Can anyone offer advice and or experience in having a pessary fitted?

because I've never used one, but I hope you do get some useful responses. There are quite a few posts dealing with pessaries on these forums, though I don't think specifically on the best way to find the right doctor and right fit.
Good luck with your search and with taking up running again.
Wendy

I too would like to hear more advice about this. I have been wearing one for a year and a half, but I really don't think it fits me right, or maybe my fingers are just too short to put it in correctly. Usually it is vertical rather than horizontal and I am sure this is not too good for me, but I was desperate and feel I need something. I have been through so many doctors thru the years, I hate to keep switching, but if anyone knows a doctor or pt in dc area who is good let me know!

by the way, I can really feel the posture working, I just can't maintain it all day at my desk. I think I finally understand it and that is exciting!

thanks always to Christine for all her information and support.

I know of a great nurse practitioner who specialises in pessary fitting as well other methods of non surgical management for prolapse and incontinence for anyone living in Arizona. Not sure that anyone does but anyway.................
Michelle

I always love to hear the "aha!" when women finally get the posture. The anatomy of the pessary is very easy to visualize. Say you have either a ring or a ring-with-support pessary. You know that the vagina travels up and back and flattens to an airless space. That is why "vaginal wind" is a problem experienced only by those whose vaginas are being held slightly open by prolapse or surgical rearrangement.

Although the manufacturer's illustration shows the ring sitting horizontally within the vagina and forming sort of a collar around the cervix, in order for the vagina to take its natural form, the pessary must flip more vertically to conform to a normal vaginal axis. This means the firm rim of the pessary is butted up against the cervix and can become pretty uncomfortable for those with uterine descent.

In women with primary cystocele, however, that vertical (closer to 45-degree) placement forms a nice wall between vagina and bladder, lifting the bladder out of the vagina and toward the pubic bone. If the cervix is very high, there is little discomfort because the pessary rim is not pressing against anything except vaginal walls. The vagina can almost flatten and for many women this is a positive long-term solution. Even though the manufacturer should be told both their concept and illustration are inaccurate, the ring pessary does work, if only for a particular subset of prolapse.

Christine

Hi Christine

I was diagnosed with prolapsed uterus and cystocele 2 weeks ago...
last week had a Pessary inserted...my body did not accept it...I pulled it out after unconfortable symptoms, pain and discharge...
My GYN is already going to schedule surgery for me...but I'm skeptical about the results...very scared...
Would like to buy your exercise CD ...even comtemplating visiting Albuquerque for workshop...
Trying to avoid surgery at all costs...
Would appreciate some advice...

Thanks

Julie b.

Buy the tape and come take a class. :-)

Thanks,I understand!

Hi,
I have been using a pessary for about 9 months and it has really helped with the lower abdominal strain I was feeling. I am 50 and have universal prolapse. AT first a nurse practioner fitted me. It took 4 fittings of 4 different pessaries and all were uncomfortable or falling out. At that point I was unsure if I wanted something in me and I was ready to give up.I went to a new doctor who is a surgeon who prefers to fit the pessaries himself. I went twice and he fit me. The only problem I was having was taking it out so he gave me this nylon string which attaches to it and I've been fine. Good luck.

See a specialist!
I just saw my doctor and she RAMMED a pessary into me and it hurt like (*^(*&6 and damaged me (I started with one prolapse now i have three)
I then saw a Gynae with my mother and her pessary was about1/3 of the size of mine that would fit up my arm hers is tiny in comparason I described mine to him and he said 'way too big'

My Dr is evil though so --...

So I would say see someone who specialises as Uk doctors do not...

Good luck Mum loves hers and it has helped her no end :)

Sue

Maria, I was wondering if you could tell me the name of the pessary which has a nylon string which attached to it?
Not that I"m sure it will matter to me. I wore a pessary for 1 1/ 2 years but I gained weight and my pants were too tight (at least this is what I think happened) and one night, it just went bad. My pessary went very far back and cause me a lot of pain - I actually was bleeding. It was very, very difficult to reach.
I really miss using it - before, it worked great! I could take it out every night, or leave it in when I was camping or out of town.
Now, I use sponges, which dont work quite as well, but that also seems partly because even after 2 months, I am constantly having to remind myself to stand up straight!
Still, I am interested in the kind of pessary you are referring to.
Thanks