Womb prolapse - I can see it

[msmono]

I’m really worried and mortified. I could feel something in my vagina so had a look and I can see a round bulge. I’m pretty sure it’s a prolapse but is there anything I can do myself? I’m not in pain but I’d like to prevent this getting worse if possible. Can I push it back? (I’ve got a bad cough which can’t be helping)

[bantam12]

Firstly see your GP or Gynae if you have one.

You can start doing exercises but it’s not an instant fix by any means. The Pilates ones I found the best, lie on your back and engage your pelvic muscles, plenty of online instructions on how but ideally one to one instructions from a trained Pilates teacher is the best way.

A pessary may help but you need a proper diagnosis to see which bit has prolapsed before experimenting with them. Bladder and rectal prolapse also cause “the bulge” to be visible. Pushing it back won’t help as it will just come down again.

Topical HRT can really help as it strengthens the vaginal walls, lots of different sorts so just have to find which suits you.

[msmono in reply to bantam12]

thank you so much for replying. I can only get a phone appointment at the moment but it’s a start I guess

[Nikul]

yes it feels awful and makes you feel a need to sit down. Happened over a year ago with me and after researching all about what I thought it could be, as felt like insides of vagina falling down and out a bit more as time passed. So resorted to Nhs female dr, who confirmed uterine prolapse. She reccomended a pessary and Kiel’s excercises, no heavy lifting and bending gardening etc made it worse! So went for pessary which was ok but terrified it would drop out all the time and it did seem to drop down after initial fitting and needed to push back up so decided to get a second opinion with private gynaecologist. Outcome was confirmed uterus prolapse and fitted slightly larger size made of silicone rather than pvc which Nhs use…costing of course, but felt so much better and could finally relax with it there without checking all the time where it was positioned. After 6months decided to go back to Nhs to get changed, but new one never felt comfortable, thats when I discovered Nhs use pvc! So back to the private and the silicone pessary feels fine again, I need to remind myself to do the excercises as now forget about it. Hope this helps, long saga but hopefully after a few months you can come to terms with it too and get life back on track again.

[Schroedie in reply to Nikul]

My NHS people tried both pvc and silicone. Pvc were so difficult and painful to use - silicone aren't much more expensive and so much better. But you shouldn't have to go private to get them! It's a total lottery, and so unfair!

[msmono in reply to Schroedie]

good to know I can ask if my local hospital uses pvc or silicone.

[msmono in reply to Nikul]

Thanks for sharing your awful experience, it will help me to be as well informed as possible when I start my diagnosis and treatment journey. I cant bear the thought of having to give up gardening though as its my main hobby 😢

[marilwyd]

Hi, don't panic - you can start doing Kegel exercises either manually or you can buy a pelvic floor exercises such as Kegel8.A bit expensive but it really helps the pelvic floor muscles get stronger so that they support the bladder, womb and rectum.kegel8.co.uk

It takes time but it works.You can also use pessaries which help a lot.Either get one from your doctor or you can buy them - try Amazon.In the meantime try manual ones - pull up the muscles as if you were trying to stop passing water.Hold for a count of 10 and do around ten at a time.Start slowly and then build up to about 10 three times a day.It helps me tremendously Don't give in - there are things you can do to help yourself.Another thing that's helped me is homeopathic Sepia pills.I take Sepia 30 once a day until I feel improvement.Best wishes and never give up.xx

[msmono in reply to marilwyd]

thank you for the ‘dont panic’ advice as thats exactly what ive been doing for two days since my discovery 😲 . Its reassuring to know there are things I can do to help myself and Ive made a start. I’ll look into the kegel exerciser and sepia too.

[Schroedie]

I've had a vaginally prolapse for five years. Took me a year to see a consultant who just said I needed a hysterectomy . . . Another long wait. In the meantime I was expected just to live with it, so I read up and discovered you can use a pessary to manage the condition. I had one fitted and still use one. I finally got an op date just before Christmas and just after I'd moved 200 miles away so I've still got the pessary. The NHS in my new county helped with physio and diet, and all is good.

I mean to go back and have it all checked - lockdown put everything on hold - but it worked for me.

Read up about pessaries - go for silicone, pvc are awful! - and stick to your guns. I had to fight every inch of the way but it's enabled me to stay active.

Good luck!

[msmono in reply to Schroedie]

sorry to hear of you going through that. Very useful to know about the silicone pessery though - thanks for posting.

[Pearce1940oscar in reply to Schroedie]

how did you get your pessary fitted I saw my dr who confirmed I had a prolapse but said they didn’t fit anything at the surgery and I’d have to be referred to a gynaecologist well in the U.K. nowadays I could be waiting for years and as I’m 83 I could be dead by the time they can see me

[Schroedie in reply to Pearce1940oscar]

I read up about them and went back to the hospital where the prolapse had been diagnosed and asked them to fit a pessary. They did - not sure if it was the consultant or a nurse who did, as they have to assess what size you need. It's worked really well for me. I had a new one fitted last month and went to the local surgery where a specialist gynae nurse did the fitting (although once you've got used to it you can do it yourself easily enough).

I must say, I had to fight every inch of the way to get this done in Gloucestershire where I was living when I first discovered the prolapse. My local surgery was positively obstructive but I read up on it and kept pushing for some action: the alternative was living with an untreated prolapse which I didn't think was an option.

I then moved to Cornwall where the attitude was completely different: they offered physio, gave advice on diet and exercise, and I'm able to manage the condition with no problems. So it's a bit of a postcode lottery, but I'd say stick to your guns, don't take no for an answer, and good luck with getting a pessary fitted.

[Schroedie]

There's a NHS App - Sqeezy - which reminds you to do the exercises. Worth a try

[msmono in reply to Schroedie]

thank you. Ill check that out for sure.

[pizon]

I had a bladder and uterus prolapse..mine happened all at once just putting on a pair of pants…was awful..every step I took felt as though my insides were going to fall out mine was painful as well …tried numerous pessarys with only one helping but when it needed to be cleaned it never fit again I..I had the corrective surgery and am glad I did..I have (from the actual prolapse) pundel nerve damage and was misdiagnosed I still suffer with that but have found ways to relive and live with this …I however could not live with the prolapse..I also do the Kegals …I did go to a physo and that was very helpful…I hope this helps

[msmono in reply to pizon]

so sorry to hear you went through that but thank you for sharing, it’s given me useful information and, from my experience with other conditions, its always better to be well informed when speaking to doctors.

[pizon in reply to msmono]

amen..best of luck to you

[CherylVacc]

I would love to know what you do for relief from Pudundel nerve damage. I've self-diagnosed myself (after many tests with no answers) and could use some advice.

[marilwyd]

Kegels help with strengthening the pelvic muscles which keep bladder, uterus and rectum in place.They help tremendously with urinary incontinence too.

[marilwyd]

My Mum had a prolapsed bladder and also a polyp on the womb which bled.A qualified homeopath cured the bleeding polyp by giving Mum pills called Thuja and the bladder was propped up with a pessary which a gynaecologist changed for her every three months at the hospital.It seemed to help her quite a bit.Before that Mum manually pushed everything back into place herself - not ideal!

[marilwyd]

I would think if it was the bladder you would probably have some sort of problem such as leaking urine.