New here with rectocele and cystocele. Question about tampon use for cystocele.

Submitted by casey on August 10, 2009 - 9:27am
Body: 

Hi all. I am 49 with 2 children, ages almost 12 and 10 (15 months apart). My first child weighed 8 lb. 13 oz, and was a difficult delivery. I pushed for 4 hours, and he was finally delivered via forceps after the vacuum didn't help. I also had a cracked pelvis, and had difficulty walking for about 5 weeks. I had a tear while delivering also. My daughter was born 15 months later, much easier delivery, but had an episiotomy and she weighed 9 lb. 2 oz. I've had problems with urinary frequency for a couple of years, and began to notice a feeling of fullness in my vagina, so wondered about prolapse.My general practitioner has done my pap and pelvic exams for several years, but never said anything about prolapse. She's tested me for utis,and put me on various antibiotics, even though I had no burning associated with the frequency and urgency. I finally went to see an OB/GYN last week, and she says I have a rectocele and cystocele. She recommended going to see a Urogynecologist, so I agreed. But now I think I want to cancel, at least with this doctor, because she said he usually goes the surgical route. There is another doctor I can see who my doctor says is less prone to go the surgery route, so I'd like to see her. My new gynocologist also did blood work to check my hormone levels since I haven't had a period since November 2007, and while my family doc said I was in menopause, never checked my levels.

Ok, so that's the background. I read that tampons can sometimes help push the bladder back into place some, so put one in last night before bed, and it did seem to help. But this morning when I removed it, it was bloody, and that scared me, since I have not had a period in so long. I can't tell if it was coming from the cervix, think maybe it was from the bladder being irritated by the tampon? My Mom had bladder cancer three years ago (doing great now, thank God), so this worries me even more. I'm wondering now if I should go to see her urologist.

I'm scared, worried, and trying to not to be, but any and all advice/thoughts would be really appreciated.

bad_mirror

August 10, 2009 - 12:12pm

Easier said than done, I know, but take a deep breath and don't be scared. Prolapse is not life-threatening, and from your description of symptoms, your condition sounds like it is on the mild side.

I don't think it matters much what a doctor's emphasis is, as no one can make you have surgery without your implicit consent. However, if you feel unable to say "no" to someone in a white lab coat (and many people can't, that's why every actor in a commercial hawking anything remotely medicinal is wearing one) then it may be better to see the one known to push surgery less until you gain a better understanding of your body and it's needs both present and future. See the self-exam link on the home-page, browse the FAQS, and read, read, read old posts here -- get the book too.

Wearing a tampon can act as a pessary while you are up and active -- a very successful one for a lot of women -- but probably doesn't do much good while you are sleeping. Was the blood similar to a period? Has it continued? It could just be from irritating dry vaginal tissue. You are not "irritating the bladder" per se, but the vaginal wall that the bladder is behind and bulging against.

My best advice? Return to your natural female posture as illustrated here. It works. Don't get constipated and don't strain on the toilet. Learn to fully empty your bladder (lots of techniques for that floating around on this forum) Welcome, and keep asking questions.

casey

August 10, 2009 - 12:26pm

Thanks so much for your insight and help! I just got a call from my gynocologist's nurse, and my blood work showed I am in menopause. I mentioned the tampon to her too, and she thinks it was from irritation. She advised me not to use the tampon anymore, especially since I have a lot of vaginal dryness, which could lead to easy irritation. Saw Instead Softcups mentioned here, so thought I might check them out.I'm guessing there'd be less irritation with them. My local Walgreens carries them. The bleeding stopped right away this morning. It looked like when I had a very light period.

I also told the nurse today I didn't want to see the one doctor, and she is going to call the other and put in a referral. Not totally biased against male doctors, but the one who pushes surgery is a man, and the other one is a woman, and I have usually felt more comfortable with women ob/gyns. And yes, I get easily intimidated by doctors! I'll make an appointment, but I'm not in a big hurry, which I guess is good since it supposedly takes a while to get an appointment. So, I'm going to read, read, read, and order the book. So glad I found this site!

Saw Instead Softcups mentioned too, so thought I might check them out. My local Walgreens carries them.

casey

August 10, 2009 - 2:58pm

Nurse called back with urinalysis results, said I had strep in my urine, they are prescribing amoxil. Is this a UTI? I just went through 2 rounds of antibiotics last month, first Cipro then Macrobid, for a uti. When they prescribed the Macrobid, they sent the urine out to be cultured, said it came back ok (this was my familly doc).

