a different perspective…hope

Submitted by kiki on April 19, 2007 - 4:31am
Body: 

I just wanted to share the very refreshing perspectives on prolapses I am getting living in Europe. Following the birth of my baby 4 months ago, I got a substantial cyclocele, rectocele, and a mild uterine prolapse. Since then I have seen 2 general doctors (one of whom specialises in antenatal care), talked to our midwives, seen a prolapse surgeon, and a physiotherapist. The view across the board has been that I do not need, or want surgery. No one—not even the surgeon—has recommended it.

This has been so different from what most people here seem to be experiencing that I wanted to share, as this differing view has been incredibly helpful to my getting through this.

Most amazing has been the surgeon--he said that he would not even see me again until I was at least 1 year post partum or after that when I’d stopped feeding as he would expect substantial improvement over the next year, and possibly more once I stop breastfeeding (but keep feeding!). He also said that the surgery was less than perfect, so he wouldn’t recommend it unless I really couldn’t live with this in which case I might CHOOSE to have surgery—but that that I should try living with it first. I asked him about the fact that it felt worse at the end of the day, and he said “that is living with a prolapse.”

It was amazing for me to hear a surgeon using the words “choice” and “living with” to do with prolapses—I don’t get the sense many people in the US are hearing those words!

My physiotherapist specialises in all this, and again, continually tells me that I don’t need, or want, the surgery--that it fails all to often, and that I could have more problems as a result. Her view is that I need to get this to a place where I can live with it—and that as long as I do my exercises (different view I know!), don’t strain, and don’t lift heavy things, I’ll be fine. I can’t tell you how helpful it is to have someone telling you on a regular basis “you will be fine—without surgery.”

I just wanted to share this different perspective as it has been so helpful for me. I’m not trying to fight someone by not having surgery—I think I’d have to convince people if I did want it! This view has really helped me to get through the rougher days. But, 2 1/2 months on, I can’t believe how different my body feels. I’m doing the posture, starting the exercises, doing my physio, seeing an acupuncturist which relieved my symptoms (backache, irritable bladder), and homeopathy which is really helping as well (I’ve had a substantial “lift” with each dose of my remedy). 2 months ago I thought I’d have a golf ball between my legs forever, & cried for days at the thought that I had to choose between that and the awful surgery option.

So not to say things are gone (I’m still overly aware of all my bulges!), or that I’ve been able to get to the place where I don’t think about it yet… but it’s great to be living somewhere that emphasises hope regarding this!

kiki

MeMyselfAndI

April 19, 2007 - 7:11am

I think we are all overly aware of everything - I am now the same with my stomach after a recent surgery I had to have.

I think your Docs are GREAT to fill you will the power of choice and information :-)

Therese

April 19, 2007 - 7:35am

I also am greatly improved at 5 1/2 months post partum.
For me it all about the rectocele and so I never notice my prolapses as long as I am eliminating daily. Clothing is important too! LOOSE and FREE!!! Physical therapy was terrible personally for me and once I quit I never feel the bulge...even late in the day.

I would be in a whole other place physically & emotionally had I followed the Dr's advice and not found this place so I am very grateful!!

MeMyselfAndI

April 19, 2007 - 8:25am

Just hafta make sure the Physios aren't trying to get you to Kegel yourself to death - I did - And my Prolapse was sooooooooooooo much worse for it (It exhausts the pelvic floor so more sagging) Now I only do a few kegels a day - Maybe 8 tops - And everything is cool 99% of the time :-)

callie

April 19, 2007 - 11:40am

I coming to Europe!

callie

April 19, 2007 - 11:56am

Hey M M and I,
I have a rectocele and I am doing kegels but I was thinking maybe I am not doing enough. I definitely don't want to make it worse. I usually just do them when I stop the urine flow, 3-4 times a day. Would you do them less then that?
I know for years I have done the stupid things and I am telling everyone I never saw one bit of difference - I get P O'd when doctors go on and on about them.
What do you think?

MeMyselfAndI

April 19, 2007 - 1:19pm

Well...

You should NOT be stopping the urine flow a few times a day - This could well give you a bladder infection!!!

The Kegels have only helped me with Urine leakage - The few I bother to do a day have stopped this. But - They did nothing else for my prolapses at all - Doing 300+ a Day made my prolapse attempt to LEAVE the doorway (lol - at way of putting it) It was 'peeking' out of the Introitis and making walking uncomfortable with the constant annoying feeling. I aw my PT who dealt in this kinda thing and I told her what I was up to - She told me to not do more than ten at a time and no more than a few times a day. - She told me that to do so very many just tires out the pelvic floor which because I was doing them to often did not have time to recover - ever!

