Update/Question

Body: 

HI There,

I posted some time ago about my status re front & back wall and uterine prolapse stage 3. Traumatic forceps delivery, severe tissue and nerve damage about 35 stitches in the area….I'm 10 months pp.

I have adopted the WW philosophy whole heartedly for about 2 months. I practice one of the yoga/ballet DVD's daily, the posture all the time (despite my feeling deflated over looking pregnant).

Today I saw my uro/gyno and he said there is some improvement in the uterus lifting up and at a good point in my cycle it's stage 2 and that is great progress. (at a low point in the cycle it is back to a 3). The front wall seems a lot worse however. You can see the urethera poking out and the vagina opening is blocked by the bladder?? It's very awkward.

He says I need the pessary to hold up the uterus so it stops pushing down on the bladder. He said it will give it the breathing space it needs to fight gravity without the downward pressure of the uterus. I have avoided pessary use as I believe it can stretch the top of the vagina and i don't like the idea of that.

My question is could pessary use be effective on a short term basis to try to help the front wall back in place?

My real question is: Can I get better without it? Or is this more about living with it in a positive way?

Obviously feeling a bit deflated today! Other days I am much more optimistic!

Hi orange,
Sounds like you're feeling a bit blue! Not surprisingly - and I doubt there's one woman who's experienced pop who hasn't had the blues at times. However - there is real hope with the WW way. Knowing what helps to improve things and what helps to worsen things, makes all the difference, and often enables women women to feel in control and be able to manage/symptoms their pop symptoms.

Sounds like you've made some significant improvements even within the relatively short time of 2 months. It is disheartening when things get worse, but do bare in mind things can also get better. The pelvic organs and consequently pop's can be quite mobile and symptoms can vary. So think of assessments as snap hots in time, not 'this is how it is now and forevermore'. Sounds as if you have a bulge at the anterior wall of the vagina which is probably the bladder pressing against it, ie a cystocele.

I know there have been similar debates re the use of pessaries in past posts. You may well find these interesting and helpful. There is some information re this in the book, 'Saving the WW', on p. 115 (latest edition).

Many people view pessaries as lying horizontally in the vaginal passage and in that way holding the uterus up. In reality, the vaginal passage ideally is generally not an open passage but a closed one. Perhaps partly for this reason and because of the natural axis of the vagina, pessaries usually end up lying vertically in the vaginal passage. So that the upper rim of the pessary touches the cervix. Some women say this is uncomfortable. Undoubtedly the pessary may also stretch the vaginal passageway, which isn't very helpful for pelvic organ support. Pessaries,such as a thin ring with support type of pessary appear to suit women with cystocele most. These can allow the vagina to flattten almost completely.

Personally I decided to try the WW way for a prolonged period of time, before resorting to a pessary, which I felt might make it worse. I'm now around 2 years down the line and my symptoms have improved significantly. I feel I have a vulnerability to pop, but I know what to do on any 'bad days'. I'm sometimes disheartened on those days (and can usually identify a trigger), but rarely really blue because I know what I can do. Who knows maybe it'll continue to improve as I continue with this work.

The WW approach is a very holistic approach. The cornerstones of which are WW posture (and making that your default posture), good elimination (avoiding constipation, straining on the loo and taking the weight onto your feet and leaning forward when you're on the loo), and appropriate exercise. There are lots of other elements too including loose clothing around the abdomen, raising happiness levels and reducing stress, good diet, (wholesome, healthy, organic if poss..). It takes time, practice and patience. It's a day in day out; drip, drip drip approach. It takes time to heal and for some of us change the habits - and their results, of a lifetime.

Wishing you all the best, wholewomanukx