Uterine Prolapse Pessary

Your doctor doesn't know what he's doing. String? Yikes. I haven't ever seen one with a string but I suppose they could exist. Google pessaries and learn everything you can. Some are easier to insert and remove than others. It takes some practice and some patience but is well worth it.

One thing you could do is visit another doctor. If you don't want to change doctors completely, just find one that can fit you with a pessary. Call several ahead of time and inquire of the nurses if they are skilled at fitting pessaries. Then make an appointment if you find one that is.

Or you can try to work with this doctor. He should order several sizes of a few types, whatever is recommended for your type of problem, and then he should try several on you. You should both not give up if the first one, or two, or three or four don't work. Don't let him give up just because he thinks it's a hassle, if this is what you really want to do.

The right pessary can be a WONDERFUL thing.

Goldfinch,

I posted yesterday about the donut pessary which I sometimes use for bladder prolapse. When I first visited the nurse-practitioner, she told me that the cube type (which comes with or without a string) would be the only type that would work for my particular type and degree of prolapse. I tried it - it was a nightmare - extremely difficult to insert,nearly impossible to remove and hurt like hell when it was in. I was discouraged and almost gave up on the whole idea. Then I looked at different types online, and thought the donut looked more "user-friendly". I had to try two sizes to get the proper fit, but it has worked well since. As Anne H described in another post, there is a brief "ouch" moment on the way in and out - but once you get accustomed to that, it's no big deal.
I wish you the best in your search!
Jean

And see a Gynae who specialises and will know more :)

Sue

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

First off I am 39 and going through stage 3 uterine prolapse. A month ago I was fitted for a ring that was enclosed with 4 holes. It was a bit uncomfortable so when I finally met with the doctor she gave ma open ring with a sortof tab to pull out. There are no strings. The new one is more for incontenence but I dont have that. She said if it hold my uterus up then it would be far more confortable than the ring. So far its been 2 weeks and sometimes i can feel it and sometimes I can't. My doctor I saw was a urogyn that deals maily with pelvic issues. I hope this helps. I would not go with the string one. There are better and easier ones out there.

Robyn

From what I have read certain factors of society (Ie caucasian Vs other cultures etc) Have more of a propensary for this BUT - I feel that this is a fact because alot of us Caucasian people live in the part of the planet where Doctors like to intervene in a natural thing such as birth - rip our babis from us with forceps, and other instruments their forefathers made up. And then they tell us to do a million useless Kegels and do not point us in the direction that something as simple as Posture could alleviate alot of our problems. We just get told - Ooh you have a prolapse - I will fix it - come over here - lie down - have a sleep - wake up with insides a manglation of mesherization.

Ok thats just my view lol - But this is how I see alot of Doctors these days. Just becaue you are given the tag DOCTOR does NOT in any way make you God or any relevant person - It means you Practice and you have knowledge n the procedures you were shown by another doctor.

In A SENTENCE - I trust my Doctors - LESS - Than I trust my VET. Because my vert only does what is necessary to make my animal live a happy life. My Vet does not mangle my animals internals. I could go on but i wont lol - Also a vert wont usually put a healthy animal to sleep or under any un-needed Operation and to be honest Tying up your internal organs with something that really leaves you mangled nside and only leads o more hassle - Is not my idea of a fun life :)

*shuts up*
lol
Sue

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

From my quick search:

Collagen in the pelvis. In addition to an age-related loss of the endopelvic fascia, there also may be inherited differences in the ratio of collagen types and in the quality of the collagen ground substance. This is best exemplified by nulliparous patients who demonstrate pelvic-organ prolapse or joint hypermobility and by patients with hereditary hyperelastosis syndromes.15,

from http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=3007

But don't forget Sue that in other "less developed" areas of the world infant and maternal death rates are considerably higher than here precisely because women are often birthing independently and have no access to ANY kind of medical care. I am certainly not a fan of the westernised model of delivery, but there is not doubt that it saves lives.

Also do you remember the article a while back about nepalese women who had delivered their babies without any medical intervention and were living in some cases with very severe cases of uterine prolapse? There is also research from West Africa which shows prolapse in many women who delivered their babies there without any kind of medical intervention. (I will try to find these sources).

I am all for beautiful and empowering natural birthing where appropriate. I also agree that many interventions are probably done in the "west" that are probably unnecessary, and in some cases truly damaging, but I also acknowledge that for many women in this world a lack of access to any kind of medical care during labor is the cause of their, and often their baby's demise.

I birthed my youngest daughter naturally on all fours after a very fast labor and I still ended up with prolapse. I am sure this was in part due to a first very difficult and long labor, but nonetheless, my prolapse still occurred after my beautiful "natural" labor. I have never had an episiotomy, and only sustained small first degree tears after each delivery. It is not as simple as blaming interventions and physicians, it is a great deal more complex I feel.

I don't mean to open up a pandora's box of discussion about "natural" versus "interventional" birthing practices, I know many feel very strongly about this subject. However, I think it is important to acknowledge some of the facts and these show that prolapse does occur in women who never undergo any medical intervention during delivery.

You’re absolutely right, Michelle. What amazes me are the nineteen year-old-never-had-baby women with UP and/or rectocele (I don’t think we’ve had any that young with cystocele?)

From what I’ve seen thus far, I think it also stands to reason that some of us never even develop completely due to lifestyle factors that keep our spine in flexion too much of the time.

Prevention and gentle birth are two sides of a coin.

UKmummy,
You make some very good points - especially about the complexity of cause and effect w/regard to prolapse. I wonder about the Nepalese and African examples you mention - to what extent did factors such as malnutrition, exhaustion etc. figure into the picture with these women - what was their state of health prior to birthing?

Jean

Good point Jean!

I also remember the article referring to that fact that the Nepalese women resume heavy labor shortly after delivery which must place a great deal of stress on the pelvis so soon after delivery. I am sure it is a similar situation in the women from the study in west Africa. These are women who perform pretty heavy manual carrying and lifting all of their lives which must be another part of the prolapse package I think.