Trouble with pessary

[Desperateforrelief]

Hello ladies,

I am using a pessary. I am not sure it is right. Came home from doctor with 2 sizes. I have read many medical reports on Google. And still don't know what I am doing. It's been a few weeks. I have severe transvaginal mesh complications and have had a complete hysterectomy. My issue is that it seems to be out slightly when I do my business. Google reports state it should sit behind the public bone. It does not. I don't notice it most of the time. My urethra was severely damaged and is full of scar tissue, so it is a problem as well. When I pee or "we" at you say across the pond - lol, urine seems to go all around it. Obviously, I cannot see what is happening. Yesterday I had to push on the darn pessary to be able to pee. Which I ended up peeing allover my hand - gross, and in a public restroom. Just when I think I've been humiliated as far as it can go, it gets worse. I had to do this because while standing I had a moderate leak. The pessary is helping with no. 2. I have a shortened vagina from all mesh complication surgeries. 22 in a 10 year period. I have pudendal and obturator neuralgia. Lots of scar tissue. I am thankful I can be straight forward and honest here because my husband and family cannot hear about this, it sends them running. I have a friend with many of the same complications that I have. She is also using a pessary. She self caths and that doesn't seem to be an issue for her. I self cath occasionally, when I absolutely have to, because it causes tremendous urethra pain. And no matter what I do, I often get an infection. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Poppycat999]

Hi hoping to be of some help here. You don't say what type of pessary you have? I have a ring pessary with support middle 64mm. The pessary should be as high up as it can go really well a finger lenght in your vagina. I know it's more difficult to keep them in after hysterectomies probably because its straighter l am guessing. I suggest you push your pessary as high as you can with your finger only. They can come down with bowel movements for this try not to strain and make sure your feet are higher than your hips such as on a small chair. I take a stool softener cosmocol or laxido daily just one sachet with main meal. This helps me live a faily normal life. Plus dont stay on your feet too long. Wishing you all the very best

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Poppycat999]

Thank you. I cannot get the pessary to go up that far. I have 2 ring pessaries #2 and #3. They are round with a plastic sheet center with holes in it. My doctor said it was fine. ??? But I can see it when I try to pee.

[Pelvicblues in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Sounds like I have the same type pessary and I find it sits pretty low so I wash my hands prior to using toilet so that I can push it up further to allow my bladder to empty easier and completely. When having a BM I always place toilet paper around my hand and place it over my lower vaginal wall to support that area and prevent the pessary from popping out in the toilet - my nurse said that was a common complaint. I have to push the pessary back in place again after standing up but I can tell it eventually slides back down to a lower position but as long as it isn't bothering me I leave it be. Sorry to hear about your mesh problems, that's my biggest fear and why I haven't had surgery yet. Best regards from USA

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Pelvicblues]

Thank you so much for your answer. I have been buying disposable gloves. Is your pessary vertical? I thought it is supposed to be somewhat horizontal, but it just flips when I try to push up the other side.

BTW, FYI: If you are a candidate for surgery you can have them use your own skin. It is called autologous. More doctors use it for slings than POP repair. They told me they would use allograft (human cadaver skin- that goes through processes to remove DNA) but I might still react to it and too much of a risk. They also use porcine (from pigs), but some women react to that as well. Mesh is by far the worst.

[Pelvicblues in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Yes, it does seem like mine trends to flip when it settles down in a spot and seems like it is off center too, towards the right. Thanks for the other info too but at this point I'm going to live with the pessary and hope for new medical breakthroughs 🤞🙂

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Pelvicblues]

Sounds wise to me. I hope new breakthroughs come through quickly. I could use one or two myself.

[Poppycat999 in reply to Pelvicblues]

Hello pelvicbluesI have a pessary in situ. I call it my flexible friend. Mine is 64mm with support middle./ diaphragm ( sheet with drainage holes in middle) Think that's a size 3 ring pessary

If you look carefully when it's out often says size on outer silicone edge it's hard to see as written very tiny.

I had pessary trouble with bowel movements until l took one daily sachet of cosmocol or laxido with my main meal. It's a stool softener just adds water to them making them easier to pass. Always make sure your feet are up on a small low chair to go basically knees higher than hips. Its the straining that brings the pessary down. Rarely mine comes down now l dont have to hold myself anymore either. Hope this helps you.

[Pelvicblues in reply to Poppycat999]

Thanks for the info but with my healthy, high fiber diet, I rarely ever have constipation issues. I use my toilet paper covered hand to cover and support my lower vaginal wall to assure that the pessary does accidentally pop out into the toilet. Because I have bladder and uterus prolapse I feel that bending or squatting causes the pessary to drop to a lower uncomfortable position - my urogynecologist says the fit is fine.

