progress anyone?

First things first: I have not had a hysterectomy and am hoping to avoid or at the very least keep the surgeon waiting for as long as I can. I think it is fantastic that you found this site. I think your voice on this forum is sorely needed. It does not appear that there are many hysterectomized (is that a word) women on this site. Your comment of being in the research group made me smile. I read your original introductory post and it appears that you are ahead of the curve in many things, so a lot of your focus would be transitioning to the WW posture and exercises. Because you are already familiar with posture and motion, and because you have had a hysterectomy, you would probably develop a keen sense of how a hysterectomized woman could incorporate this program. Perhaps then, instead of being in the "research group", you would be able to answer another woman who finds her body altered and needs guidance and support. Who knows, some day you may have the answers I need should things shift beyond my control and I lose my hub. I am glad you are here and hope to see more of your posts.

Hi AnotherChapter,

I could see from early on that post-hyst women did not gain the same level of result as those with a uterus, understanding that it is the round ligaments, which are destroyed in all forms of the operation, that pull the entire pelvic contents down and forward and against the lower belly. I was overjoyed when I finally realized that post-hysterectomy women need this work at least as much as the rest of us.

There are major issues though, as it is true that you no longer have the “heavy lifter” of the pelvis. Yet, you still have a bladder that must be held forward and intestines that are still connected to your vagina at the level of your top back vaginal wall. The work for you will be learning to hold your abdominal contents forward and away from the outlet at the back of the body.

Did you have any surgery on your vaginal walls - commonly called a&p repairs? Women need to be educated that the more of the long, tubular vagina is taken during these surgeries, the greater risk there is of “vault” prolapse, a condition where the vagina turns inside-out. It is this possibility we hope the postural work will prevent.

In my humble opinion, you will probably be dealing with the cystocele for the long-term. Probably rectocele too. That may sound terrible, but it pales in comparison with other life-altering effects of further surgery. If you have enough vaginal tissue left to fold down against intraabdominal pressure, some semblance of natural pelvic dynamics could be maintained. We call cystocele-rectocele “nature’s pessary” because these bulges hold the vault back from the vaginal opening.

Take the work very slowly and be especially watchful of your lower back. The strong, muscular uterus also acts to keep your sacrum in a horizontal position. Hysterectomy causes major skeletal change to the spine and pelvis.

Please try not to be discouraged. We all are working with what we have, emotionally, physically and otherwise. That is life and all we can do is mine the value out of our experience.

Be extra kind to yourself and we would love to hear how you do.

Wishing you well,

Christine

Body, I too am interested to know how other post hysterectomy women have done using this information to help their prolapse.

I had a "prolapse" this year in January 2013. I noticed a bulge and also some other symptoms, like difficulty urinating and getting bladder empty, constipation ( I've never had this problem) and some itching. The first Dr told me my cervix was coming out and recommended a pessary, which for me was unacceptable at the time. The second Dr told me it was my bladder I was seeing and feeling and she made the comment that if it were her she would "rather self-catherize than be incontinent. She referred me to a uro-gynocologist who examined me and said I had a rectocele, cystocele, my small intestines were coming down and my uterus and cervix. They recommended a pessary or surgery which could not be performed for another 4 months because of a waiting list. I did try 4 pessaries which all fell back down. I was then told to wear a super size tampon ( never did i ever use tampons in my life) and that could help me to urinate which I did daily. To make a long story short, I was so scared and so devastated about the entire condition I had a nervous breakdown and ended up in a stress center for 4 days. Eventually, I did have to resort to self- catherization which created terrible anxiety for me. I was a mess. My husband performed the catherization for me cause I just couldn't do it myself. I did have surgery on May 2nd of this year. I wore a sub-pubic catheter for about 10 days before I was able to urinate on my own. It has been a long and slow recovery, and I am better now--BUT----I still have a "weakness" in my anterior vaginal wall and a tiny bulge which I can feel at times. I do not want to have anymore surgery. I have fought to keep my uterus for years because my gyno told me my ligaments were all stretched from 3 children and I had a history of polyps, cysts and fibroid tumors. I had a late menopause at age 58. Seems after the periods stopped, everything went crazy. I felt like my own body was betraying me by the prolapse and the difficulty with elimination. I am still recovering emotionally and physically however, I feel a 100% better than I did. I came to this website to find a safe exercise program and to avoid anymore surgery. I appreciate any feedback. I am ordering the 1st yoga wheel. I have always been active with regular yoga, Pilates and weight resistant training pre-surgery. Any suggestions would be very welcome!

