cystocele diagnosis

Submitted by maykeypj on April 6, 2004 - 6:51pm
Body: 

I am not sure if I am posting in the correct place. I was just searching the internet and found this book. I plan to go out tomorrow to purchase it. Any information anyone can offer would be most helpful. My situation is this: I had scoliosis corrective surgery with a rod placed in my back 18 years ago. I have had increasing lower back pain for the past 3-4 years. After my second child was born 7 years ago - I immediately started feeling like something was falling out of my vagina. I was diagnosed officially with a prolapsed bladder about 2 years ago. It was decided to put any treatment on hold until I was "out of childbirth age". I am 38 years old and the prolapsed bladder hasn't really bothered me too much but my lower back pain has. I have been to a orthopedic surgeon who sent me for physical therapy for my back. After about 2 weeks of that, the prolapsed bladder caused me to cease the therapy. That doctor told me I needed to treat the bladder before any further PT should be done. I went to see a uro/gyn today and he gave me 3 options: nothing, pessary, surgery. He did say I do not need a hysterectomy but just the cystocele repair. I was very impressed with him and he was so patient and helpful. My husband is concerned, though, as this doctor tells me that I should never lift more than 10 lbs, never do any stomach toning exercises, etc - anything that could increase the pressure to the bladder and possible undo the repair. At 38 years old with a 13, 7, 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 these limitations seem rather depressing, not to mention unreasonable. My husband got me on the computer to see "what else" there is. Sorry this is long but I felt I needed to give the whole background as perhaps my background of back surgery might affect some things. Thanks.

Christine

April 7, 2004 - 6:04am

Hello and welcome,

I just don't have enough information to offer much to you. Where is the rod in your back? When the lumbar curve is not maintained, undue force is sent out the lumbar vertebrae causing pain (and herniation of the discs in some cases) to the lower back. Can you hollow your lumbar area and how does this affect the rest of your spine?

Saving The Whole Woman will tell you about cystocele repair. It is accompanied by a high failure rate and can be very compromising to vaginal and clitoral sensation. I don't know that you would find much comfort with a pessary.

If you can do the posture, I certainly would try that first. We are seeing some pretty dramatic results with it, and from my perspective it is the only thing that makes sense for all forms of prolapse assuming one has all their organs.

Wishing you well,

Christine

maykeypj

April 7, 2004 - 8:12am

Thank you for your quick response. The rod extends from mid Tspine to L2, I believe. The ortho surgeon seems to think that the final level never fully fused and may need to refuse that in the future. Also, I do have a compressed disc at the L5 level. I will be purchasing your book today and hope to gain more insight into your posture techniques. I am not sure I know what you mean about "hollowing my vertebrae" but perhaps the book will help with that? I downloaded the posture sight but have not had a chance to read it all. I am trying, however, to keep my neck and head up and shoulders down after reading the information on this site. I plan on reading and implementing your ideas as I do not feel that I am ready to limit my life - nor am I in the position to be able to - as much as the surgery seems to require. I really don't seem to have anything to loose with your book. I am praying that it will be helpful to me and I can increase the quality of my life and enjoy running and playing with my children again.

maykeypj

April 7, 2004 - 8:36am

Christine,
I just ordered your book and anxiously look forward to receiving and reading it to see how it can help me. I am thankful for my husband who doesn't just "accept" what the medical profession says and often seeks "alternative" choices where I am more of a "take what I'm told" type of person and have always felt that the medical profession had the upper hand. Never did I think that there might actually be an alternative to THIS problem! Thanks you so much for meeting the needs of many women of all different ages!

Christine

April 7, 2004 - 9:04am

I would suggest taking my material to your orthopedist and having him help advise.