Benefit from Posture/diet for rectocele in woman with no uterus

Submitted by mir on April 26, 2007 - 4:09pm
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I, too, am new to this type communication, but found it quite by accident while searching for alternatives to surgery for a rectocele problem. After searching around this site and reading alot, yesterday I ordered Christine's Book and bundle of stuff. Long story short...I am 62, gave birth to 2 children, underwent total hysterectomy 20 yrs ago. I noticed the rectocele very soon after the surgery, but over the years it has not been a particular problem until recently. For about a year I've been having to "press" a was of toilet paper into the vaginal area to complete a bowel movement. Then in the last 3 months I can actually feel the "bulge" most of the time, and it extends just to the edge of the vagina. If I cough or strain, I can feel it peeking just outside the vagina....very disconcerting! My primary care physician wants me to see a Gynecologic Surgeon to discuss having it repaired, and this just terrifies me, because I believe the thing is primarily a result of my hysterectomy...so....more surgery is not what I want. Will Christine's exercise/posture/diet book be of any help to me since I don't have a uterus? I certainly hope there is SOMETHING I can do short of surgery. I've heard of pessaries and read on this site something about "seasponge"...what is that all about?
Thanks so much for any information you might feel helpful. I'd really appreciate it. I JUST HOPE I KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS SITE WELL ENOUGH TO GET MY REPLIES AND CONTINUE.
THANKS,
Miriam

mir

April 26, 2007 - 6:37pm

Mimi
I hope I'm doing this right, and am not missing replies. I see there have been 21 "reads", but I haven't received replies yet. Am I missing something here? Thanks so much. Miriam

jmqphd93

April 26, 2007 - 9:28pm

Miriam,

You are not missing anything. The 21 "reads" simply means that your post has been read 21 times. I have a suggestion for you. If you look on the left side of your screen and scroll down a bit, you'll see the search box. Type in "sea sponge" or "pessary", click "Search" and you will get a whole list of all the threads where people have discussed sea sponges and pessaries on the forum. That will certainly keep you busy reading for a while. You might also try searching on "hysterectomy" - there has been discussion on the forum about the helpfulness of the posture etc. for women who have had this surgery.
My best to you,
Jean

anne59

April 27, 2007 - 2:21am

I to have a rectocele, tthe only differance I haven't had any surgey and find the thought of surgery re, a repair quite off putting, I tried to weigh up the alternatives, have the surgery, (if it works) we still have to be extremely careful it does not come undone as quite a percentage of these repairs often do and make matters a lot worse, I have a young friend who had repairs and is back to square one (poor thing)
I am 59 healthy other than my buldgees i'm ok, I came here 3 days ago petrified, ive had my prolapse 7 years and trotted along managing but not taking care of myself now my rectocele has got worse, but with reading in here it has helped me loads and ive also sent for the book to help me farther. I do hope you get some answers if not come back here and ask i'm sure someone will help.

mir

May 3, 2007 - 4:07pm

Mimi
Thanks Anne for your response & suggestion. I have been on this site, searching and searching, and have become very enlightened re many things surrounding the issues of the "celes" and the female anatomy in general. I ordered and received Christine's book, CD and baton, and am immersed in it. Like I stated previous, I have been hysterectomized many yrs ago, and I am absolutely certain that was the cause of my rectocele/enterocele? Not sure which - maybe both. This week I tried the "Instead" menstrual cup. The first couple of tries were unsuccessful; however, once I totally relaxed and took my time with insertion I was able to get it positioned correctly just behind the pubic bone. There wasn't a problem with it slipping out, but the longer I had it in, the more pressure I felt back toward my rectum - little twingy, crampy feeling - fairly uncomfortable. It DID, however, keep the cele from descending further down the vagina. So, bottom line is.......quite uncomfortable after a bit, but will try again some other time. NOW I think I will try the Sea Sponges....perhaps better luck as they may comform better and not exert quite as much pressure. The thing this forum has done for me
is make me SO much more aware of where all my "parts" are as opposed to where they SHOULD be, and has educated me to the hazards of the surgical "fix". At this point, I am not willing to undergo the surgery. I'm just not sure whether or not the posturing will be beneficial for my celes, but I have already gained so much from Christine's book; i.e., half-squat on the potty, the down-on-all-fours posturing, etc. Although I'm enjoying and learning from the dietary section, that's probably the least of my woes, as we eat very much like she advocates, and are not overweight. I've never had a constipation problem of any kind, so that helps. This said, I am still not willing to have this annoying "bulge" in my vagina forever, so am more than willing to do what I can without surgery. I thought perhaps Christine would reply as to what things (if any) will be beneficial to me (sans surgery)that she could suggest, considering I do not have a uterus. I'm leaving for the weekend in a few hours, so will hope for a reply before I leave if you have time. Thanks so much,
Miriam

mir

May 3, 2007 - 4:14pm

This post is for Jean (JMQPhD93)
My apologies, Jean. The post I just completed to "Anne" was meant to include you . . . just my slip-up. Thanks for your help!
Miriam

mir

May 7, 2007 - 1:53pm

I posted a new comment re pessary-type applications for my rectocele/enterocele, and have not received any replies. I really would love to hear from ANYone who is struggling with the "celes" and any suggestions for what might be beneficial for those of us who were "hysterectomized" years ago. I know this site is primarily for "intact" women, but there are many of us who are not intact, but nonetheless suffer with the prolapse problems of the parts which remain in our pelvic area. As I stated earlier, I have received Christine's book/DVD, etc., and am learning much from it. What I haven't found is advice for those of us who are not intact. I'd really love to hear from Christine re what (if anything)we could derive benefit from in order to avoid repair surgery. Until I found this site, that was the only option given to me. So......I am really interested in hearing from anyone who has used the pessaries, or pessary-type things, and whether or not the things offered to intact women with prolapses would be of help to those of us who are not. Unfortunately, we can not have hysterectomies UNdone, so have to work with what we have. PLEASE, let me hear from anyone on this subject. Thanks! Miriam

Christine

May 7, 2007 - 11:15pm

Dear Miriam,

I’ve answered this question so many times, always with some version of “I don’t know.”

