New to this-- long post

Submitted by callie on April 6, 2007 - 10:26am
Body: 

Hi all,
I was told yesterday I have a rectocele a grade 2 I guess he called it.
Ok I have never heard of this. I have never even heard of "Pelvic Support Problems'.

So now I am trying to figure out what's next. I am 52, I have never had children. I told the doc I was having very painful sex ( that is what prompted me to make the appointment) I have a little difficulty having a bowel movement. If I lean forward it works ok. He said to put my finger in the vagina and push on the bulge and I will have an easier bowel movement.

My doc told me (yesterday) that I should do kegal exercises for 10 min in the morning and 10 minutes at night. Then next week he wants me to come and measure my kegal strength (something like that) he then wants to hook me up to some kind electrodes that do what I am not sure. I will have to come in twice a week for 6 weeks for this he said.
You'll have to excuse me, I was shell shocked when he finished the exam and called me in his office and starting talking about some recto thing.... Most of what he told me is a blur.

As we walked out of his office I asked him again what's this thing called, I would like to look it up on the internet. He says " Oh here I have a brochure" I said "oh wow there is a brochure, you mean this is common enough to have a brochure?" Ok my point is I am very naive.

Last night I did what the doc said when having a hard time with a bowel movement and pushed on the bulge thing in my vagina, well I tried, when I put my fingers in there there was no room, it was like the whole spaced was filled up and it wasn't soft and squishy so I couldn't push around. I can't stand that I have to put my fingers in there while going to the bathroom.
I wake up this morning all freaked out, (haven't told the hubby about the space not being there). I have been crying all morning and am crying right now... My husband says " don't worry this is nothing lots of people have a hernia" I am so upset I can't talk to him yet. I don't even know enough to talk to him about anything. All I can convey is tears and fear.... what to do??? Do I call the doc and tell him there is no space when I going to the bathroom, or he knows this happens and this is normal. ???

I hate to ask all this I am sure its been asked before a million times. It would be helpful if at this forum there was a sticky that explained some of what I asked so I wouldn't have to bother people with a question that has been asked over and over. I did search around in here but after an hour of reading about someone upset cause someone said don't have surgery, and feelings were hurt, I gave up and posted this question. Thank you for anything you can tell me...

granolamom

April 6, 2007 - 10:56am

welcome to the forum, and I'm so sorry you have reason to be here.
the fear, the crying, the freaking out, all NORMAL. btdt. we all have.
I never knew about prolapse either until I found mine. well, actually I HAD heard about uterine prolapse but thought it only happened to little old ladies, not 32 yo's like I was! and guess what...lots of women, young and old, who've had babies and who have not, have pelvic organ prolapse. which is not the same thing as a hernia, and we DO worry about it. but it is not life threatening and in many of us have seen some amount of reversal and/or stabilization. many of us are living quite well with prolapse. so while the time may not be right for you to smile all optimistic, know that there is hope. but first, learn all you can about your condition, read up on the posture and diet here. if you can afford to, I really recommend you get Christine's book, the new edition which can be ordered from this site. it will help you visualize what is going on in your body. and even if you don't get the book you can learn most of that (albeit without the fantastic diagrams and pictures) here.

if you have questions for the doctor, by all means do call him. who cares if he knows that there would be no space, he should have explained things more completely to you. to me, it sounds normal, but again, impossible for anyone here to tell you for sure. just that it sounds like some of our experiences as well. could be that the feces in the prolapse rectum is what's taking up all the space. that's my guess. but again, call your doctor and get his take on the matter.

your idea about stickies is a good one, have you read the faq's? I haven't recently so I really dont know if it answers all the basics. I should reread 'em so I know what I'm talking about!

I'm also terribly sorry that your first search on this board brought you to the very long thread about surgery. that's not the way things usually unfold here. this is generally a very supportive place.

I hope my disjointed response is helpful, I'm juggling alot of things right now and my thoughts are a bit garbled these days.

but stick around and ask away : )

callie

April 6, 2007 - 11:41am

Thank you very much for your timely response.
You calmed me down a great deal. I didn't see a FAQ section nor did I see anything about books. That is because when I googled rectocele and this site came up to the page about pelvic stuff. The only thing shown on the side of that page is new forums, active forums, who's on line and recent blogs.

So duh... I will go to the home page of this site and see what all is there. I will take your advice and read all I can. I am curious about this posture thing you mentioned. I started last night putting fiber stuff in water, doc didn't say anything about doing that but it seems to make sense. I happen to have some that I just bought for my cat.. Probably better stuff out there so I will research this also...
I am afraid to call the doc and tell him about the "no space situation" I am thinking he will say surgery or something, I am worried it will be worse then what he thought and suggest something more aggressive. I am going to wait, after all I am not dying.
Thank you so much for the tips and your response didn't seem disjointed at all.

