Whole Woman Village Forum

I’m new here.

My struggles probably began as far back as the birth of my fourth child in 1989. He weighed in at a hefty 11 pounds and 3 ounces. I’d go to the doctor and say how miserable I felt and he would say, “You’re pregnant, you’re supposed to be miserable. I’ll see you in a month”, and I would cry all the way home, only to repeat the process the next month. When my child was born, the doctor actually stood at the foot of the bed cussing because of his size. I said, “I told you I was miserable.” He just went on and on about wanting the NFL rights.

Dear Friends,
Does anyone do this besides me? For about 20 years, when my stream runs low at the end of urinating, I put my hand just below my pubic bone and do a pumping motion. And there comes more urine. It's a great help getting all the urine out. Just curious. I don't know if I do this because of prolapse or not; but it's worked for me for years. I've never heard another woman say she does it.

Right before I have a bowl movement I can feel it push into the vaginal wall. I put a finger inside my vagina to check out what was going on and could clearly feel the bowl movement pushing up into there. I have had trouble with constipation occasionally, mostly when I have sugary foods. Are these common symptoms?

Does anyone have suggestions for foods that reduce inflammation? I eat a mostly vegetarian diet that includes some dairy and fish. No meat. Did anyone find certain foods particularly helpful or harmful? I have found some info on this topic but am interested in hearing any personal experiences.

I've just realised over the last few days that when I'm standing (not walking) in posture, that I'm clenching my upper thigh muscles (backs of thighs), bum and muscles in my lower back just above my bum. I am not good on the names for these muscles at all - forgive my ignorance. Anyway I'm pretty sure that this clenching means trouble? Am I over compensating for a weakness elsewhere perhaps? Should I clench to keep in posture? Worried about doing damage to my pelvis unknowingly.

Dear Friends,
Hi, my first post....(a little scary).
I am 73, healthy, leading an active life.

I have had 2 children (grown now) (2 young grandsons) and have had prolapse repair, as well as a hysterectomy. To be honest, I just did what the doctors recommended...and it's been fine so far. Life has been going along great; and, being a positive person, I'm sure it will continue to.

I had a big shock when, about 6 months ago, sitting in my hot tub, I noticed a protrusion from my vagina. I was shocked!

Has anyone else noticed that the Registered Users total is approaching 10,000? I've been watching it grow everyday and I've only been on the site for a few weeks. So many woman with the same questions that are not being answered elsewhere is just sad to me. And, so many woman who are finding themselves with POP. So unnecessary and sad. It just astounds me. - Sierra

Has anyone ever used arnica topically on hemorrhoids. Mine are not bad. I was using typical hemorrhoid cream from the drug store but realized that it was numbing the area. Since I already have little sensation and control of of the anal muscles, I was finding that it was making things worse (even less sensation and control).

I can see and feel the rugae on by bulges inside the opening of my vagina but as I feel further inside, I no longer feel the rugae. My gyno did say that I have some vaginal laxity. Does low estrogen due to breastfeeding cause any of this? Is it from the prolapse? Is my vaginal wall totally detached from the fascia? This discovery is really worrying me.

Wildstrawberry

Everything is happening so fast, it seems like I have a new heartbreaking discovery every day. Today I noticed a distinct difference in the feeling of my vaginal lips (labia majora) - they used to be firm, squishy, puffy, like there was muscle underneath. Today they feel like balloons that have been deflated, like the air has been let out of them, and the muscle-like feeling underneath is gone. They're just hanging there, loose. My inner vaginal lips are also protruding down and outwards more and getting irritated in my clothes.