medscape article

Body: 

I searched for medscape on here and didn't find anything, so I'm assuming it hasn't been posted. Just thought it was interesting...

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Pelvic Prolapse Is Not Always Chronic and Progressive CME

Feb. 18, 2004

For definitions like this:

"Prolapse was assessed as none, grade 1 (in vagina), grade 2 (to introitus), and grade 3 (outside vagina)."

How are those measured? What position is the woman in? If you can easily see the prolapsed part but it isn't sticking out, does that constitute grade 2? It seems like the person doing a pelvic exam with the woman lying down wouldn't be able to see anything sticking out unless the prolapse was severe.

One has to wonder at the fact that gyn/urogyn knows almost nothing about the natural history of the most common women

Hi Christine and all
I have not been active on this site for a while but have been checking in to the forum nevertheless. I have been pretty stable and have mostly good days. I would like to home in on your last sentence Christine about the women who have had a hysterectomy wanting us all to join their club! I find it so common among friends who say "look at me, I don't look any different without my uterus" but yet they always complain of backache, they can't carry their own luggage when travelling. My own mother was 82 when she died and right up to her sudden death, she could carry her bag when she travelled. Of course she still had her uterus. Women who have had hysterectomies and repair jobs are advised not to carry any kind of weight at all. Even though I have a prolapse, I can carry my own average size bag. I also agree it has to be normal to have slight prolapses as we age, most people have them without symptoms. Unfortunately we are the ones who have symptoms. Incidentely the kegels really helped me with regard to the bladder symptoms, I know you, Christine, suffer difficulty, like I did, emptying the bladder, having to squeeze the urine out, don't rule out the kegels, they definetly helped me, my bladder hasn't troubled me in ages. I still have days when things are down but I don't have difficulty emptying the bladder or that feeling of urgency. I'm off to Spain on my holidays tomorrow for a week, so while I'm gone keep well and I will catch up on you all soon.

Hi Brigid!

It's so good to hear from you - I did miss you and thought perhaps you were on holiday. It's SO AMAZING AND WONDERFUL to hear you women getting better one right after the other. I did worry about you, Brigid, because you were having an especially tough time of it initially. I know you've been doing the postural changes as well and hope you have a sense that the restructuring has moved your bladder into a more favorable position for urinating and general comfort. We're kegeling all day long with this work. My situation is quite different, however.

Have a marvelous time in Spain and please keep in touch.

Christine