pessary study

Just an update re my pessary use. The doctor begrudgingly sold me($100) the next smaller pessary I was using a 3.25 inch donut and now have a 3 inch donut. The overall size appearance difference is like WOW...I have removed and inserted this one w/o tearing myself and bleeding.. Without the pessry my floppy vagina first hangs out and then fills up with what may be my bladder. The sensation is not to my liking at all so I put the pessary back in. Mostly I do not feel it at all... I put it in with the narrower edge toward my navel and rectum.. It kinda pops behind the bone and then simply turns itself about 90 degrees== the doctor had told the in training gynaecologit to turn the pessary as she put it in for the first time. (Did not give me the same advise) Understanding what to do makes a BIG difference.
So - I am taking a day at a time, hoping the pessary does not cause any wear and tear on other flesh. I am alarmed and dissatisfied with the unusual to me coloured discharge which I supspect is my vagina trying to clear the silicone out. I still am amazed too at the way I can slouch or walk with better posture... it is a challenge for me.old habits die hard.

Does anyone know if constipation worsens POP. I have had problems all my life with it and now that I have POP ( I am 59 and found the POP 3 years ago) I try to keep it under control with psyllium seed husks, etc., but occassionally I forget it and run into the pushing from hell - and I am convinced one of these days I might just push something right out of my vagina - any suggestions - and since I am new to this forum - how do I find out about all the good posture you ladies are talking about - and other advice - where do I look?? Thanks for your advice. JJ

Hi Alix

It is perhaps encouraging that these dismal prospects are clearly spelt out on surgeons' websites. These surgeons are at least aware of the damage they potentially do to women's bodies. If it is on the website then their patients have a chance of reading about them and saying "no thanks", rather than blithely charging on in their quest to be 'repaired' , thinking it will be like having a magic wand waved. If it is on the website then the doctor can say, "Don't tell me you were not warned."

In the past it was much more difficult, if not impossible to find out from a surgeon the real scope of problems that could result from surgery.

This may in fact be a step towards 'more informed consent'.

As we all know from software Use Agreements, very few read each one before clicking on, "I have read and understand these terms of use and agree to abide by them", but go outside the terms and you could be up for big penalties. We can only blame ourselves if we don't read the fine print and get into trouble as a result of our own ignorance.

Rule 1. Read the fine print.
Rule 2. When you have finished, ask if there is any more fine print.
Rule 3. Repeat 1 and 2 until you are sure there is no more fine print.
Rule 4. Do your own research.

Louise

Hi Judyj - Yes, constipation is the enemy of prolapse, and a lifetime of straining is probably what put a lot of us in this situation in the first place! Anything you can do to avoid all straining on the toilet, is imperative. Lots of threads on this forum, with constipation advice from a number of sources....I won't go there now, but use the search box and find out what has helped others. On the toilet, try to lift up and forward a little off the seat, with a curved lower back; this might help.

Use the "FAQ's" above to get a description of the posture. Go to the "Theater" tab and watch Christine's video called WholeWoman 101 to see it and get a good overview of what this is all about. You want to teach your body to adopt a natural posture that moves the organs towards the front. Read up all over this forum and website, and post your questions here. - Surviving

Hi Judyj

I am with Surviving on this. Straining is poisonous. We sit there thinking, "just a bit harder, for a bit longer", but nothing could be worse! If you don't empty your bowel straight away it really doesn't matter. Even if you only empty a bit at a time ten times in one day, that will eventually empty it. Every time you eat your bowel will get active about 20 minutes afterwards.

Sitting down, then standing up, (with lumbar curve in place), then sitting almost all the way down before rising again, repeatedly for a minute or so, hourly, will help to align your bowel and rectum so that when the urge strikes again, they will be less squashed down and bent. It is just like a garden hose. The water will flow smoothly as long as the hose is coiled neatly, but it will stop flowing if there are sharp kinks in it.

At one point I did feel something inside me giving way. That was my sign that enough was enough. Just have faith that your body will eventually play the game, as long as you eat foods that will keep it moving (soluble and insoluble fibre), avoid foods that will bind you up (low fibre foods), drink plenty of water and get some regular exercise to get your insides moving around. An occasional enema is not likely to cause harm if you really get into a fix.

Louise

I have used organice olive and sometimes organic aloe vera gel. They both work well, and I feel good about the ingredients. Butter makes sense to me too. Great info. Thanks!

Hello, all,
Eve, here, mentions T pessaries made by a German company, and I looked at those and wondered if anyone here has had any success with them for uterine prolapse. They don't appear to be designed specifically for UP so I fear they would be expelled. On the other hand, they do look easy to insert. I am using different German ones, cube-shaped and made of PVA foam which is soaked first, to soften it into a sponge, but my body heat dries it out and it then becomes scratchy, so the drawback is that ideally they would need changing or removal, soaking and re-insertion every few hours. Has anyone else here tried them, and if so, what is their opinion? I will say that if your uterus is dangling right outside you and you want instant relief, this is the only thing I have found, so I think all doctors should have a couple as part of their first-aid kit, and these products should be more widely known.

Hello, all,
Eve, here, mentions T pessaries made by a German company, and I looked at those and wondered if anyone here has had any success with them for uterine prolapse. They don't appear to be designed specifically for UP so I fear they would be expelled. On the other hand, they do look easy to insert. I am using different German ones, cube-shaped and made of PVA foam which is soaked first, to soften it into a sponge, but my body heat dries it out and it then becomes scratchy, so the drawback is that ideally they would need changing or removal, soaking and re-insertion every few hours. Has anyone else here tried them, and if so, what is their opinion? I will say that if your uterus is dangling right outside you and you want instant relief, this is the only thing I have found, so I think all doctors should have a couple as part of their first-aid kit, and these products should be more widely known.