Newbie - various questions incl. back pain from posture?

Submitted by Salt on September 4, 2011 - 3:40pm
Body: 

hello,
I am new to the forum. I've ordered First Aid For Prolapse and am using the posture as learned from the FAQ and free videos until my DVD arrives.

I am wondering if it's normal to have back pain from doing the posture? My lower back is hurting so much and I'm exhausted from trying to maintain the posture.

My history:
I'm 35, never had children, discovered a uterine prolapse a week and a half ago - which in hindsight I realise was probably present for at least a week before discovery but not more than 2 weeks. I know this because I have cervical cysts and check them on a regular basis. So because of this I know that my cervix went from normal position to dropped down position very fast.
When I first noticed it, my cervix was about an inch inside my vagina. Normally I could hardly touch the tip of it with the end of my middle finger. On the 'discovery day' (d-day for short), I could feel all around and behind the cervix - it was like a huge cone, point down in my vagina. is this conical shape normal for a prolapse, does anyone know?
It freaked me out beyond belief and I'm still in shock - I'm sure you can all relate so I won't go into the emotional part much right now.

When I went to the doctor the next day, she said nothing was wrong. Which I thought was ridiculous because at that point I could barely even fit a small tampon inside (let alone my partner!). After she left the room I rechecked and yes, the 'cone' was still there. Obviously I won't see her again :-)
Since 'd-day', I've been good about checking obsessively. been checking every few days and it has definitely improved. I could wear a tampon now and maybe even have very gentle sex.
I'm wondering if having it improve so fast is a sign that it may be able to heal all the way? Hoping.
I had done some very heavy lifting about a week before 'd-day' and think this may be the cause of the prolapse. I was probably more vulnerable to it because I have had chronic bowel problems for years and also, for the last few years, I have months of coughing every spring and fall with asthma/allergies. no medication helps it so I can't avoid it.

I'm uncomfortable in my lower abdomen and have to pee more often (no incontinence). I can't tell if my bladder is pressing down into the top of my vagina. there is no bubble but the roof of my vagina feels very weird. much more cushiony and squishy. Also wondering if this is normal.
What it feels like is as if all of the skin there is looser now because of the cervix having fallen lower. Very hard to explain.

Does anyone know how important it is to get checked to rule out tumours or fibroids as a cause?
And, if it's important, what tests are the least invasive but still work?

Thank you to anyone who made it through reading allllll of that!
I would love any feedback, ideas or sharing that you may have.

thanks so much,
Lily

chickaboom

September 5, 2011 - 4:39am

Hi Lily-- I also had some lower back discomfort when I first began trying to keep in posture a few months ago. I then realized that I had been exaggerating my lumbar curve in my eagerness to try and stand properly. It might help if you try to focus mainly on lifting your chest (shoulders down) and relaxing your belly and see if that won't ease your back pain.

kiwigirl

September 5, 2011 - 5:43am

I agree with chickaboom, as I too had been exaggerating my lumbar curve and had lower back pain.Changing my posture slightly, after rereading some posts (like Kiki's when she visited Christine ), helped and going slower with the exercises. It helps to put your feet up eg lie on the floor and put feet up onto a chair , bed or couch.Just doing that for 20minutes or longer helps.
I too get that funny pressure feeling and squishy feeling.Have had it this weekend.Sometimes the things we need to do in our lives upsets our Pop(prolapse.Just a glitch, and reminder to follow my own advice :-).
Read as much as you can here.Reading the latest posts,also the "recent comments" heading bottom left of this page and the "Active forum topics" and "New forum topics" headings.
All the best and I hope you start feeling brighter and optimistic soon.
By the way am pretty sure the start of mine was some heavy lifting at age 20, and also coughing fits(like you for the same reasons).

Salt

September 5, 2011 - 7:46am

thanks so much chickaboom and kiwigirl.
I think that's exactly what I've been doing - exaggerating that lumbar curve.
I will try to focus on lifting my chest and relaxing and breathing into my belly.
Even in the few seconds I've tried this since reading your comments, it feels better and more natural.
I was a person who tensed my tummy up in response to stress (which I have a lot of) so this is a big challenge but a very good one. sometimes I have to re-relax it every few seconds because I've already tensed up again.
I also tense my shoulders up so it's great to have a powerful reason to change that even though I wish I didn't have the reason :-)

I will keep reading the posts and learning.

thank you again for your replies.

louiseds

September 5, 2011 - 8:16am

Welcome Salt

I am guessing that you are in the northern hemisphere and heading into autumn/fall. Chronic coughing was a major factor in my worries about POP, as was constipation. You will need to attend to both of these to get consistent improvement in your pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

If I managed to knock constant coughing and constipation on the head, you can too. Google Buteyko, and read everything about it that you can. It is about breathing through your nose, keeping your mouth shut except when taking a mouthful or speaking/singing or otherwise vocalising. It is also about keeping some air in your lungs at all times by raising your chest, and slowing your breathing down, and breathing less air in during each inhalation. You will be amazed at how little oxygen you can get away with. There are exercises to do, to train your body to breathe slower. You do need to be taught by a skilled teacher.

It is absolutely in harmony with Wholewoman and shares characteristics with it.

Asthma gone, coughing gone, sinus problems gone, nose unblocked. Sounds impossible? It works. It worked very well for me, and I know others who have had the same sort of success or better.