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Pelvicblues]

I am very happy that is working for you. And I greatly appreciate all your comments. I used to do "the pinch" before trying the pessary. I started using gloves then. My urethra is very scarred up and deformed. My bowels are not working right due to pudendal nerve damage. I feel like I'm constantly dealing with a mess. I am also having issues with a very slow system. I hate it, but fiber alone doesn't help me. I gave had to take miralax. Then it's a balance. I can't go if I take it at night everyday, too soft and can't push it out (sorry about TMI, it is helping me to express this to women who understand), I was taking it every 3 days, double dose, but then I end up going 6 times in a day. I can't seem to find a good balance. My husband thinks I should take magnesium citrate every 3 days. I can't handle even the thought of it. It has caused me to throw up too many times. Every test shows I am backed up, no matter what I do. I am grateful for you and women like you who share their information it has helped me so much. Best regards.

[Poppycat999 in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Hi Desperateforrelief Please read my message to Pelvicblues as to bowels. My pessary is at an angle it's about 30 to 45 degrees l would say. I sometimes push it back up with middle finger on outer edge just as high as l can it sort of finds where it wants to go. My pessary is my flexible friend it helps so much with that horrible dragging lump feelings that l used to have.

Hope all this helps you. Dont stay too long on your feet if you can sit down somewhere do it. All the best to you.

[Desperateforrelief in reply to Poppycat999]

Thank you very much for the information.

[MOLLYMILO007]

Hi ..I'm so sorry that you have to ebdure this.. must be awful..I had a pelvic wall repair anterior and posterier after 6 weeks I took a mirror to look and saw like a lump Inside my vagina I'm not sure if it was there before but my surgeon didn't comment when he did my 6 week check just said that it didn't look like my stitches had dissolved yet ..but I get a vsginal ache ..not sure what to do I'm now 10 weeks and I don't want to look again as it made me feel upset I've not had sex yet good job my husband is patient ...any ideas lol x

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

I would wait until your stitches dissolve. You might have swelling going on too. Stitches can be such a bother. They are most likely vicryl, and they are also pokey. Since you are 6 weeks out, you might try warm baths with some Epsom salts. My doctor had recommended this to help dissolve stitches. Best of luck.

[MOLLYMILO007]

I'm 10 weeks now so do you think they will have dissolved by now tha kz for answering x

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

In some people they take longer than others to dissolve. I have had stitches make their way out several months after a surgery, it did not dissolve. They found a stitch next to my rib cage encased in calcium. Vicryl is made out of the same material mesh is - polypropylene. Just much less of it. I would rely more on how you are feeling. What is your pain level, is there itching etc. I once had a stitch from one of my mesh repairs come out of my abdomen near my belly button! Lol. My body became more reactive to this after mesh. I had some surgeries before mesh and didn't seem to have a problem with these stitches. Now I do. My friends who are in the same boat are having the same issues. Age is also a factor. Chances are they are dissolved. But not guaranteed. But I think it's safe at this point to assume they are, unless you have symptoms suggesting otherwise.

[MOLLYMILO007 in reply to Desperateforrelief]

My op was done with stitches no mesh its strange as if I feel inside I can't feel it but I cam see it with a mirror ..wish I hadn't looked lolHe didn't say anything on my 6 weeks only it is still a bit swollen x

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

I think that is pretty much normal. I have been upset by things not looking right, only to realize later that I was swollen up. Mirrors are a temptation, especially when everything isn't feeling right or hurting.

[MOLLYMILO007]

You sound like you have gone through the mill I'm sorry to hear that poor you but very brave...I'm wondering if this lump thing is a polyp or fibroid in my vagina although my gymie didn't say anything at my 6 weeks check up..I'm 10 weeks now just a bit scared of sex and using my kegal 8 as I want to try this first before sex I'm not normally nervous but I've never had a op before it says don't put anyway up there for 3 months lol...x

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

Is it protruding from the vaginal wall or is it the vaginal wall seeming to be bumpy? I have had a fibroma/neuroma removed 6 times (it kept growing back). Does it hurt? I'd wait until after the 3 month mark before taking any action. Surgery can cause these things to form. FYI. I am not brave, I am surviving. But thank you for saying so.

[MOLLYMILO007 in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Thankyou for replying I appreciate it...only wish we could help you x

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

Me too. But it is what it is. I have good days and bad days. Thank God for Grandchildren- they keep me going (in more ways than 1 - lol).

[MOLLYMILO007 in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Me too .sometimes I feel quite achy down there ..I'm not sure if this is normal at 10 weeks I didn't have it before my op..I only had it done as I paid private because there was thicknjng of my uterus wall as they don't like that post meno so I thought may aswell get it all done but he said he didn't take my uterus out as it looked normal ..I was managing my prolapse quite well had for 10 yrs good days and bad days but I just used my kegal 8 and that helped alot lookjng back now I wish I hadn't had it done if it hadn't of been for my uterus I don't think I would have at the moment I could have spent the 5.600 on something else lol ..jx

[Desperateforrelief in reply to MOLLYMILO007]

I think achiness at this point is within normal limits. If it continues past 3 months, you need it investigated. It is a pretty big surgery. Takes time to heal.

[MOLLYMILO007 in reply to Desperateforrelief]

Thanks hopefully x