Orange

Submitted by orange on November 3, 2013 - 11:12pm
Body: 

Hi There,

So relieved to have found this website and all the precious information. Without it I would still be lost and literally caving into myself.

I had a traumatic forceps delivery in Jan this year which left me with 4th degree tearing and a bladder that literally flooded the floor. I had a catheter and urine bag for 6 weeks straight. I had around 25 stitches to begin with. My OB sent me on my way and said I'd be fine and to have a c-section next time.

When my boy was 4 months old I could barely walk or sit down from extreme burning and pain and lost my breath if I had to bend over. I went to a urogyno who told me I had stage 2 prolapse of the front and back walls and of the uterus. Along with that I had severe granulated scar tissue build up where I had been cut and where I had torn during delivery.

When my boy was 6 months I had an operation to remove the granulated scar tissue and had perineal and posterior repair. I felt better than I had all year about 2 weeks after surgery except for this strange dragging feeling and a jiggling sensation any time I moved in my lower belly.

At the 6 week follow up my doc told me the prolapse had progressed to stage 3. He said I need a sacrohysteropexy (mesh surgery). To start with he wanted to put a pessary in for 6 months to give my body a break (I refused). He put me on oestrogen cream (insert into vagina). He told me to 'rest' and not do any exercise.

Once I understood what it all meant I dove down into a dark place. I hated my body. I felt like a failure. I felt weak and out of control.

I threw myself into research and discovered the 'whole woman methods'. I work full time on correcting my posture and do one of the yoga workouts each day or ballet class. I have started to 'clear' my house and my pantry and eat as well as I can with good quality supplements. I was wearing fitted 'recover shorts' the entire year that totally sucked me in!! I've taken those off! And I have started to think positively about my body and embrace my femininity and cultivate my power. I'm finally feeling stronger and reconnecting with all parts of my body.

I had another check up last week and I have now had my condition reduced to stage 2!!!!! It's unbelievable but on the other hand I totally expected it as I have changed my mind to be set on recovering and that being possible. The uterus has moved up around 5cm. The front wall now seems more obvious. I still have a slight bulging feeling inside and a loose feeling at the opening.

Last night my husband and I were intimate for the first time in 9 months and I managed well all things considered.

I have a few questions:

- I also have stage 4 endometriosis and PCOS and have had laser to to remove the disease 2 years ago. Is there any extra considerations I should take to manage this?
- Would using a 'TENS' machine to stimulate the area help? I've seen you can get tampon like transmitters you can insert into the vagina for stimulation and exercise.
- Does lying on an 'inversion board' help?
- Does the mayan self massage technique help?
- I was using a V2 belt which seems good if I need to go to the shops or walk a little. What do think about that?
- I used to love walking, it was very much a part of my life. I walked 5kms every day. Is it possible to get back to walking or will it aggravate my condition?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Forum:

kiko

November 4, 2013 - 4:25am

Hi orange,

Wow, what a journey you've had. I know that's an understatement.

I don't have any answers regarding the PCOS and endometriosis., or the TENS machine. Some people on the forum have used an inverter board but I think the consensus was that they were expensive for the outcome and ultimately inverter boards don't support the postural work. I'm pretty sure I've read other forum users' accounts of abdominal Mayan massage and they were positive - I can't remember who they were though. Haven't tried it myself.

Keep going with the WW work. Your post was very inspiring.

kiko

November 4, 2013 - 4:30am

You will be able to get back to walking - ultimately walking in posture will only do good! Start with short distances, maybe with the V2 belt...? I'm a runner and running (for me) is the absolute best fix for prolapse as long as I run in posture. If I can't run, I walk :-)

lindamore

November 4, 2013 - 5:19am

I too have pcos but I am 47 had it my whole life. My issues with it are excessive facial hair and hair loss and difficulty losing weight. I have been trying to lose weight and have as of late on a high nutrient diet. I'm not selling anything just telling you what is currently working for me interms of diet and that is Eat to Live. You can get the book out of a library. I am scared and for me this time in my life fear is a big motivator. I know things will continue to get better for you. I too had difficult forcepts delivery with my first son 15 years ago. I never realized how much that delivery changed my life.