It has to be worth a try. I figured that the money it cost me to do the course paid for itself in the first two years because I saved a heap of money from not having to go to the doctor all the time for prescriptions, mileage in my car for trips 100km each way to the specialist, cost of drugs, and unpaid time off work to do these all day trips. That is apart from the fact that I was scared to stay outdoors for more than five minutes at a time because it worsened my aathma. I had become isolated by this damned coughing and my own fear.

There are a few other tips for preventing coughing. Sit up to sleep. Use an analgesic to calm your throat before you go to bed. Use steam inhalations straight away if you wake up coughing in the night (or a humidifier by your bed), and keep up the analgesia all night, which was the worst time for me. Stopping night coughing means you get better sleep, so your body recovers better. Coughing creates more inflammation by shaking the tissues in your throat and sucking cold air in quickly. Inflammation causes more coughing. The only way to stop it is to lessen both, until they disappear. It also takes some will power to make your body not cough when it feels that tickle. Do all you can, including the above to thwart the tickle. You will be rewarded.

Your nose is very convoluted, to catch all the germs, dust and pollen, and warm the air on the way in. Your throat is a freeway for germs, dust and pollen, and does not warm the air. Do not breathe through your mouth, ever again.

Louise

Salt

September 5, 2011 - 2:37pm

thank you Louise,
I heard about the Buteyko method about a year ago and have been only nose-breathing ever since. It feels so natural now and I much prefer it! it's wonderful to hear how much it has helped you. I am chemically-sensitive so can't use medications etc anyway (though I did try once to see if it helped and it didn't so I'm not missing much :).

I know that healing my bowel situation will help a lot with preventing POP from getting worse. I have alternating constipation and diarrhea (from extensive food sensitivities) so, at this point, I haven't been able to use any of the traditional solutions for each because I'm so sensitive that using something to help diarrhea triggers days of constipation... and using something to stop constipation triggers days of diarrhea! and both trigger bleeding fissures when they are severe which I've been trying to avoid like the plague because I'm borderline anemic, don't tolerate even tiny amounts of iron and so am trying to not lose any blood other than periods.

Sometimes... often actually, I feel so overwhelmed by all of the different health issues going on. each one of them alone feels like more than enough you know?

I'm trying to drink tons of water and err on the side of having diarrhea triggered rather than constipation. And the coughing hasn't started yet this fall so I'm hoping it won't at all. It's only been the last few years it has happened at all so I know my body is capable of *not* reacting that way. This spring it ended sooner than the other years so that is hopeful. :-)

It sounds like you had a very difficult journey with the coughing and fear - and all of the things that went with the coughing! (sinus, sleep trouble... that alone can effect so much. sleep is invaluable).
I'm so glad that you have found something that helps so much. And it's so nice that it's natural! and compatible with wholewoman way

thank you for all of the wisdom you shared
take care
Lily/Salt

alemama

September 5, 2011 - 4:17pm

Have you heard of leaky gut syndrome? There is a connection with leaky gut and seasonal allergies. Here's a popular culture article describing it.
http://www.leakygutcure.com/blog/symptoms/leaky-gut-seasonal-allergies/

It's easy to see how you would start to feel overwhelmed by your health issues.
It is not easy to heal your gut. But it is possible.
I've read a great deal about the constipation/diarrhea cycle. It's possible that you are experiencing a situation that goes like this: Stool remains in the intestine and dries out and compacts- constipation. Then additional loose stool is produced in the intestine and leaks around the blockage- diarrhea.
This can be triggered by allergies and immune suppression (from stress even) and other factors (parasites, bacterial imbalance, lack of digestive enzymes).
I hope that finding your prolapse will set you on a path to healing the same way it did for me :)

keh

September 7, 2011 - 5:56am

Hi Salt, I hope that all the new information you've received and the posture work you are doing are helping you feel better. I just wanted to add my ditto to the back pain comments. I had my "d day" June 16, so I've been practicing the WW posture for almost 2 1/2 months. For the first 4-5 weeks, I experienced lots of soreness and pain in my back. And yet, I knew this was a better posture and was strengthening my back. I was also totally exhausted--I spent a lot of time on the couch during the first month. It is a very energetic posture. Fortunately, I can report significant progress on the prolapse, though I still struggle with the rectocele. Still working on it. I wish you good healing. --keh

Salt

September 7, 2011 - 1:21pm

thank you for sharing that Keh,

I've been exhausted too and it's a big relief to know you felt that also (as well as the pain).
I'm so happy for you about the prolapse progress and am hoping you'll find the same soon with the rectocele.
I wish you much healing
Salt

Salt

September 7, 2011 - 1:27pm

thank you for your comment alemama
your intuition is right on!
I have suspected that I have leaky gut syndrome for a few years now. nothing else adequately explains my extensive food sensitivities and bowel symptoms.
I've had partial healing through the use of L-glutamine (which I now react to) and NAG - n-acetyl-glucosamine as well as probiotics and enzymes. I had been only able to eat 3 foods but can now eat far more in small amounts. So I'm hopeful that it will heal even more over time as I give it care.

Your final line moved me so much. thank you. I feel like I've seen my body as an inconvenient thing that causes me suffering. this prolapse feels like a wake up call telling me it's time to honour, love and cherish this body, to inhabit it and love living in it.
I am no stranger to health issues having hidden gifts and so I am very hopeful that this will, indeed, set me on a path to healing.
It's so wonderful knowing that it has been that way for you. thank you for sharing that.
:-)