alemama

April 6, 2007 - 11:44am

The whole finger in the vagina is called "splinting"
there is a search engine here - so type in rectocele and see what you get.
It is possible that your doctor could have diagnosed the rectocele and missed something else......(I am just thinking that if you didn't have any room at all even for a finger then maybe something else is in there taking up space...)
One thing I am learning on this prolapse trip is that I never paid enough attention to how my body worked when it was prolapse free. So maybe the not enough room thing is normal for you and you just never checked before.
On the main page there is a place for articles....Look there for the prolapse self exam. That should help you confirm what the doctor has told you.
I am glad you doctor feels you can manage your condition.....but he left out some very important points- absolutely no straining when going to the bathroom- possibly using a different position when going- eating just the right diet for your rectocele.....changing the way you sit and stand.
spend some time here searching all your questions and ask some more

elleninala

April 6, 2007 - 12:03pm

Callie -- I had a similar shock a few days ago when I inserted my finger and thought I found "no room". What had happened was that the bulge I expected (front of vagina) had receded, and a bulge I didn't expect (back of vagina) had bulged out. Instead of being able to insert my finger by going behind a bulge, I had to go in front of it. At first it actually felt like it was a dead end. Very baffling, not to mention somewhat scarey! But that's what it was. If you feel in front of the bulge, or if that doesn't work feel behind it, I'll bet you'll find your way up to the cervix.

Ellen

callie

April 7, 2007 - 11:45am

Yes alemama I think you hit it right on the head with you comment about not paying attention to my body when it was prolaspe free. So I don't know what is normal what is not.
I have been searching through all the posts here and I can't find the answer. I have googled it and I still can't find the answer. So I guess I have to ask all of you.
I am happy you gave the "finger thing a name" Splinting-that's my problem. I hate putting my fingers in there. Its feels horrible in there.
I can't figure out what is what in there. I feel something towards the back and push on it and nothing happens. I need something to happen. I have to have bm so bad and I can't. I didn't go all day yesterday.
I got flax seed, (yummy with banana dipped into it, I think Christine suggested this). I have been eating tons of fiber. All this is making me want to go even more.
I am not a heavy person I am 5 7 and weigh only 115 pounds. I don't eat very much at one sitting.
I eat most fruits and veggies, salmon. Whole wheat toast with lots of seeds on it....That's it. I live on that day in and day out. No dairy at all.
I printed out the self exam and brought that into the bathroom with a hand mirror and I don't know the heck I am seeing. Man if this isn't horrible for women to not know what what's in there I don't know what is...
(I am going to order the book and dvd in a minute.)
But I feel crampy and feel like I need to go and I can't wait for the book and DVD to arrive until I go. Please can someone help me ?
How do I splint, can I use a tampon or something other then my skinny little finger. Probably more then you need to know but I told a friend about my problem and she agreed she doesn't like to put her fingers in there either. She suggested I get a dildo and use that to push around in there....I appreciate any advice about this technique cause it just 'ain't' working and I need to go....

MeMyselfAndI

April 7, 2007 - 12:04pm

I find that instead of all that oushing etc - You sit and twist your body to the right - This twist for some reason causes elimination to begin. You could also do this to theleft I guess but - whatever...

I also find that a slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww breath out tends to help too - But have no idea why...

It might work for you - Worth a try eh...

Good luck

callie

April 7, 2007 - 12:31pm

Ok I am going to give that a try. That is so nice of you to post with a suggestion. I am so appreciative of all you senior members for helping us newbies!
I think I need to calm down cause I am trying to go so much
... I 've got my self all stressed and this isn't helping. But ya know what it feels to have to go... Its hard to think of anything else.
I guess I will take my crampy, miserable, whining little self for a walk!
Thank you- MMS&I

reka108

April 7, 2007 - 1:12pm

Hi,
I also hate the thought of splinting. I squat on the toilette seat (just climb up) and that way my vagina is tightly shut and bm is easier. And never push, just breath through the urge.
I know how terrifying this seems now but you will have this under cntrol in no time...
Now I can even read on the loo and not afraid of the whole BM thing...
Good luck!

callie

April 7, 2007 - 1:19pm

Hi reka108,
Yup that's exactly what I did 5 minutes ago and guess what a tiny bit came out. I feel better. I still have that feeling of the urge to go. I like the squatting, it works really well. I am light enough so it won't cause the toilet to become loose. I will have to put shoes on though, the rim is uncomfortable on my feet.
But oh so much easier to go!

MeMyselfAndI

April 7, 2007 - 1:36pm

My mother also has a rectocele that causes her alot of problems and she uses a stool softener (they are granules) Called *racks brains*

Gives up and goes off to find out be right back...

Called Normacol plus.

If you are in UK I can post you one to try lol...
They are all natural ingreedients I think *Goes off again to check on the packet she left with me after my surgery*

OK it says...

The granules contain 62% sterculia BP and 8% frangula BPC They also contain sucrose E110 E127 and E132

Ok maybe not all natural

I tend to use pure orange (unsweetened) That tends to sort you out pretty swiftly if you have a glass of it.

Hope something work for you and soon

Sue

heavenly

April 20, 2010 - 10:20am

Don't know who to talk to. I was told by a rectal dr that I had a fairly large rec. Never heard of such stuff. When to a gyn and she said I had a 1 cystocele not a rec. I know darn well I hav e rec also. When things don't come out I panic. I have also tried to find what to push inside and to much STUFF!!! What is it and where whould I push. Hate the feeling in there. Almost want to tell them to take everything out and leave me alone.LOL Not really funny. All I do is cry and dread the mornings. Then I go into a bad panic attacki if it won't come out, so uncomfortable. Is this the same for any of you. I have only had this for 4 months or so. Too Long. Having a really bad morning. I feel like my life is over. Thank the good Lord for this site.