Hernia vs.Prolapse?

This is probably not the entire answer to your question, but I do know that some doctors will incorrectly characterize prolapse as a hernia. Here is a quote from STWW, page 39:

"Although pelvic surgeons often refer to prolapsed pelvic organs as "hernias", they are not. A hernia is a section of abdominal viscera that has burst through the musculature of the abdominal wall. These conditions are not subject to the same gravitational forces that prolapsed pelvic organs are, and respond very well to surgical repair."

As Surviving60 said - Some Doctors like to use the word 'Hernia' to make you think that it is an easy fix - And that this is something so abnormal but that their 'little operation' will make all well and fine again.

I have had both - I have had 2 hernias (Paraumbilical and the second they called incisional)
I have a whole host of Prolapses (Cystocele rectocele urethrocele - Whatever LOL) And I treat them totally differently - And I would NOT allow any doctor to fiddle with them! No matter what 'little operation' they offer me - I ain't playin!

I think Doctors should be forced to show us the whole picture - Instead of painting something as 'little' when it is not. No doubt they would say that telling lies is somehow in the best interests of the patient (No idea how- Knowledge is power) But I am sure they have some weird way to tell themselves that mis-representing their operations is to our advantage (????)

Whatever your Gyn tells you - Remember it - Write it on here and the words will be deciphered into words that will be far more understandable to you.

All WILL be OK

Once I read that someone thought they had prolapse, only to discover it was instead a cyst. So, it's great to get a diagnosis for sure!

My first hernia, I just had a lump protruding, the doc said it was a lipoma or something for ages but another doc posted his finger through it so it was a hernia. Just above the belly button. This is so different to prolapse as this hernia made it hard to eat properly as after I ate - I felt ill. I had to lie down till the food felt more comfortable in there... Seond hernia my belly went kind of protruding in a lopsided triangle tho that time only fat was getting through it unlike no1 when it got strangulated and had to be fixed fast.

I guess in many ways you would assume that a hernia and a POP are similar. But the fixing of a hernia can be by stitching it (as in my no1) or mesh (as in my no2) But - The mesh surgeries work OK with hernias - Internal pressures hold them in place and they are not within an area that needs to be able to move, like POP does.

When they 'fix' prolapses with mesh or even just suturing this to that, tying it up - They are kinda tying down areas that NEED to be able to move, and internal pressures work differently down there. A womans internal organs need to be able to move, all day every day. Tying them down can cause a whole myriad of problems, that no woman really wants to deal with.

If you have been doing alot of heavy lifting - That could have aggravated your prolapse - I did that once and paid he price for a few months afterwards.

I don't think you can really see hernias and POPs in the same way - They are so vastly different. Mainly because of how a womans body works, moves, etc
I hafta say - I do not like having the hernia mesh inside of me - I dont like having 'fake' things in there - It really bugs me. But - I didn't know alot about mesh back then. Whats done is done and it is doing it's job. But - If someone offered me an op for my prolapses - I would smile, tell them I do not need any little operation... And move swiftly away.

I know that these 'health professionals' have been taught to 'sell' to us this 'fix' with certain words that make the person (You or I) feel like they are really helping, and all will be OK. Fact is - If you have read any of the sites of people who have had POP surgeries - The complications I have read tabout on those sites were scary and horrific to me. So - I decided a long time ago that - POP is not deadly (My hernia being strangulated WAS deadly) so as my POP is not deadly and I can live with it... That is what I shall do. :-)

There once was a time when POP was the one who held the reigns in my life... Can I do this, should do that... Now - *I* hold the reigns. Which has freed me from alot of worrying. The fact that I feel surprisingly normal 99% of the time amazes me now (At period time it does feel weird sometimes) - As a few years ago I felt nowhere near normal. It may take you some time to get your head round it - But it CAN be done. Seriously - It can! I was a total head case of worrying about this, scared to death of being unable to stabilize it - But I did.... I am still amazed that I did. But I do believe that this site gave me a gift that when I went through the second POPperama after lifting something far too heavy and upsetting POP, I still had the lessons learned instilled in my head, and time made it all OK - But it did take time.

Heavy lifting is what upsets my POP, so I try to avoid thatas much as i can. I know you are a carer for your husband, so I guess maybe trying different ways to lift might aid you some? I hope so.

Good Luck!

We get so much wonderful and instructive information here - I try to read as many posts as possible.
The educational informative ones are such good advice but sometimes can be a little over my head until it sinks in.

The post above mine here by MeMyselfAndI really explains a clear reason why we don't want our valuable organs cut and stitched.

Thank you MM&I for that post - it really resounded with me on a bad day .. and reinforced the thinking as it does often when I visit.

So grateful to those in the know for keeping us well informed and keeping our valuable bodies intact.

Thanks Take Care - I always assume just talk rubbish (and too much of it)
The only way I say things - Is how I see them - I am a call a spade a spade type person and some people don't like that.... But - For me anyways - I would rather have some harsh news and hafta deal with it - Than to be told some feel good stuff that is really just mushy crap....

We can live well with Prolapse - We can - And we WILL!