Surviving60

November 5, 2013 - 9:03am

Hi Orange – regarding your specific questions, there is a search box here that will enable you to look for discussions on certain topics. Meanwhile I’ll answer the best I can. And much of this will become self-evident as you study Christine’s work, learn more of the posture principles and put them into practice.

Mayan massage – I think the consensus is that if you enjoy it, then do it because it won’t make anything worse, but simply does not address the support issue.

Walking – intensive posture walking is actually what helped me to “get” this whole concept. Once that kicked in, the longer I walked, the better I felt.

Stages – do not get too hung up there. The organs are on the move all the time, and even seeing different doctors will get you different interpretations.

Inversion board – not familiar, but remember that the organs have fallen back (not down, per se) and we are trying to get them forward into the lower belly. If you are looking for a bit of symptom relief, maybe you can hang at the correct angle to achieve this, but really, it would be so much easier just to get down on hands and elbows with your butt up in the air!

V2 – we have several users of support garments here, so do a search. If you wear one, be sure it is not constricting the belly, that it allows for full extension of posture. One of our members has pointed out that it gives her the added boost of confidence so that she can relax the muscles instead of tightening them.

TENS machine – is this something that will basically do your Kegels for you? You might want to go over to the blog tab and put Kegel into the search box. This will bring up several good articles by Christine explaining why you shouldn’t even be doing these (and trust me, I’m a poster child for misguided Kegeling through many decades – if that’s such a hot idea, how did I end up with all these ‘celes??)

Orange, I’m unclear on what you’ve actually had done in addition to the removal of scar tissue. “Perineal and posterior repair” – did you have rectocele repairs, and more? - Surviving

orange

November 7, 2013 - 6:58pm

Thank you for responding

What you've written makes sense, the mayan technique I was concerned about as you push on yur tummy and that's what I'm trying to avoid in other aspects. The inversion board I have stopped using and it makes sense that it is not bringing anything forward. V2 belt is very low on pelvic bone but it is tight around sides and bottom so I only use it if I have to go to the shops and will use it walking etc or when I have to lift baby a lot in the day. I was wearing it FT before. TENS Ok I get it, no good.

I'm unclear too about what exactly I have had done. As far as I know he cut out the old scares all together of the perineum and bottom area and re-did them as they were not healed and very messy???? The scar used to extend all the way out to my bum cheek, now it is much tighter in so I can tell that much.

When I walk without the brace I feel like my vagina is flapping about with each step. And my organs inside are jiggling. Should I be clenching it in? Or will that over use the area??

I'm trying very hard at my posture and breathing and all the other tips in the book and DVD's and I am feeling more positive. Some days it does feel better, some days worse. The other day I was peeing and as I stood up I felt a bulge from the front wall fall into the vagina. I checked it and it was a big golf ball like sagging into the vagina at the opening. That was disheartening.

orange

November 7, 2013 - 7:02pm

Hello

I focus a lot on diet too. I get facial hair and had trouble losing weight. Before I got pregnant what really worked for me was completely cutting sugar and dairy and any 'soy' products or anything that stimulates oestrogen in the body (which soy does). I find 'threading' really helpful in term of the facial hair. It's the indian technique and I get my eyebrows and top lip done.

It's crazy how giving birth changes your life. I know I'll never be the same. I wish there was more communication about potential problems for woman to empower and educate before they end up in a bad situation with no idea how to help themselves!

orange

November 7, 2013 - 7:03pm

Thanks so much that's such a relief I can't wait to get back outside! I miss it so much.

orange

November 7, 2013 - 7:04pm

Thank you for your response

I have managed to get a lot one info now. I hope you are well