Any thoughts?

louiseds

August 10, 2009 - 9:16pm

Yep, strep is a bacteria. Yep, it is a urinary tract infection. You will find that once your bladder is further forward over your pubic bone the entrance to the urethra is tucked inside further and less prone to irritation and contamination from knickers. Also, the dryness of the vagina with menopause means that the vaginal and vulval tissues are no longer lubricated as well, so they can irritate each other more readily with friction. Also the vaginal and vulval areas are no longer as well self-cleaned by vaginal fluids. You might find that a lubricant like WW Bliss Balm after a shower or whenever you like, will help vaginal and vulval tissues to stay healthy and flexible. Replens is another thing to try. I find it too fiddly. We have discussed it at length. Try the search box.

Re the tampon, yes, irritation would be the main culprit with a dry vagina. You are not the first Member to get a little bleeding. Jackie is right. It won't be from the bladder, but may be from the irritated entrance to the urethra. Checking it out with the Dr might be wise as a precaution. Some women use olive oil or bliss balm to lubricate the tampon before insertion, but it might slip around more. Might kind of defeat the purpose!

I wonder why you cannot get a pessary shaped like a sideways tampon, or even a big flat one, about the shape of a cassette tape? Now there's a scary thought! Recycling cassettes! Yow!

I get a bit worried about women using the same tampon for a long period of time, re toxic shock.

Cheers

Louise

kiki

August 11, 2009 - 3:19am

I used to have ongoing frequency that felt like a bladder infection, but they kept coming up negative (pre POP days). I eventually discovered I had a food allergy, and it was irritating my bladder. The bladder consultant didn't agree, but my kids allergist said she sees that a lot. makes sense to me! Just a thought if it doesn't improve...cut out foods for a few weeks each--dairy, gluten, spices, see if anything helps. Also I'm finding following Christine's dietary advice around omega's is helping a ton re the amount I pee--scan back to her post on prolapse as an inflammatory disease about 5 or 6 weeks ago...

if you are getting infections, try peeing on all fours in the shower to fully empty your bladder which can really help.
re irritation, balms are great. i also like neem oil for external irritation as it helps skin to heal quickly. stinks till it dries, but then is fine. Maybe bliss on the inside to lubricate, and if you have external irritation a bit of neem?

Tampons-re string you can cut it off if you don't mind having to reach inside to get it out. But if it's irritating, best to give it a break. let us know how you get on with the softcup. btw, i wear my tampons upright, and when i need support use a little one and it's enough (bigger ones only stay in during my period).

there is also a lot of stuff around vaginal dryness and diet looking at what women eat in other countries, where menopausal symptoms are much milder--i'm sure a quick google would offer insight.

and last thought--if you have had a few rounds of antibiotics, be sure you aren't getting a yeast infection--i don't always get the discharge, sometimes just a red raw feeling which is horrible but is caused by the yeast....

healthnutsometimes

August 6, 2016 - 4:20pm

I'm due to see another gynecologist in a few days. I saw one who told me not to use pessary (it can smell).
I am experimenting with tampons (dipped in olive oil - not extra virgin :-) ). One tampon inserted in morning and left in all day seems to be working. I'm in my mid 70's, have never had children and it stays in if I push it in far enough. I'm taking it out at night. My GP seemed shocked that I'd even try tampons - but she is quite young. I worry about UTI and toxic shock. Sometimes when I pee it does seem like my whole body - or hands and feet can tingle. Is that a bad sign? I swim a lot and walk too. I'd rather use a tampon regularly than have the unpleasant sensation of that bulb peeking out of my vagina...
Any comments will be most welcome...

Surviving60

August 6, 2016 - 6:49pm

Hi healthnut - if you are healthy and active, it's not too late to start working on the Whole Woman posture correction and other tools like firebreathing to help stabilize your pelvic organs and keep that bulge from peeking out. What type of prolapse do you have? I think your concerns about leaving a tampon in all day long are legitimate. - Surviving

marga hart

August 8, 2016 - 12:21pm

where do i click to add stuff to this site

marga hart

August 8, 2016 - 12:23pm

wouldnt have had surgery at all if I had come across Christine and Saving the Whole Woman any ideas as to coping pre investigation would be very welcome. I am 73 and not very cmputer literate but trying! dont even know if this is the right place to ask this on this site???

Aging gracefully

August 8, 2016 - 12:33pm

Hi marga and welcome,
How long ago did you have your surgery and what symptoms are you having?