My surgeon got mad when I asked him about his treatment outcomes

Submitted by Luweze on May 6, 2017 - 2:26pm
Body: 

Hi everybody. I am 60 years old and was ready to get mesh surgery.
I also tried several peessaries. To make a long story short I discovered that the surgeon's very experienced nurse did not remove the 2.5 gelhorn properly. She did not do this intentionally just incorrectly!!! I ended up basically getting thrown out of his office because I asked about his treatcome outcomes.
I went online and was able to get my own 2.5 gelhorn for my stage 3 prolapsed bladder. I have been inserting and taking it out on my own now for two weeks. I love it!!! I can now walk around at work without feeling the bulge!!!
Of course I am getting a follow up with the doctor that gave me a 2nd opinion to NOT get the mesh surgery. That follow up appointment is in two weeks.

I will continue to keep you posted about pessaries. Because I demanded a try with an inflatable pessary, which popped right out, it showed me this insertion and removal of pessaries is very much a viable option but doctors don't want bothered. I took the inflatable home and even though it popped right out, I was able to teach myself not to be afraid because the nurse who removed the 2.5 gelhorn did it wrong! I was waiting for something to cause immediate pain but because I was in the privacy of my own home, I found a very viable solution that hopefully will be permanent.

Forum:

Aging gracefully

May 6, 2017 - 2:55pm

Hi Luweze and welcome,
While pessaries can provide a temporary fix for prolapse symptoms, the better long term solution is the whole woman posture and work. Please have a good look around this site to better familiarize yourself with this very important work.

healing with passion

May 7, 2017 - 6:05pm

Hello Luweze,
I had a similar experience with a URO Gynecologist that was recommended to me. she actually got nasty when I said I do not want surgery and could she tell me about using a pessary? she said since I told her I do not want surgery there is nothing she would do for me........I am interested in learning more about getting and using a pessary and was interested in how yours made you feel more comfortable.
did you go get fitted for the one that helped? is that something that is fitted to you? I am in my 60's too.
thank you so much for sharing. and I am new to this whole thing so forgive me for not understanding although your note was good

Luweze

May 8, 2017 - 12:22am

I think the quickest thing to do is just call me at 412-447-1225.
I would also do a search on you tube for prolapse bladder.
I found out that the pessary fitted me was the correct pessary but when she went to remove it I screamed my head off. She was not removing it correctly. I then assertively asked to have an inflatable pessary ordered. At my office visit where I got my urodynamics testing done she gave me the inflatable and I took it home with me that evening. While it popped right out, it allowed me to get familiar with inserting and removing it. I ordered my own gelhorn 2.5 online and I could not believe it.
I have been using it since April 29th and soon discovered that the pain was caused by the pessary being removed incorrectly. It is ABSOLUTELY not true that a gelhorn must be inserted and removed by a doctor every three months. I only take mine out at night when I go to bed and when I have a Howell movement. Of course at work I make sure I wash my hands and reapply a small amount of lubricant. I also make sure I clean it with gentle soap and rinse thoroughly. The key is making sure which ever one is best for you does not pop out when you squat, bear down, or cough.

I did get estace cream for keeping my vaginal tissue in good shape. I am going to the doctor who while I was getting my Pap test and told me that mesh surgery was not good. The doc was going to do surgery was going to cut my uterus in half and keep the cervix for a plug and use mesh to pull up everything.

I did read that for a stage 3 cystole the Gelhorn is a good for match.

I know it sounds crazy that I went online and got my own gelhorn pessary but I thought the reason it hurt when being removed was because it was too large when the pain was being caused by the nurse not slowly bending and angling it out.

I want to assure you that I have a follow up with an ob/gyn doc to check on the pessary on 5-25-17 to make sure the tidsue and cervix are not irritated. I have no bleeding. I could not bear leaving a pessary in three months and going back and forth every three months. I did put a lot of lube on the first time and it got quite wet and messy in my underwear. You can see the little holes that allow body fluids to drain out. But three months of leaving it in is gross to me. I think that the Uro/gyn doctors DO NOT want bothered with pessaries. They do not make money on them.

Let me also tell you I got a nasty letter in the mail from this URO/GYN doctor and I am going to start letting everyone know that surgery is one choice but a pessary can also work. I also read where many women use it for years.

I'm going to start improving my posture too and get a cut out seat so I can start riding my bike again.

Feel free to call me anytime
412-447-1225

Aging gracefully

May 8, 2017 - 7:45am

Luweze,
Not really recommended to put your phone number on a forum like this; spammers could get a hold of it.

Aging gracefully

May 8, 2017 - 7:52am

Ladies,
Just want to jump in here and remind everyone that this is the Whole Woman site. We try to encourage women to work on posture and the whole woman work for prolapse. You, of course, have the right to wear a pessary if you want to, but be aware that they do have their drawbacks. We have had many women come here after extended pessary use complaining of the problems they had with them. A quick search. on the forum can bring up many examples.

Look into the whole woman work, it is noninvasive, and for a lifetime.

Luweze

May 17, 2017 - 12:03am

I always do my homework but I have to pay my mortgage and keep a roof over my head. Just can't afford to spend the $$$.

Luweze

May 17, 2017 - 12:53am

My gelhorn Pessary success arrived just in the nick of time and I have no complaints other than how I was treated by the surgeon who got mad when I decided to get a 2nd opinion. The doctor who provided me with a 2nd opinion provided me with information about other medically acceptable treatment options.

Women now have endless resources to make good decisions about their healthcare. I made a decision to use a pessary based on the extensive amount of information that was based on the clinical treatment recommendations for a stage 3 cystole. I'm more concerned about the drawbacks of women who are not getting an annual Pap test and go undiagnosed for cervical cancer.

Aging gracefully

May 17, 2017 - 6:13am

Luweze,
You can do whatever you want, but if you haven't looked into the whole woman work, then you haven't researched everything possible for prolapse symptoms. And, I need to remind you that this is the Whole Woman site, not just some random forum about prolapse. We will always make those coming here aware of what this site is about, and that is Whole Woman posture and Christine's extended work on prolapse.
I am sorry you had such a hard time with the doctor. We get many ladies that come here with very similar stories. That's why the whole woman work is so important. It is noninvasive and for a lifetime.

Surviving60

May 17, 2017 - 11:13am

Hi Luweze - if you click on the Forum from the WW home page, you will bring up the Welcome page, which states: "The primary purpose of this forum is education and support for women interested in and committed to the Whole Woman work." You can see the entire Welcome page guidelines here:

https://wholewoman.com/newpages/forum.html

This is not to say that someone who came to this forum looking for pessary posts might not find your information helpful....they probably would. But as AG says, if the Whole Woman work isn't your thing, it's fine with us; but we have a larger goal here, and lots of women we are trying to reach and help in the best way possible. This IS the Whole Woman forum, and the moderators and members here have a responsibility to respond accordingly to any and all posts. - Surviving