use of tampons for prolapse

HI Angelica,
the bulge is annoying i know! I started with a grade 3 cyst and rect and mild uterine prolapse...so i can relate. I hope you read my other post about surgery--and read through Christine's stuff to see how you can help to naturally improve your POP. Regarding tampons, women give mixed reviews. When my POP was bad, I couldn't keep one in so it was useless. Now that it's improved I can use them, and they are at times useful to holding stuff in if it's a bad moment. Some women find sea sponges particularly good (you can find them in health shops or online). There are lots of threads about them--you can put sponge in the search box.

When you see the doctor, they will undoubtedly offer surgery as that is the only tool they have. If you can, read Christine's book first as it gives you lots of info to go to them with and have a more educated conversation. There are threads here from women who have had surgery--searching on things like mesh and surgery will give you more info.

I however have faith in the ability of women to stabilise and improve, in many cases dramatically heal, their POP through this work. I started wishing i could go have surgery immediately. Then I found WW, focused on healing my body naturally, and have had such improvement that surgery is not even in my mind even more...

Kiki

Hello, angelica:

I am 56 and have a cystocele. I often use a Play Tex Sport tampon, super size, for support. I learned about them from others on this site. Their chief virtue seems to be that they are shorter in length than most, and therefore more easily kept in place in our altered inside spaces.

Always, I apply lots of lubricant to the applicator and the tip of the tampon. If I then bend over from the hips, everything inside moves up and out of the way. Then I stand up and put one foot up on the toilet seat (umm, you might want to close the lid) and insert the tampon.

Usually, this keeps me from feeling that bulging or pinching sensation. This helps me a great deal psychologically. After eight hours or so, I generally remove the tampon and either put in a new one or let it go for the day.

There is very little risk of toxic shock syndrome due to the absence of blood for bacteria to consume. When I travel, I take a small screw-cap plastic container with lubricant in it. I have traveled by air like this with very little bother. One thing is to keep your bowels moving by taking in water and fiber. This can be an issue when traveling.

Some women find that they can't keep a tampon in because of their prolapsed condition. I hope you find that this solution works well for you. I have found these little disposable items to be something of a life saver. Happy travels!

Best wishes,
Saddleup

Hi. I am also from Canada... Ontario to be exact. If you live near me find a gyn to fit you with a pessary shouldn't be hard to find. I have a specialist who will fit me whenever I feel I need it.

I am 23 with 3rd degree uterine prolapse and 1st degree rectocele and cystocele. I have tried tampons but the pressure of my uterus just pushes it right out. Some people have had success with the jade and pearl sea sponge. I personally have not but that doesn't mean that you won't... especially with a less severe prolapse. Keep trying and don't give up! There are options!

Hi Angelica

I am one of the women who used a pessary early on (20 years or so ago, when I was in my mid-30s) , and never really liked it, though it did help initially with discomfort during menstruation, when my cervix was just coming down a bit and caused menstrual problems with my retroverted uterus. It was the 'least worst' option. After a few months of use I decided that it was more trouble than it was worth, as I couldn't empty my bowel without it falling out and it did interfere with emptying my bladder, so I was continually inserting it and removing it for the first few days of menstruation, which was yukky and uncomfortable. It was little help in between times because it would not stay horizontal, and began to come out on a regular basis.

After a worsening of my POPs, a narrow escape from 'hysterectomy and the works' and 6 years of Wholewoman techniques my POPs don't cause me any symptoms I cannot immediately alleviate using my own body. I had my last menstrual period nearly three years ago.

I would no sooner use a pessary, even when I feel the bulge, than fly to the moon. I now see the bulge as being only a useful sign that I am abusing my body, rather than a prompt to give it some outside help. My POP symptoms have become the canary in the mine, rather than problems in themselves.

However, I do recognise that some women find pessaries of different types and materials are invaluable in managing their symptoms, and I wouldn't criticise them one bit for that. I may yet find a use for a pessary. It is something else I have up my sleeve for later in life. I plan living a long time yet, so I still consider all possibilities. We do not yet know what happens to women who use Wholewoman techniques into their 90's and beyond. Bring it on!

Louise

I am with you Louise on that one. If i am wearing a tampon, i can't feel it if i am overdoing it. it masks the symptoms, which are for me a clear signal of what is going on. If i lift something i shouldn't, i feel the back wall ache. that is an instant "STOP!!!!" sign for me. if i carry my not so little little one too much, i feel saggy. again, for me, i take it as a "time for you to walk!" sign.

i do at times find tampons useful, mostly if my bowel is full but not moving, which makes it prone to tumbling down. I know now it will go back, but i hate the feeling...so i prefer to avoid that. but, since visiting Christine, i need to do that less and less even when my bowel is full, as things just stay more upright! the whole area is tighter and holds itself in better now that i know more about how i should hold myself.

so again, very personal choice, but one you may find you don't need to make after some time with this work. and i may make it in the future. but at the moment, i can't see that arising as i feel confident my POP are only heading in one direction--and it's not down!

hello, i have tried using tampons for the first time for my prolapse bladder but have trouble with it slipping should i use a larger one or am i inserting it far enough. Its really been useful reading all your comments and makes me realise im not alone in this

Am I correct to assume that even with stage 3 cystocele, you can use a tampon and that will hold things in place? I would like to try this as this is so new to me. Thanks again for all your great comments.

Since discovering my prolapses, only once did I ever try using a tampon for support, and it felt awful. Tampons coming down (and sometimes eventually out) was one of my earliest prolapse symptoms before menopause. I believe that I have primary rectocele though, and maybe that's why......I've heard tampons are the least helpful in that situation. I haven't experimented. But I suppose you can't do yourself any harm in trying something. There are others on this forum who have used them. I wouldn't assume anything, though.

I'm 67 and have been diagnosed with a 2 on a 10 scale cystocele. I think I have a rectocele too, but not too severe. I've been doing the WW work for only about a month now, and have found the tampon to be of help, but I too think that it masks the symptoms we need to warn us about overdoing it. Recently I traveled by plane for four hours and I wore one the whole day as I didn't know what to expect. I'm trying to wear one less and less, but rather when I feel the pinching and bulging symptoms to either stand in the WW posture or find a place to sit in a right or acute angle. Both of these thing help the symptoms tremendously especially the sitting. Today I could actually feel improvement overall!

Yes, it is great when you start to realise that it is working. Great stuff, eh?

Hi Angelica and WW women,
Just thought I'd put my twopennath worth into the discussion:
I had a uterine prolapse to varying degrees last year. Prior to engaging with WW management when I used tampons during menstruation the tampons were istuated next to my uterus and did not prevent the uterus from prolapsing, so weren't any use. However since engaging in WW over time my prolapse has improved so much the cervix is now mostly tucked up above the vaginal passage. Sometimes my cerivx descends and just as some others have mentioned, that to me is a warning that I need to take greater care. On relfection I usually realise I've overdone it or haven't done my exercises or posture enough. So it's a useful 'canary in the mine' as someone above said.
For anyone considering using a pessary I would recommend trying out WW posture, exercises, diet, lifestyle... first. As pessaries can keep the vaginal passage open and may over time make the situation worse. However, that said wome women report improvements with pessaries, although I wonder how it is in the long run?
xwholewomanuk