Pessary - or no?

Submitted by txswimmer on September 26, 2010 - 12:57pm
Body: 

I am re-posting since no one replied when I posted this a few days ago. Since I wrote it, I have had a period and the cervix has lifted a little and isnt so bad. I am on bcp where I dont have to have a period unless I want to, but when I start having spotting daily, I generally stop the pill and have a period. Maybe I should have periods more regularly- why do the prolapses fall so much when you are having a period and rise a bit when you are just through it? Anyway- I am thinking about pessary and here is what I wrote about it. I am hoping for advice from people who have pessaries.

I have not been on the forum in quite a while, but the last few weeks, my uterine and bladder prolapses have noticeably worsened. I have to push them up several times a day- every time I use the bathroom, actually. I never have relief except when I am horizontal, which for me is about 6 hrs at night. I found some other websites and read a lot of comments from women who have pessaries and I am thinking that I will make an appt with my gyn and get fitted. I am so tired of having my parts falling out. I do not wish to have surgery as I know most of you feel the same. I also dont want to continue pushing my parts up several times a day. My gyn has been supportive of my decision to not have surgery and she suggested a pessary when I was in a few months ago. I didnt get fit then, but I think I am ready to try now. I am 51 and in excellent health, I swim 4 miles per week and am a good weight and strong. I would want to remove the pessary on my own, as I dont want to need to see a dr for that. I saw some with a little silicone string that hangs down, and thought that might not be so comfortable. What do those of you with pessaries recommend as a good one to try? Do different pessaries respond/ work better with some prolapses rather than others? My cervix is right at the opening to my vagina, nearly always- it doesnt stay up when I push it up, just falls back down. I also have a bladder prolapse. Other than annoyance I have no other symptoms (well I do have to pee all the time) - fine with sex, no pain with swimming or walking, and I do all kinds of things sportswise. LEt me know your experiences with the pessary types and recommend away. I look forward to hearing from you.
Trish

kiki

September 26, 2010 - 1:34pm

HI Trish,
I can't comment on pessaries, so sorry for that! If you search on them, you will find lots of threads. But there don't seem to be that many women here who have pessaries, though some do and love them. Others try them and don't get on...I think it is so individual. The thing that always worried me is that i wouldn't be able to tell if i was going past my limits, as i know with a tampon i can't so i figure it is the same. i guess it is about learning them and being careful. But, have a search on pessary and hopefully someone who uses one will reply!

Periods...i used to get worse before it, but luckily don't now. I imagine that the uterus is that bit heavier, enough to make it worse. I believe that periods serve a purpose, so having them regularly seems important to me. and, if you are finding the blood build up makes your POP worse, sounds like another good reason to!

i'm sorry things have gotten worse in the last couple months. sometimes doing WW one POP gets better--making space for another to fill the space. that happened ot me, then they all improved. maybe also look at what excercises you are doing, and if anything is agravating it. i also found food really makes a difference. when i went on a strict anti inflammatory diet my POP improved massively--and i know Christine found the same. so worth a try (put in search engine again...).

good luck figuring out about the pessary--but do give it time. it took your body a while to get here, it'll take time to get better.