How Bad Will It Get?

Submitted by healthnut on September 4, 2010 - 5:06pm
Body: 

Hello,

I have a severe 3rd degree bladder prolapse. I say severe because I know it bulges out past an inch at times. It scares me that it will eventually totally fall out. Has that happened to anyone and if so, did you have to have surgery repair? I have my uterus intact. So my gyno told me she would tack up the bladder and do a hysterectomy at the same time. She said I could wait as long as I want, but not to let the prolapsed bladder get so severe that it totally falls out or it would be a much more complicated surgery. Ii don't plan on ever having the surgery, but just worry my bladder will fall completely out.

Thanks,
healthnut

granolamom

September 4, 2010 - 8:13pm

your bladder is not going to drop out one day and hit the floor. and with all due respect to your Dr. that's a pretty silly thing to say because what you see is not your bladder. its the bulge of your bladder against the anterior vaginal wall. in order for your bladder to actually drop out of your body, there'd have to be a hole in the vaginal wall, aka a fistula, which might be indication for surgical repair (of the fistula, not a bladder 'tack up')
also, not sure how removing your uterus is related to a prolapse of the bladder but lots of doctors think that hysterectomy is a logical step when a woman presents with bladder prolapse. more silliness imo.

there's been a few posts on 'how bad can it get' but I dont remember exactly and dont want to misquote, maybe someone else will reply with that information.

louiseds

September 4, 2010 - 10:54pm

Hi Healthnut

That is an identical story to the one I got from my general practitioner six years ago. I said no to the surgery and got right into Wholewoman like my active life depended on it, which it did. If I had done nothing my doctor might have been right about it becoming much more serious, but I cannot see how there could be any surgical repairs much more complicated than hysterectomy and tacking up my bladder. I figured I had nothing to lose by having a good crack at Wholewoman. If it didn't work I could easily wave the white flag and go back for the surgery, but the white flag sits drooping in the corner unused, with spiderwebs growing over it. I think it might just make it into a potholder, so I will not get burned like I almost did six years ago.

If you have surgery there is no chance of changing your mind and undoing the damage without your uterus. Letting them remove your uterus is simply burning your bridges. I think you well know that, but it is worth repeating to yourself, time and time again.

Louise

ladylee

September 5, 2010 - 5:07am

Now I know too many years later. I had surgery in 1987 and that's what the doctor told me. Because of a prolapse I needed a hysterectomy, did not know what that was so I thought I needed surgery. Wish I knew about Whole Woman then. Today I still have a prolapse and don't know what to do, the doctor says not to repair because it will fall again later in life. Guess I am screwed!!!! Another problem I want to have sex again. But am afraid to try. Any comments would help.

Oceanblue

September 5, 2010 - 7:37am

I am so sorry that this happened to you.

You are not alone.

There is a special forum for H, and I'm sure that you came to the right place for support.

Hugs,

Oceanblue

healthnut

September 7, 2010 - 11:30pm

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your encouragements. I just want to know if there is ever a point in which surgery is necessary. I think my cystecele is probably a stage 4 at it's worse.

Healthnut

louiseds

September 8, 2010 - 3:57am

Hi Healthnut

That is a really hard question. We really don't know if there is a point or not. I only know of one woman with whom we had extended contact who subsequently had surgery. She had subsequent problems and expressed regret that she had the surgery. However, one swallow doth not a summer make. It would be pretty hard to come back after surgery and express regret. If there were no problems after surgery the woman would probably not bother contacting WW again, thinking that all the Wholewoman techniques were a load of bollocks. ;-)

I could also think that a woman who had successful surgery and no subsequent problems would put it out on the Net that only surgery worked. I haven't seen this sort of comment on other sites, but I am not going lookjing for them either. ;-)

I suspect that as I get older I could run into incontinence or bulge problems again, particularly if I become more sedentary, and my whole body strength decreases, or if my posture becomes stooped irrevocably as I get older. You can bet I will be fighting these two factors for as long as I can.

I am also guessing that any surgery that would be recommended for me in years to come would be pretty major, and I am not convinced that the recovery time and risk of further problems would make me any more likely to take the surgery on. Wholewoman has only been on the Net since 2004, so the age of Members is still not very old, even the older women who joined many years ago.

It would be good to survey those longest standing members and see how they are progressing. I have been involved for about 6 years, have experienced menopause in the interim, and it just gets better and better. However I recognise that my starting point was not as severe as yours.

Louise