I started by doing about 20 a day... Then I reduced that to ten - And all was well in the 'leakage world' no leakage - Now I do maybe 6-8 a day and hold for ten seconds with maybe an hour or so in between so the pelvic floor is not tired out etc.

The Posture is what really has made me feel better I think - As no longer are my isides vying to get outta the door (Introitis) The only bothersome time I eever get is just before my period when I feel a tiny bit more 'heavy' down below Not every month just some. Or maybe if I have spent hours on my feet etc I might feel 'draggy' but the same thing - It goes away soon.

I hafta admit that when I do feel 'draggy' I just go to my partner and say to him very brashly (He laughs cos usually I am too tired to bother as I also have Multiple Sclerosis which causes fatigue to bother with) I say to him ''I have to borrow your appendage today'' and he knows why I am asking and doesn't complain lol Must admit I never make the first move without needing a 'push' from my 'underparticles' lolololol OK TMI there eh...

Apparently you are not meant to stop the urine flow like you are doing more than once a week or something I read. I do not do it - Mainly cos I never think of it lol - But I find that the real test of my prolase is how I feel after a busy day - I have gone for a couple of months recently without even noticing it - Which is great for me :-)

You - I think - Really wanna make your Prolapse as forgettable a thing as possible right - So lets make dealing with it as easy as possible :-) The Posture should do this for you - If you hafta Kegel - Just a few - say ten tops - A day and all should be well in your world :-)

I only know this because when I got here I was a complete MESS. Christine gave me so much help and must be the most patient women on the planet as I am the biggest worrywart and freakouty person on the planet! But she just took me under her wing and listened to my moaning for a couple of months - Then I stopped moaning and really started seeing results :-)

Good Luck :-)
Sue

UKmummy

April 19, 2007 - 1:50pm

That is great to hear kiKi! I have also come across a Dr here in the states recently who pretty much told me the same thing.

Now lets hope we see some of these newly liberated medical professionals actually doing some thorough research studies into quality of life issues for women living with prolapse, and ways to prevent it from happening in the first place. Issues such as what is helping, what is not, what exercise is "better", and what we can hope for in the future. That is my wish! :)

granolamom

April 19, 2007 - 2:55pm

I just read your 'to kegel or not' post and I'm glad to see you're posting like your spunky self again. guess you're starting to feel a bit better? I hope so.
been missing your sense of humor

callie

April 19, 2007 - 6:15pm

I have a bladder infection right now!
Thanks for the heads up on the kegel and stopping urine flow.

I totally agree with Sue..*(see its Sue now instead of M Mand I !)
The major factor in me getting my rectocele to a point that its not bothering me is due mainly to the postures and exercises in Christine's book. I really can feel a big difference in how I feel all over. My butt muscles hurt from 'walking the walk' Christine taught us... but as Martha says "its a good thing"

I am so glad I research everything and didn't take the doctors advice. My research brought me right to this site.

Namaste!

howdidthishappen

April 19, 2007 - 6:18pm

you know, kiki, that really is a breath of fresh air. however, i must say i seem to have lucked into a new gyn practice here on the east coast and the doctor (who is from india, so perhaps that has something to do with her attitude) sounded much like your doctors attitudes. she said," go live your life. women live perfectly well for their whole lives with this." i swear, i nearly kissed her. and it's funny because i actually went to this practice just to see the midwives, thinking i might get this sort of wisdom -- i never expected it from the doctor in charge. she was great and it really confirmed the path i have taken by doing this work and made it all just feel very...normalized for me somehow. not to mention liberated. i don't know...i just feel like a very normal woman these days with this structural issue that, well, i really can live with perfectly fine.

like you, i am also doing a bunch of other things. acunpunture, homeopathy, posture posture posture, strong diet, actually resting when i'm tired. in other words, taking better care of myself than i have in i don't know how long. i'm at this amazing place where i honestly don't have regrets about any of this...it really is all okay and i just feel good. and though that sheer feeling should be enough, it is amazing when an m.d. confirms the choices being made, most especially when those choices do not include any surgery or "procedures."

i think the women here on this site are bold bold bold. thank you endlessly, christine, for shining the light on the path and leading the way. this is all just amazing to me.

xxsusan

Grandma Joy

April 19, 2007 - 10:09pm

Wow, Susan!

