have probably "checked" yourself more times since you got up this morning, than I have in the whole 7 years I've been here! You don't need to see what it looks like all day long. Your symptoms will tell you everything you need to know. - Surviving

I just joined and have a small rectocele as well. You're not alone! It's right at the opening to my vagina. I try not to look at it but some days notice it more than others. I haven't been able to find the pattern of what makes it worse other than standing for long times. I am still nursing my baby so sometimes I wonder if the leaning over is increasing pressure down there. I was told a pessary wouldn't work. is that true? I haven't tried any of the exercises here. Where do we find that info.

Hi runbum47 and welcome,
You can start at the tool bar above to get more familiar with this work; after that, head on over to the whole woman store where you will find a wealth of information just for our postpartum moms.

25/10/17: I have not been on this page for ages, but I am still suffering my symptoms. I see a specialist in Tor. at Sunnybrook Hosp. and now I have to have a Motility test(bowel test)I was having more good days than bad but lately it is sometimes unbearable. I still have burning in the rectal area and itching. I soak in salt, vaseline etc. and have had this problem at least seven yrs. i don't want a pusary?? my GP tells me to avail surgery. BUT I am, so very unhappy. Usually I ballroom dance but not lately. So unhappy JV

25/10/17: I have read, on this forum , re exercises to do & have done them. I also am waiting for lower back fusion surgery,so its a lot to put up with. If I could get this rectocele etc under control I could manage my back problem. I also have IBS. I am an active 83 yr. old and consider myself well otherwise and love life but not lately. It is awful. I cannot even go out at times.

Hi Tangogirl - looking back on your older posts, it seems you have written a number of times over the years and received good suggestions, but I don't know if you are utilizing Whole Woman posture or if you even have a good understanding of what the WW work is all about. It is much more than an exercise program. With back surgery coming up, I'm not sure we can really address your issues here (unless you want to consider booking a consult with Christine herself). Best of luck! - Surviving

HI all,
I haven't been to the dr. yet my appointment is set for Dec. I have to pay out of pocket because of insurance issues so I had to save up to see my dr.
I am 99% sure I have prolapse because I can see it. It hasn't come all the way through but when I use a mirror and open my vagina I can see it there plus I feel like there is something there. Hard to explain.
I started having lower back pain about 2 months ago and thought it was from working out lo and behold this has now appeared about 3 weeks ago.
I am trying to figure out how this came about. I know they say from labor but both my children 24 and 19 now were c -sections. Is it odd that this is happening so many years after they were born?
I am 49(still get Auntie Flo every 25-28 days) and dead set against surgery, I just ordered the First Aid Prolapse DVD and can't wait for it to come and get started. I wish I could do something now to get started before it arrives. In my mind I keep thinking every minute counts and I should be doing something.
Is there anyone else who has had C-sections that has a prolapse? What else could have caused this?
Is there anything I can while I wait for the DVD?
I am so happy to have found this forum and all of you.

Hi SS and welcome. As you will learn, prolapse is a essentially a postural issue that comes about over time. It is perfectly normal for symptoms not to appear for years or decades, though often there is what appears to be a final trigger, such as a bout of seriously heavy lifting, or extreme straining on the toilet. C-sections do not prevent prolapse - this is one of many gross misconceptions floating around out there.

There is no need to panic. The best thing you can do while you wait is to keep reading on the website, blog and forum. You can relax your belly and lift your chest and start getting used to the feel of the posture. It can be tricky at first, since so many of us were taught to pull in our bellies and tuck our butts.

While I'm not suggesting that you cancel the doctor appointment, I hope you will soak up as much WW wisdom as you can, before you go. Honestly the doctor is not likely to have any useful information. The conventional medical approach to prolapse is surgery, pessaries, or just doing a bunch of kegels (all bad advice). I have never had a formal diagnosis of my prolapse; I know too much now to have any interest in hearing what the doctor has to say.

Good luck on your journey! - Surviving

Thank you Surviving60!
I have come to realize it must be posture I sit so many hours for working, I work from home and I see now how I slump forward. I have been working on that.
I figure I have to hit the Dr. as I haven't had a pap smear in 2 years. Lost my husband a year and a half ago to a rare terminal cancer and in the craziness of it all didn't do any yearlys. I can tell you there is NO way they are talking me into surgery! The 2 sections were enough and they were necessary to save the lives of my kids.
So happy to have found you all!