Hi Jettybetty,

Thanks for writing in and I hope you will benefit greatly from the WW work. My above post to AC should help you understand the issues. Yes, WWY1 is the exercise program I would recommend if you are in good condition and have not had a sub-urethral sling or a sacrocolpopexy, as some of the exercises (pelvic rocks and pelvic circles) may dislodge sutures - we have no way of knowing.

I want to add to others who are facing the menopausal transition that it can be rough! I was just looking at pictures of myself in my late forties, which do not even resemble the body I have now at 61. I must use vaginal honey and vinegar regularly, drink red clover tea, and maintain a reasonably healthy lifestyle or else I start to seriously fall apart. We as a species live almost half our lives beyond our ability to reproduce - something entirely unique in the animal kingdom. In exchange we are called to nourish and take very good care of ourselves. Such is life and aging. There is no cure, only gentle and loving care.

Wishing you well,

Christine

Hi JB - Have you been reading about WW posture here? You will notice when you receive the yoga DVD that Christine will explain WW posture at the beginning of the DVD and will then remind you regularly to "maintain all aspects of the posture". Posture is the key to this work, and being in posture is what makes these exercises prolapse-friendly. If you have been doing a lot of traditional yoga, Pilates and weight training, you may have contributed to your prolapse by doing so. If you have been pulling in your belly, and tucking your butt under - carrying yourself in this way flattens the lumbar curvature and over time will cause a loss of pelvic organ support, as well as placing your hips in jeopardy. So make sure you are understanding posture. Good luck to you - Surviving

Hi...I noticed your comment about avoiding surgery or at least keeping the surgeon waiting as long as you can. I just want to say that it is important to remember that your body is just that. YOUR body. The surgeon has no say in the matter as long as YOU do not want to have surgery. We put Dr's on to high of a pedestal and it is hard to stand up for ourselves and say NO! But you can. I had a hysterectomy in 2000. I wish I had known all this information then. I feel Dr's should be obliged to tell us of all the complications we face due to hysterectomy done because of uterine prolapse. I know have a rectocele. And in thinking back on it, it has been going on for quite a while but I had no idea what it was. I figured it was just scar tissue. So it has probably been years that I have had this and didn't even know. I have just ordered the book and the First Wheel dvd and am very much hoping it will make some difference. Any difference will be good with me. I am nervous about going to the gyn because who knows what else is falling down. I have been lucky enough to have no other symptoms other than feeling like I have a super size, fully loaded and ready to fall out tampon up there! I just know the DR will say surgery and again, I will be telling another DR no thank you!!!

Nope, no surgery in the foreseeable future for me ;-) I took doctors off that pedestal lonnnggg ago. I did have one gyne that I really liked but we fell out over my refusal of HRT when I was sliding into menopause. My mother died from breast cancer when I was 38 (I am 59 now). Her breast cancer was estrogen dependent and she had been on HRT for more than 15-years at a dose that never tapered down (she had a hysterectomy for fibroids and a bladder suspension). When I refused HRT and explained why, he snapped back with "You are not your mother!" Back then the pieces were just starting to come together about hormone replacements. Though I elected to go through menopause naturally, I have a friend on the other side of the HRT fence and she would not be without it.

I do feel that hysterectomies have become too routine and am apalled that doctors continue to carve up women who have prolapse and managable symptoms when clearly there are alternatives. I am thankful I found this site. I don't look at my prolapses as an "embarassment" or feel any less a woman for having them. I make every attempt to "enlighten" friends to the existence of this site, even if they say "Me....prolapsed? No way!" ---- Well, you're crossing your legs when you laugh, and didn't you just come from the bathroom??? Hmmm.

I am over ten years postmeno with the usual issues of women my age. I have a cystocele/rectocele and lowering of the cervix, all of which I am managing quite well with WW and I am running as fast away from the doc's as I can --- in posture and on tiptoes ;-)

Hi Arizona! What a great reply!! It is so good to see more and more women saying no! I am going to the gyn on the 3rd but only because I want to know if I am dealing with more than rectocele and to what degree. I still have my ovaries so I have not had to deal with the HRT issue. I don't see my prolapse as an embarassment either and I will tell anyone who wants to listen all about it. I even share the link for this site on my FB page. I think the information is to important not to try to get it out to as many women as possible using whatever means possible!!