Complete hysterectomy prolapse, help

Hi Maryanne and welcome. Christine has for years encouraged post-hyst women to do this work. Because, it's the only thing you can do. It's the only thing any of us can do!

Hyst can cause other organs to prolapse into the empty space, and furthermore you are at risk of a vaginal vault prolapse which can become quite problematic. Because of the skeletal changes brought on over time in the post-hyst body, you just need to be especially careful and take it really slowly. And even though your results won't equal those of a wombed women who has the round ligaments and the weight of the uterus to help pull things forward, you still need to keep the remaining organs as far forward as you can. That is what this work is all about.

If tampons are helping your symptoms, then I don't see any reason not to use them occasionally. They can be quite drying, but it seems you have found a solution for that. If your hyst has left you with a fair amount of length to the vagina, then it's really better to try and keep that vaginal space closed and flattened, which the posture work can help with. A tampon or a pessary hold the vagina open. - Surviving

It would probably be helpful to know if this is a VV prolapse, or just a cystocele or rectocele that is present. Can't really tell from your symptoms, as they are common to all forms of prolapse. A VV prolapse is the vaginal canal actually beginning to turn inside out.

It is really the posture itself that helps manage prolapse. The relaxed belly, strongly lifted chest, forming this lumbar curvature that helps hold the organs forward, with the help of gravity and breathing into the belly (not the chest). We learn to hold ourselves more or less horizontal from the hips down. If you get down on your hands and knees, do you feel some relief from your symptoms? If so......this is why we try to keep our lower half in much the same plane when we stand upright.

In a prolapsed woman with no surgical history, any and all of Christine's exercises help support this posture and make the body strong and flexible in all the ways necessary for holding this posture effectively throughout the day. But a post-hyst women with emerging prolapse (esp. if vaginal vault) has to be really careful about exercise. You must protect your bones and joints from impact and from trying to do too much too fast. There are different ways to do different procedures and you may have stitches/sutures that can be compromised by too much of the wrong kind of movements.

So start by adopting WW posture slowly but surely and see how it makes you feel. Here is a clip from Christine's basic dvd that will refresh you on the elements of posture:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RvGROzIYN6w

Give the posture a go.....it can only help. Let us know your progress. - Surviving

Hi Maryanne 12,
As the WW work becomes a healthy way of life for women of all ages and stages in life, and is actually a healthy way of living, I would think it would be advisable to follow this approach. However, as with anyone who has a health issue/ problem you may have to make modifications to suit your individual needs.

I've read and heard Christine say that post hysterectomy women need to be careful when they do circular exercises of the hips, e.g hip circles in seated position or on all fours, rocking the pelvis forward and back… Take care in these kinds of postures, work gently rather than strongly and take very careful note of how your body is feeling and responding tho these exercises. If in doubt you could avoid certain postures which may be detrimental to you, and do the postures which are fine.. and there are plenty of them! The reason is that usually women don't have the information about how their operations were performed; e.g. where the top of the vaginal passage was sutured to, so hysterectomised women need to be careful not to over-stretch or tear these sutures. Hence being careful around strong circular movements, wheres other postures will be fine; e.g. raising one leg to the front, side and back in standing position.

I agree with Surviving 60, posture is key. The 3 cornerstones of the WW approach is posture, diet and good and safe elimination.

Love and best wishes,
wholewomanukx

Maryanne, I think prolapse can often make us feel like we're turning inside out....but it is not a description to be used lightly. I for one think that it would be important for you to know if you are working on a vaginal vault prolapse, or if you just have cystocele/rectocele. The vaginal vault turning inside out is a bit more complicated that just having other organs bulging into that space. It can become a serious evisceration that can ultimately require more surgery. - Surviving

The exercise that you are doing for your back seems fine to me. I tried it and I didn't feel any strain on the pelvic organs. Because it seems to work the lower back, I think that if this feels good, you should be able to work your way to some semblance of Whole Woman posture over time. So keep in mind that any exercise you do when upright, must be done in posture. Yoga First Wheel would be a good choice for that. You must do the best WW posture that you can, while you exercise, and gradually the exercises will help you hold that posture more and more easily. It's important that you work slowly. Good luck and keep us posted! - Surviving

Hello, This is my first communication. It was only 3 weeks ago I was riding my horse like the wind, and then one day I dismounted and felt an uncomfortable bulge and it's been a nightmare ever since. I got in to see my GP within 2 days. She said the situation is not alarming, just inconvenient, and that I should do kegals and if it worsens, she has a good surgeon she will refer me to. Thankfully, I don't put my full faith in doctors, and as a result found WW. I really don't know what kind I have, but when I have the courage to look, it's a visible round mass (hard to even type this). I'm ordering the material, and I will do the work with great faith and hope. Is there anyone out there who has been able to ride horses after prolapse?

Sorry Marryanne, I'm a newbie to this forum and posted as a comment in error. Thinking of you and wishing you good results.

Hi Hopeful and welcome. We have had posts from riders in the past, and not being one, I'm not sure where the discussion left off. But what every activity comes down to, with prolapse, is whether or not you can do it while holding correct posture, or what if any modifications can you make. It may depend on your saddle and type of riding. If you sit in the saddle hunched over with a collapsed lower lumbar curve, definitely a no-no. If you can sit up straight enough to keep a nice curvature in your lumbar spine, and can ride with a relaxed lower belly (this to me is the big question) then it should be fine. Your GP's suggestions are both bad (kegels and surgery) so I hope you'll stick around! Good luck and feel free to ask anything here. - Surviving

Thanks so much for making me feel welcome. You are very giving, providing hope to many women on these forums. I realize that I entered on the wrong thread, and will ensure that I don't do that in the future. I did search under horse riders and found a lot of previous posts, but was unable to open the comments associated with each. I'm waiting for my ordered material to arrive, but have already started changing my posture (so challenging when you have been holding in your stomach most of your life). Thanks again !

Hi HHL - when you bring up discussions from a Search, don't try to click where it says "comments". Click on the title of the discussion, and the whole thread will come up for you to read. Good luck and keep us posted! - Surviving

Hey - haven't been on here in years but you can search in my user name to see how desperate I once was. Anyway, I use a tampon, small one of organic cotton, most days, removing in the evenings. At the risk if tempting fate, this renders me pretty much symptom free. I don't get dryness and haven't (to my knowledge) have any infections which may stem from regular ramping use. I am able nit only to walk and stand but do Zumba and other bouncy things which I love (most saying my bladder is the best but its not too bad). And I have the kind of prolapse that lets me see my cervix with ease :- ( in other words a pretty bad one. Through practise I seem to have found the right place (on the right side of vag) where it miraculously holds it all up. I wish you the same success!

Typos!!!

Well, this isn't the best long-term strategy for prolapse management, but if it works and you're happy with it, OK then. I haven't read through your old posts, but of course I'm wondering if you tried the Whole Woman approach. Wouldn't you rather learn to stabilize and possibly improve things? Did you know that WW posture has long-term implications far beyond just prolapse management? Hope you'll come back and give it another go. - Surviving