Pessary advice perleeease :-)

My pessary (ring with support #3=64 mm) will not stay horizontal, and the manufacture diagram also shows the pessary in horizontal position. I went to my gyn, and she said that these diagrams are wrong. The pessary almost always flips to the vertical position. And Christine mentioned in her book that “ pessary will flip vertically in order to conform to the natural axis of the vagina”. Also my gyn recommended taking the pessary out every day, not keep it in over the night, never have it in while on the “loo”, never use during sex, have the smallest pessary size that “stays in” (it will not go out while walking, lifting something…). I had never had my pessary in for more than 8-10 hours, I take it out every night. If I know I am going to have easy day I wont use it that day.
Though I have known about Christine’ s alternative approach for over last 2 years, and I check this web site daily, I respond rarely. So just to remind: I am 35 and have UP, slight cystocele and slight rectocele, doing great with Christine’s advice and her alternative management of prolapse (it was my best decision). I have been using the pessary since May 2004 without problems and without worsening.
I hope this will help.
Wishing you the best

This could be my story. I gave up on it because it was more trouble than it was worth, but if you can find one that agrees with you it is another tool you have at your disposal.

Cheers

Louise

Hi Annaf,

This is very encouraging news. I have been reluctant to use my pessary because it is so difficult to get out, and I have very sensitive tissues. Is yours difficult to take out? I wonder if mine is too big. It's size 4. It's comfortable, but just hard to get out.

Do you use a gel or anything with yours?

I've heard that some people can get bladder infections from them. Have you?

Thanks for the info.
Ann

I do not have problem getting it out. I don’t use any gel at this point (maybe later when I am closer to menopause), but my goal is use the pessary as few times as possible. I use it because I am busy with three kids. I help myself with the pessary to go through all the busy days (running around the house, to the practices or games). But like I mentioned it depends on how busy my day is. When I know I might need to lift my youngest (at the playground), work around the house or shopping I use the pessary. Otherwise If I know my husband is around and I can rely on him, or I have an easy day (reading, studying, painting) I don’t use it.
When the youngest (three years old) gets more independent I would only like to use Christine’s postural approach.
I have never had a bladder infection. I try to be very careful with the pessary, I clean it after every use; I don’t use soap as my doctor recommended me to avoid the use of soap (it might irritate the tissue if it’s not properly rinsed).

Thanks for the info, Anna. I'm going to see if a size 3 would suit me better. Mine sounds like it's a little too big.
Ann

Can you say what size they are? (It says it in mm I think)

Sue

Look into the eyes - They hold the key!
http://www.bringmadeleinehome.com/img/maddy544x150Banner.jpg

What kind of pessary do you ladies have? I really want to try one after this baby is born (I am 32 weeks) but when I brought it up to my OB after my last daughter's birth he made it sound like it is only for really old ladies, it stinks, and he has to take it out and clean it so I can't have sex. However when I read your posts I think my doctor is a little behind on the times. I NEED something to survive while my kids are little because dealing with this pressure and aching has been torture and I can hardly do anything. I would like to have it while my kids are little so I can do things because the posture is not enough. I sometimes wish I could just order one online myself and try it because I feel like I have more knowledge from this site than him!

Hi Zoe

You can still get tampons to stay in? Hmm, that's great. A suggestion for you to try if you don't want to mess around with an applicator is to put some water-based personal lubricant on the tampon to insert it. I don't think you would need much. I wouldn't even bother trying lubricant as tampons just fall out straight after I have inserted them.

Lubricant would be just stupid for me to try. I think the tampon would probably shoot straight across the room instead of just falling out!!

Cheers

Louise

Mommynow,

Sounds like your Dr. is very behind the times. Pessaries are not only for very old ladies, and he doesn't have to remove it. You can put it in and take it out as often as you need to. I wear mine when I do certain types of excercise and on days that I feel more symptomatic: pre-ovulation, pre-menstruation. Maybe you need a new doc?

Ann

Hi again Zoe

Sounds like you are in a bit of a hole at the moment, after experiencing better times a couple of weeks ago. I just read some of your old posts.

Now, from the sounds of things you still have your period, you are 9 weeks postpartum and you have just done a 20 minute walk back from shopping, wearing a new pessary of a different size, presumably pushing a pram with one or two babies and the shopping.

Holey moley girl, what are you doing to yourself?? No wonder you are feeling that your cystocele is low. Right now is a good time to say to yourself, "Make no decisions right now. Reconsider it all in a week". Many women find that just before and during a period everything feels low and heavy, and a few weeks after giving birth, as the physio says, all the ligaments and things are still going back to normal size so everything kind of sloshes around and is very mobile.

You are obviously a very energetic and positive lady, and life is just throwing things at you that are flattening you a bit. I remember how hard it was just getting through the day in those first few weeks at home with a couple of babies, and all the support and help has dried up. It sucks. It will get better, but while you have all this stuff to do it seems hard to believe.

Going easy on your body is a real investment right at the moment. Otherwise you will just drag yourself around all day feeling horrible and it may take longer to recover.

Can you get some help, eg short term grocery delivery, nappy service for a few weeks, or can you get out to a Mothers' group and just sit down and have a cuppa and a chat with some other humans once a week. These things may not appeal to you but there may be some other things that you can think of to balance up your experiences a bit and get you thinking about other things. My heart goes out to you.

Re the pessaries, as I said, I am not a pessary user. I failed at Pessaries 101. Have you considered sea sponges? Some women find they are a little more yielding but still take up the space. I think MeMyselfAndI posted something recently about them. Put sea sponge into the search engine to find out more.

And never fear, there will be sex again. And there will be good sex again. Your body will not be like this for ever. And there is nothing quite like becoming more aware of what is happening in your body. It can make sexual sensations more intense and give you more confidence to enjoy yourself.

I can see you are just having a lot of difficulty with things seemingly turning out differently from what you were expecting after this pregnancy. This must be very frustrating after the difficult pregnancy. It is also a very normal part of grieving for what you feel you have lost.

Hang in there. Stand tall. Breathe easy and take care.

Cheers

Louise

Hi Zoe,

I'm thrilled to read the words of another young mum realizing stabilization!

Walk to your hearts content and have confidence in a design that knows how to come back from prolapse!

:) Christine