I wish I could say with the same confidence that it’s very likely you will see positive results with this work, but we rarely (ever?) hear back from post-hysterectomy women.

When I respond in this way I usually get countered with, “Well then why did I bother to buy your book?”

Then I comment that if it were me I would utilize the posture anyway for many reasons including the fact that the bladder and sigmoid colon should still be positioned over the pubic bones. I just don’t know how much benefit you’ll experience vis-à-vis the rectocele because the back vaginal wall has lost its major support.

I’ve done the best I can to outline the risks of further surgery. A posterior colporrhaphy may reduce the bulge temporarily, but it’s not going to do anything for a rectum that has fallen outside the forces of intraabdominal pressure. This means your bowel symptoms will most likely remain. Lifting the rectum with mesh may help, but that surgery is fraught with serious complication.

This is the reality of hysterectomy and the reason we need to make sure all women are informed of long term complications. There are just no easy answers.

If it were me I would see if I could live with my symptoms with the help of the posture, a good diet, and external support garments. You will find many women with extreme symptoms after second, third, and fourth surgeries. Pressing on your vaginal wall seems a minor inconvenience compared to having to manually evacuate your bowels. I wish I had more good news, but this is my best understanding of the situation. There is some number of women who derive benefit from post-hysterectomy posterior repair, but the industry has provided virtually nothing in the way of reliable studies to demonstrate just what that percentage might be. My guess is that it’s a small minority.

Hugs and prayers for your well-being,

Christine

mir

May 8, 2007 - 12:08am

Many thanks, Christine, for your words of wisdom. Since receiving and reading some of your book, and beginning to understand and work on the posturing, I am at the very least in a much better frame of mind about this. The dietary habits you advocate run very parallel with the way we eat, so I guess I'm starting at a small advantage. I've never had any constipation or other bowel problems, and I agree that what I have to do to empty is not much more than an inconvenience. Actually, what is most disconcerting is that it has recently dropped further into the vagina, and there's the sensation something is there (guess because there is!). The only time it actually moves just to the edge of the opening is when I cough or sneeze, and anytime that I stand too long. I understand it's difficult to collect any meaningful progress data from hysterectomized women who write in, do the work, and then don't relay the results. So........I WILL do the work on posturing and exercise, continue to eat well, possibly experiment with the Sea Sponges, and see what happens. I will keep you informed of my progress. I am in no way sorry I bought your book bundle, and have already benefited. Thank you for your reply and the work you're doing.
Gratefully,
Miriam

Christine

May 8, 2007 - 11:39am

We would be very happy to hear from you, Miriam.

alemama

May 8, 2007 - 12:46pm

Miriam, you are an inspiration. I am glad you are here and look forward to hearing how your prolapse responds to the posture. I am so sorry you are feeling more pressure lately.
After I started using the posture things got much worse for me- but only initially. I am back to baseline now and some days are better than they were. I also added more fiber to my diet and that took some tweaking to find just the right balance.

babes

May 9, 2007 - 2:54pm

Hi! I'm new to this site. I've been reading about "posture" helping a cystocele and a book written by "Christine". I am 44 yrs. old, pregnant (!) with number 3 and have a mild cystocele. I am getting very worried. My last child was 9lbs. 11oz. Please tell me the full name of the author and book. And any info. about posture you can share would be helpful. Thank you!

mir

May 9, 2007 - 3:32pm

Babes - congrats on your pregnancy! 44 is NOT old, and I think if you are able to purchase Christine's book "Saving the Whole Woman", you will benefit during your pregnancy and for years to come in preventing further prolapses. I have no uterus, but do have a rectocele that I believe was result of 2 births (1 with epesiotomy!)and a hysterectomy. I am very new to this site, so would not be the one to advise you beyond getting the book, eating well, and starting with the work detailed in her book. Unfortunately, since I am not pelvicly intact, I may need to work harder and derive less benefit. But I will do what I need to do to "shore" things up in whatever ways possible to avoid repair surgery. In just a very short time, I am able to see progress already. I just know there are many very knowledgeable women on this WW forum, and they will be of great help to you! Best of luck with that little bundle you're nurturing! Miriam

I ordered mine (the bundle - book, loose-leaf Diet for the Whole Woman and exercise baton) from this site.

babs

May 9, 2007 - 5:18pm

on the other thread you will see that quite a few of us have had pregnancies with prolapse.

i've just had my 4th child on 7th april, and she weighed 9lbs 8 ozs. i had myu previous one on 17th jan 06 and it was then i discovered my uterine descent and rectocele.

although i now have a cystocele, it is slowly improving (went to a yoga teacher this week to help with exercises!).

all in all pregnancy wasn't any harder although for final weeks i sis have problems voiding my bladder.

i got my book last year off amazon as i am in uk.

hope this helps.
b

babes

May 9, 2007 - 5:59pm

...Miriam for your quick response and reassurance! I will order everything and hope for the best. This looks like a wonderful site. I thought I was the "only one" with this problem. Your response gives me plenty of hope. Take care of yourself and be well! : )