Rectocele made worse by bout with Norovirus?

Submitted by Spamelah on May 4, 2013 - 8:12pm
Body: 

I'm back.

I grew complacent for a few months and stopped following this forum. I kind of thought I had it OK with just a Stage 1 prolapse of the uterus, enterocele/rectocele. Life just goes on.

Soooooo at the end of March I had a 72 hour norovirus, complete with horrible diarrhea. Since then my prolapse feels much worse; back to where it was in the beginning when I first became symptomatic (October 2012). I thought loose stools would be good for my prolapse since there was no straining!

I now feel like I always need to poop. If I don't have a very large BM in the morning I feel uncomfortable all day. I've been looking a lot with a mirror, and whatever is prolapsing is more prominent. I am thinking it is my bladder and my vaginal wall? Could be my uterus. I don't know! I really don't feel like going back to the uro-gyn, but I would like to know what is hanging out at the opening of my vagina for future reference. I wish I could take a picture and post it. :)

Anyone else have worsening symptoms after an illness that involves diarrhea and why can't I get it to go back up? I have not stopped exercising so maybe I need to take a few weeks off of the cardio to get my girly parts back where they kind of belong. I try to stay in posture and I feel so good when I bend at the waist and jiggle my legs a bit but that is temporary relief.

Background: I'm 48, 3 kids delivered vaginally, no issue with prolapse in any delivery that I know of. My problems seem to be exacerbated by chronic constipation (from antidepressants and maybe diet) and heavy lifting. I probably was destined for some prolapse, but I helped it along by 20 years by behaving like I was a 20 year old man (lift heavy. lift often!). I still have my uterus and I am perimenopausal.

I am doing a Whole30 "detox" eating plan this month. I want to revamp my entire diet. I'm basically a healthy eater but I have a love affair with sugar. Gluten bloats me, too. I'm hoping to feel more energetic and I'd love to get my prolapse back down to Stage 1-1.5 so I can resume exercise without feeling self conscious with the little ball feeling between my legs. I have a great fear that it will all fall out while on the elliptical machine.

Sorry to ramble on. I've been missing you guys.

Forum:

Surviving60

May 5, 2013 - 5:29am

Hi Spammie and welcome back! Sorry to hear you've had a setback. The kind of illness you describe is the perfect environment for this to happen. Please don't let yourself get too discouraged. These are the times when we can prove to ourselves that we DO have control and that we can help ourselves.

I'm not the best for self-diagnosis, but it's easy enough to see and feel your cervix, as distinguished from the softer and squishier 'celes. I agree it sounds more like a worsening of rectocele, from everything you say.

Why not lay off the machines for now, and just concentrate on lots of good quality posture walking and WW exercise moves? Lots of jiggling and firebreathing, especially before/after going to the bathroom. When I have a setback there are a number of moves I fall back on. It feels good to stand in super WW posture with a nice turnout from the hips, arms up over the head, and do some deep plies, alternating with up on the toes. The 'celes feel stable and everything gets a good stretch. Such a wealth of moves on those DVD's.

Continue to be vigilant over your eating habits. This is my weakest area and I would love to hear more about the detox!

Seriously, setbacks can be a blessing in disguise. I had one early on, and it really kicked my butt right into gear. Glad you're back, stay close!! - Surviving

Spamelah

May 5, 2013 - 7:26pm

Funny to say that!

I have stayed off of the machines for the past few days and I feel better. Lots of jiggling and paying close attention to my posture. Still feeling some urgency to poop but even that is getting better. I appreciate the information and encouragement. I took the dog for a walk today and the little baby head in my vagina feeling was present quite a bit on the walk. This is a foster dog who needs some training on a leash so it wasn't always the most relaxing stroll.

The Whole30 "diet" is going to hopefully be my jump back into healthy eating. I've been a sugar fiend for the past year due to stress and probably laziness. I am at a very healthy weight but I compensated for my high intake by doing lots of calorie burning. Since my prolapse I've decreased my calorie output but not my input. It becomes a vicious cycle I'd rather not continue. To complicate matters, I am an eating disorder child of the 80's. No need to go back there!

So, for 30 days I am not eating gluten, grains, legumes, sugars or dairy. I am eating a lot of vegetables and some fruits. Nuts, seeds, coconut oil, ghee, healthy cuts of meat, eggs and drinking Crio Bru (cacao) for breakfast because it keeps me regular! I have been mostly gluten free for a few years now and feel better when I am also sugar free. I do allow some honey during these 30 days but only as it is added to the grain free granola I bought and marinades. It isn't about losing weight at all, but instead about rehabilitating my taste buds. I want to remember the sweetness of an orange or even the sweetness of an orange bell pepper! After 30 days I will slowly add back some things like dairy products and oats (I'm a butter gal and I adore scotch oats) to see if it bothers me at all. My goal is to be able to eat dessert once in a while but not to have it be a measurable part of my diet.

Better yet, I am working hard on my emotional health. Knee deep in marital and individual therapy. I have a job interview at a local food co-op which would be perfect for me! I hope they hire 'mature' women. I've been giving unsolicited health and nutrition advice for years and it would be great to perhaps get paid for it. I haven't had a paying job interview in 17 years.

I am going to stick around this time. I have met several women in my area who are living with prolapse (some were already friends), but they have all gone the conventional medicine route and really seem to have little interest in what I have to say about posture and such. So, here I will stay.

P

fab

May 6, 2013 - 8:57pm

I used to love those sweet and sour and honey/soy marinades, but have given the sugar habit the kick. A really excellent marinade for pork belly (or spare ribs if you prefer) is made from 4 plums and a 1/3rd cup of vinegar. Heat them up in saucepan and then mash the plums with a potato masher then add some chilli flakes or powder to taste or the real thing if you are into that, and about a dessert spoon of soy. Great stuff, a little more tart than honey, but a might bit better for you. Can use apples, pears, peaches whatever is in season. Just marinade overnight and brush on again half way through cooking.

Bebe

May 7, 2013 - 7:00pm

Blackstrap molasses can be a good substitute sweetener when you don't want the taste of honey is what your're sweetening. I looked at the nutritional value and it does retain a good amount of minerals while the sucrose crystals are cooked out. Just FYI.

fab

May 7, 2013 - 8:35pm

Yes, you are right Bebe, vitamin b and potassium. I just don't know about the component of the sugar left. If it is fructose then that's the fattening bit that goes straight to the liver. Fructose in a few bits of fruit is ok, because it is largely fibres whereas, just large amounts of fructose as in juice of or more oranges is what does the damage health wise as in putting on weight around middle and development of diabetes etc.