You sound fantastic! And I'm glad to hear all the positive outpouring from you. You really made some profound statements here. I am so proud of your progress -- boy - lots of p's in that, huh? I've been out of pocket for a month now. My sister was bitten by a brown recluse the middle of March and we spent 3 weeks with some intense care for her, including three rounds of antibiotics, which of course did a number on her, but we were afraid of the long run possibility of her losing her hand. She is well now and back to work. However, Grandma now is having bulgy, heavy feeling problems. Three weeks of sitting in the car at the doctor's daily did a number on the pops for sure, along with the 50 mile drive. We didn't get to eat properly (no organic food there) and I gave her all the probiotic I had, which left me without any. I, too, am recovering now that I have decent food, can rest and get back into my posture and exercises.

Did you get my email last week?

Love to you,
Grandma Joy

MeMyselfAndI

April 20, 2007 - 1:20am

I am not sure what is going on with 'The Lump' at the moment I see the Dr on Monday - I have alot of worries, so I will update after that and praying soooooooooooo much this Haematoma is only a Haematoma and is going away cos I am so scared the op didn't work :-(

But - Other than losing my mind I am ok :-)

kiki

April 21, 2007 - 4:26pm

I am just wondering...am I the only one here who has actually found benefit from them?
I notice a HUGE difference when I go to physio and by doing these. When I don't, things move down. When I do, they go up. I'm not going overboard (first physio had me going overboard and it definately made things worse--I was numb)--but definately know things are stronger down there.

I recognize the whole theory as to why they shouldn't work...but they do. Does anyone else find them beneficial?
K

Christine

April 21, 2007 - 4:45pm

Exercising the pelvic wall is extremely important and indeed moves everything up and forward. The only arguments here have to do with (1) the position we are in when purposefully contracting the pelvic diaphragm and (2) whether or not it’s really necessary to perform a program of these exercises independent of our activities of daily living while in the posture. I consciously tighten my pelvic wall several times a day – but am always on my feet when I do so and therefore can dramatically experience the upward and forward movement of my pelvic interior.

wenz

April 22, 2007 - 1:27am

Hi Kiki, Yes, I have found kegels useful, in moderation. I think that they firm up the outer vaginal area, but I'm not sure whether the improvement in my prolapse was due to kegels or the other modifications I made in my lifestyle such as losing weight, exercising and eating more fibre. Also I am aware of that prolapse feeling still sometimes although it is not severe and never really has been. Most of the time, I have no symptoms at all. I do kegels about 3-4 times a day now, no more.
Cheers,
Wendy

garbo

April 22, 2007 - 5:22am

homopathy...exactly what is it that you take?

MeMyselfAndI

April 22, 2007 - 5:47am

I found them useful to stop urine leakage but other that that - They did nothing so they have their use in a mild form - But nothing else amazing unfortunately.

I think everyone has to work out what is the best for them - We live with this and we wanna live the best life we can - So we do whatever it takes to do this

:-)

kiki

April 22, 2007 - 3:17pm

I'm taking Helonius 30 (not 100% sure of the spelling) 1x every 2 weeks (it was meant to be weekly but I had such a huge response we've spaced it out more) for 8 doses.
it's apparently for pelvic lifting things.
First time I took it I had a huge regression for 24 hours and felt awful & exhausted & so weak, then a huge improvement, which was a good indication it was the right remedy. Ever since then I haven't had the bad, just good...

MeMyselfAndI

April 22, 2007 - 3:37pm

How this could work?

If it is a pill - How could it ever 'lift' anything. If an insertable something - How would it ever work?

I am really interested cos I have always wondered how something like this could work.

Thanks

AnneKane

May 4, 2007 - 10:34pm

Hi

Homeopathy is one thing i really haven't checked out very much at all.. I'd love to hear more detail about you're experiences.. What was the huge difference you felt? ANd when you say i every 2 week's do you mean just a single pill in that amount of time?

Best wishes

Anne

happyvegan

May 26, 2007 - 3:20pm

I've been taking Sepia 30C and 1LM for several months which seemed like it was helping a lot, but I've kind of stalled in my progress (not doing the postures consistantly, perhaps, and moving a bunch of heavy furniture this last week). I'm going to talk to my homeopath about the Helionas. Thanks for the suggestion! We love homeopathy and use it for nearly everything.

:) Shayla