Newly diagnosed

Submitted by Marlajone on April 26, 2013 - 7:36pm
Body: 

Hi Ladies,

I am so thankful that I found this website. I'm 20 months postpartum with baby #4. I had a very difficult labor and delivery with this one. I was measuring 42 weeks and not going into labor on my own, so I was induced. They kept upping the Pitocin, but I was progressing very slowly. I finally did have him after some very intense pushing (he was wedged into the pubic bone). I never felt quit right after that, but didn't notice any prolapse, (I even looked with a mirror and everything looked ok). At 14 months post partum, I switched prenatal vitamins (breastfeeding) and became very constipated, while straining I felt a bulge at my perineum and become very scared. I went to my midwife and she said I have a rectocele and a cystocele. She said there is a surgery for the rectocele, but I would really need to have a hysterectomy to get the best results. I was devastated because we wanted 1 more baby. I opted to start with P.T. and I did exercise with a EMS unit. I didn't find much results with that. I have been doing things different, eating very healthy, no constipation, but I know I need to do more. I just got Christine's book and I have the first aid for prolapse dvd coming in the mail. I'm excited to get the dvd and start exercising. I found some of the kegal exercises I was doing, was hurting my tailbone. I saw that addressed in Christine's book, and now I only do them in a right angle and monitor myself for signs of pain in the tailbone. I did go to urogynocologist today, since I made the appt. 3 months ago and hadn't been looked at except for my midwife. The uro/gyn said I have a stage 1 cystocele and stage 2 rectocele. She said kegals won't help the rectocele because it is already at the vaginal opening. She recommended a pessary, in case I want more children, but said I will eventually need surgery. She said that my tone was good and she could tell I have been doing my kegals and my uterus was where it is supposed to be and well supported.

Is it true that once a rectocele is at a stage 2 there is nothing to move it back up (besides surgery)? Will I make my condition a lot worse by having 1 more baby? I wish I could go back 5 months and not became constipated and strained causing the prolapse. I didn't even know this was possible. Why don't dr. and midwifes tell woman more about this, especially after a traumatic birth so we can be more gentle with bodies and heal?

Thank you for any advice!

Forum:

Surviving60

April 27, 2013 - 6:52am

Hi Marlajone and welcome to WW. By now, hopefully you have had a chance to delve into the book, and started to answer some of your own questions. Your doctors have given you pretty much every piece of bad and harmful advice that there is to give. Just nod and smile, and head for the door!

Have you watched the first video on the Resources page? What you have sounds like a classic "nature's pessary", which helps support the uterus and keep it in relatively good position. These 'celes are very manageable with WW posture and other common-sense measures. This is what I have, and have been doing this work successfully for 3 years.

Whole Woman is more than an exercise program, as you have probably figured out by now. You adopt this posture, and slowly but surely the lumbar curvature is restored and the organs have a place to rest in the hollow of the relaxed lower belly. Once you have retrained your body, it feels very natural and wonderful. But it can take awhile if you are accustomed to sucking in your belly and tucking in your butt, which is how so many of us have been taught to carry ourselves, and helped get us into this pickle in the first place.

Congrats on finding us and welcome to the journey! - Surviving

PS: Lots of great moms on here who have had multiple babies after a diagnosis of prolapse, and are none the worse for wear. Better maybe, because of the amazing benefits of posture. This is about much more than just prolapse. We are waiting excitedly for Christine's hips study, soon to be released.

alemama

April 27, 2013 - 10:42pm

Our baby #5 is 24 months this month and she's a doll! Go ahead and grow your family- your prolapse will not get any worse for the long term. You may find it more (or less sometimes) annoying during pregnancy and the early postpartum time, but by the time you are 20 months postpartum with #5 you will feel at least as good as you feel right now and my bet would be on better. :)

wholewomanUK

April 28, 2013 - 7:25am

Welcome Marlajone to the WW community. You'll find a wealth of support via the forum - and also elsewhere on this site. Have a look at the blog, where there are lots of helfpul articles. In particular look at 'The New Kegels'/pelvic floor exercises. Here there is alink to a utbe which shows you how to do quick and effective key exercises to improvesymptoms and managemnt of pelvic organ prolapse.

Please do continue to try the WW approach which becomes a way of life. If you opt for surgery there's no turning back, whereas with the wonderful natural, safe and effective for may, WW posture, exercises and approach, you still have options, you are in control, you don't have the distress of possibly coping with neagitve side effects of surgery - and many of us find we're actually healthier and happier than we have been i years, as it's good for overall health too.
Good luck,
xwholewomanuk

Marlajone

April 28, 2013 - 4:46pm

Thank you for the supportive comments! I've been using the WW posture as much as possible for the last few weeks since I learned it from the book. I've noticed that my upper back and lower back muscles are really sore and feel fatigued. Is this because I haven't been using these muscles as much before correct posture? How long is it usually before my muscles will strengthen enough that I don't get sore from sitting up so straight? Also, I know it's important to do the walking. I can't get outside to walk as often as I would like, but I do have an elliptical machine at home. I bought that instead of a treadmill since I have bad knees. Do you think it would be beneficial to use the elliptical (of course in posture)? I don't want to do anything to make my prolapse worse.
Thanks,
Marlajone

Surviving60

April 28, 2013 - 6:04pm

Hmmm…..that is a good question. The thing is, lots of activities are OK as long as you are experienced in posture and can modify them if necessary. But walking is lots more than just OK. Walking is maybe the best exercise there is for prolapse. It works all the right things in all the right ways, and it’s a simple and straightforward action that allows you to be very mindful of every aspect of your posture as you go. It’s basically how I taught myself the posture.

That being said, I can certainly identify with the need to do what you can, and use what you have. I’d be lost without my treadmill in the winter months. Maybe an experienced elliptical person can comment on how to use it safely. I just wouldn’t consider it a substitute for walking or any other WW exercise. If you can’t do much walking, concentrate on the DVD stuff until you get a bit further into this.

And yeah, you’re working new muscles, so you might be sore. It should be the good kind of sore, though. You don’t have to overdo – take your time. - Surviving

wholewomanUK

April 29, 2013 - 6:29am

Yes I think a lot of women find they ache and feel sore initially with the exercise. However as Surviving60 said there's soreness and SORENESS! Definately stop if you're in pain, especially sharp pain. But normal muscle ache is normal if people are exercising and accessing muscles they've not used much before.

Do remember to work up to but within your limits. You've got the rest of your life to practice this work so you have time on your side! It can be hard to follow thigs from a book. I think there are utubes about the posture. Do explore this site, look up the blog and resources. If you're luck enough to live near a WW teacher or have a consultation with Christine then basically nothing beats face to face observation and teaching and SKYPE is also available.

I ached initially too. I have a 2hr train journey to visit my mother regularly. Initially I couldn't sit in WW posture that long. So I used a lightweight mesh back support for my lumbar curve. Now I'm ok, although I sometimes roll up a coat or something to put behind me. This approach does take time. It involves developing the muscles and changing our shape, so it's not surprising I guess.

However ultimately only you know whether this ache feels within the boundaries of ok or not. If not, then perhaps a visit to the GP might help. However do be aware that the WW approach is not yet well known, so they may not be supportive of this approach.

Wishing you all the best,
xwholewomanuk