Whole Woman Village Forum

Hello all. It is with great sadness that I join this group. Although, I am SO glad there is a group here to support all of us in this situation. I am now 8 weeks postpartum and noticed the significant bulge at about 3 weeks postpartum. I thought my uterus was prolapsing. At my 4 week check my dr. said he saw a small rectocele, but my uterus was "up where it is supposed to be, although loose". This did NOT explain the bulge, but it was clear that was all the info. he had for me. In my research and some self-examination as to it the bulge was anterior or posterior I have come to the conclusion I have at least a grade 2 cystocele. I saw my dr. at church the other day and told him about it - he said with absolutely no concern "oh - sure - it probably is a cystocele". He told me to wait until I am 3 months postpartum before worrying about it or seeing a urogynecologist (as I suggested to him).

For a few weeks now I have had this bad pain coming from my vagina. I went and saw my Dr and he said I had enlarged skenes glands and thought I had a diverticula on my urethra. I had that test done on me yesterday and the 2 xray techs told me they did not see diverticula and that the xray looked ok. One of the tech had worked for a kidney center for 30 years, so I'm guessing she knew what she was talking about. In the meantime, I am still hurting bigtime. Those glands are still swollen and it hurts like heck to sit down. Its causing pain to radiate down my left leg and my joints are hurting. I myself think I have a bad infection and I need to be put on strong antibiotics. I also have a prolaspe ueterus and bladder and that just adds to the pain. I woke up this morning and took more Advil. I dont see the Dr until Tuesday afternoon. In the meantime, does anyone know what I should do? I have a refill on Keflex( I know Keflex is good for absesses and infections ). Should I call in the refill on the Keflex and start taking it until I see the Dr on Tuesday? I think I have an idea what caused it as well. I had a very bad itch and I itched and itched and then about 2 weeks later, I started having these problems. I think I let the infection get out of hand and now its time to bring out the bad boys of antibiotics. If anyone could offer me any advice, I would love to hear from you. I hate being in this much pain. I had to go and buy more Advil so I wouldnt run out of it. Hugs to all of you!!

Hello! I've just joined within the hour and I don't know my way around yet. Please could you explain how to download the Healing Posture article mentioned on the first page? Also, does belly dancing pose any problems to the pelvic floor?

Thank you, Suzanne (UK member)

hi, i had my 3rd child in january. i now have a rectocele, uterine descent and a urethrocele. (not that surprising as my first child was born with large episiotomy and weighed 9lbs 4oz and my next normal delivery was 9lbs 8 oz. this latest child was born with the head delivered after a single push. it was a relatively easy labour until 10 days after when i felt as if everything was hanging down and very loose.
anyway, i am now having physiotherapy. the physiotherapist had said that physiotherapy cannot restore descent but can prevent its progress. she also said i shouldn't take up running. against her advice i ran 3 times last week. short bursts of 60 secs followed by 3 mins brisk walking, repeated 4 times.

I am a twenty two year old mother of one and have a prolapsed uterus that my midwife describes as "nearing 3rd degree". I first noticed that now familiar bulge when my daughter was ten months old. She'll be three in August, so I guess I have been struggling with this for almost two years now. I read STWW about a year ago, when my prolapse was not nearly as severe, but as a mother who is in school and also works, I found it difficut to engage in any serious lifestyle change. Especially since my husband and I seperated last year. It felt like I was in survival mode, and it was hard focus on my own health.

Since I am post-menopausal my doctor says that I need to use vaginal estrogen cream to thicken the walls of my vagina so as to tolerate being fitted and then using a pessary on a daily basis. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thoughts? Pros and cons? Would lubricant work just as well? Does the vagina get overstretched by using a pessary, so that you have to address that in the future?

If I have to have this surgery for urethra diverticula, so you know how long the hospital stay is and what post recovery would be like? I am so very worried about all of this. I have a mass on my vaginal wall and the Dr suspects UD but he isn't for sure. They are doing a test on me on Monday and I go back to my Dr on Thursday to get the results. I know it probably won't be good because of the pain I have coming from my vaginal wall. I think the pain might be coming from the diverticula and I am sitting on it, causing it to be painful. He also mentioned a cyctele. I have not been sleeping at all because of this, in fact I have lost 5 pounds in 1 weeks because of not eating and worrying. I am so scared. I just hope and pray everything comes back ok. I have 5 kids to take care of and the youngest is only 5 months

Hi i am another newby to the site, an aussie mum. My son now is 4 years old, and after quickly reading some of the posts, thought i would put my situation out there and see what anyone else may think.
I lost a baby at 11 weeks gestation therefore needed a d and c, to take my very precious pregnancy away, yes it did devistate me at the time but i dealt with the grief and my loss and moved on, today as i said i have a healthy happy 4 year old, but his birth was tragic, my placenta was still attached underneath my sternum, unfortunately this was not noticed during any of my scans and there were several, due to the past history already described.

Just wanted to let everyone know of another helpful non-profit resource:
HERS Foundation (Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services Foundation).
They provide information about alternatives to hysterectomy - also deal with related pelvic issues. They have medical literature, phone counseling, newsletter, etc.

Please check it out: hersfoundation.com

I just found this site. I have been experiencing prolapse for about 8 months, and my doctor (family physician) has told me that there are devices on the market, which for most part "don't work" indicating that surgery is probably iminent. I'd like to avoid that, if at all possible.
I'm 60, but in better health now, than I was in 30's, 40's and my 50's, due mainly to losign weight, better diet and regular weight-bearing exercises. Except, for this prolapse situation.
I'm hoping to learn a lot from the book and video mentioned available on this site.
jeanneb