HELP WITH DOCTORS and exams...

Body: 

HI there,
i am a "long term friend" of WholeWoman and there is a story about doctors that I should share with all (just to tell how BAD it can be)... But at this moment I don't have the time to write the story - I just need some advice...

After having a prolapse for 16 months I feel like I need a real medical examination to know what is EXCATLY my situation. At this moment I don't know really wheter my uterus is still down or is it just my rectum and bladder. And to what extent and how about urethra...? It's all very confusing.

So I have been thinnking to go and have a detailed examination done by a specialist in San Fransisco, the Women's Health Center (specialised for prolapses and incontinence)...

With detailed exams I mean something like this: (pasted from the site):
NEUROLOGIC EXAM: This will evaluate the strength, sensation, and reflexes in your legs.
PELVIC EXAMINATION: This will assess whether you have any pelvic relaxation or prolapse.
POST VOID RESIDUAL URINE ASSESSMENT: This is a simple assessment to check how much urine remains in your bladder within 15 minutes of voiding. It offers an estimation of your bladder's ability to efficiently "empty the tank".
PELVIC FLOOR ASSESSMENT: As part of the pelvic examination, your provider will evaluate the strength of your pelvic floor muscles, and particularly, your own ability to contract and relax the appropriate muscle group.
etc.

Questions>
1) Has any of you ever had this kind of detailed exams done to you ? If yes, did that serve your situation?
2) Has any of you seen a specialist in the Bay Area or in SF?

okay... I hope to get back soon and share this misarable story about the ex-doc. Nothing tremendous, it is just about his amazing carelessness....

light to all,
maya

Hi Maya,

I saw a great nurse practitioner who did a very similar sounding, and pretty comprehensive evaluation for me at "The Continence Center of America" in the Phoenix area.

She was extremely helpful in explaining in a very detailed way what was going on, and discussing non- surgical options. She and all the other staff there were gentle, respectful, and encouraging, and I would fully recommend this kind of evaluation for anyone interested!

Michelle.

I have had many exams but they didnt feel that extendive...

I know I have a cystocele cos if I put a finger up 'there' (lol) I can feel like half a circle protruding from front - Your finger cannot go in a circle around the lump as the lump is kinda 'behind a wall'

I know my mother has uterine prolapse as she did this same test and she can go in a full circle all around her 'lump' Kinda like a sausage or something.

She did not mention how it felt to have her rectocele bar the dragging backache etc and she has a grade 2 rectocele I have a grade 1

OK that is prolly no help at all lol - Dunno what made me say it (eeps)

I found the best Gynae I saw would adhere to my wishes to be examined standing up, as in Uk they always make you lie down and strain to see what moves.

If you get a Gynae you feel comfortable with and you feel knows his/her stuff, I think you will find that you are much more relaxed etc.

Mum also had a text (She was kinda connected to a computer via catheter) to check her bladders emptying thingy - She said it wasn't terrible but not fun - It did not really help any just said her bladder didn't empty properly

I hope you get the Gynae you need who helps you. It is very very confusing, and sometimes they do not reallly inform you of anything and knowledge is power and helps you to choose what you wanna do.

Good luck.

hey supadeja,

thank's for that wonderfull explanation, involving actually a demo involving three D! i was so very confused at the beginning even with the aid of my anatomy book's (when i was initial studies for acupuncture) about what was where. There is a deficit of drawing's and photograph's and certainly you're description would have helped a great deal.

(Plus, I love it when we put aside our ick fear factor and just go for it to explain things well to each other.)

on that note - icky fear's and visual information. I have a photograph i took with my digital camera and wondered if it would be usefull to have a sort of (rogues =)) gallery of our changed architecture in catagories according to type of 'cele?

What do you think Christine?

Best wishes

Anne-helen

If it wasn't for the fact that my Mother is always willing to 'test' things for me I never would have noticed the difference between a Cystocele and Uterine prolapse in 'Icky Factor Testing' lolol

It helped - Cos you know ''which one is trying to get outta the door first'' lol

Mum told me the other day her Pessary ring has given her great relief from the constant dragging feeling she was having (She has Uterine and Rectocele mainly)

My problems are mainly that I have all three... But the main problem will always be the Cystocele. But I hafta say in this past year I have moved forward so much using Posture and the 'less is more kegel routine' Being that I used to do hundreds a day now I may do ten tops - And feel better than I have in like 18yrs for it :)

Sue

Wellll, what a good idea! We would have to develop some sort of standard method of taking the image so they would be comparable before and after (I am trying not to LOL here!). I am interested in what is going to happen after menopause, so if I had a visual diary it would be a little like a Baby Book, except with a "Warning: Explicit Images Within" sticker on the outside.

It would make for an interesting 'treasure for the family to find after my death', but in the meantime could provide some interesting monitoring information. We could all put them on a website somewhere. Nobody would complain - There are so many vaginas already on the WWW. Ours would just keep it real with unruly pubes (No waxing or lipstick for your photoshoot!) and unusual arrangements to balance up all the airbrushed clamshell 14yo butt perfection we usually find when trying to find out what other women look like from inside thigh view with no knickers.

This has to be the ultimate in showing how much we love our bodies. Family snaps on the internet - I can't wait!!

Cheers

Louise