Newbie w/cystocele, please help!

Hello,

I have been diagnosed with stage 2 uterine prolapse and have recently developed cystocele symptoms. Has anyone had much luck in reversing a cystocele?

I am 44 years old. In February 2010, during my first gyn exam in 7 years, I was diagnosed with stage 2 uterine prolapse. I assume the doctor meant stage 2 out of 4, because my cervix is about 1 knuckle up, and has never descended to the vaginal opening. It was alarming, because I haven’t had children and don’t do much lifting. I still have regular periods with no noticeable perimenopause symptoms, and my mother began menopause at 51. I had been told years ago that my uterus was retroverted, and always worried that my vagina was too short because my cervix was easily reachable with my index finger. I asked a doctor about 7 years ago if it was too short or too small and she said it was fine. I have been celibate for more than a decade, and wonder if that is part of my problem.

I’m pretty sedentary and spend far too much time sitting in front of a computer. I should have started exercising as soon as I received the diagnosis, but I didn’t. I had no symptoms until about a month ago. I started having some pain around my tailbone, and some light muscle spasms and cramping/soreness deep inside about halfway between my belly button and my pubic bone. A few weeks ago, I started having a rubbing sensation just inside my vagina that feels like I’m wearing a tampon when I’m not. It isn’t painful, but it’s very annoying. At first it only bothered me on and off, but during the past few days the sensation is constant. At first I thought it was my uterus I felt, but that doesn’t seem to have moved down over the past year. I felt inside and I think it’s a cystocele. When I feel around the bladder area there seems to be a diagonal ridge within a spongy area. It feels like my vagina is collapsing from the front. When I have a bowel movement, the front wall of my vagina comes down to the opening and I’m afraid it will drop out. Is the muscle pain caused by the muscles supporting my bladder giving way? It hasn’t come out of my vagina yet, but it’s right there at the opening. Does this sound like stage 1 or stage 2 cystocele?

So I started walking several times a week, and hope to start yoga and Callanetics soon. I weigh about 155 and want to get down to about 125. Unfortunately I’m unemployed and can’t afford to see another doctor, but I will hopefully be ordering the Whole Woman package in the next month.

Questions:

1. Given my symptoms, if I really buckle down and work on getting my pelvic area into shape, will I be able to reverse the cystocele at all? How long would it take?

2. I have a Feminx Kegel exerciser I bought several years ago but haven’t used much. I’ve read that Kegels don’t do much for uterine prolapse, but might they help with a cystocele?

Any advice or suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,
Peridot