Pessary in pessary out this morning and not a great experience

[msmono]

Hi,

I don't want to give too much detail and put people off who might find it a useful option but I had to have the pessary removed within two hours.

I have a stage two uterine prolapse but my GP said she didn't think I could reverse it with exercises as there is 'significant descent'. I've been using the NHS squeezy app for two months and topical HRT and don't feel there's been much improvement. Not convinced i'm doing the exercises right. I also bought some kegel weights but they fall straight out 😔

I've got a refferal to a women's physiotherapist but what else could I try? (There are no Pilates practitioners near me who specialise in Prolapse)

Thanks in advance if a anyone's got time to help.

[young-at-heart48]

I don't know why you had to have the pessary removed, but would say it take a while to get one the right size. I have two stage 3 and a stage 4 prolapse. Took a little while to get the right pessary, but once they did it has been a life changer. Good luck

[msmono in reply to young-at-heart48]

Thanks so much for replying -the pain went from a mild (manageable ache) to excrutiating with spasms and difficulty weeing or passing stools. Still a bit sore this morning. It's reassuring to know that you've found a pessary helpful as I do think I may try again but wondering if I should try and investigate sillicone rather than PVC.

[young-at-heart48 in reply to msmono]

The PVC caused me a heavy discharge. The one I have now is sillicone, it is not replaced every 6 months, it is removed and cleaned and reinserted by the nurse. Apparently it lasts for many years, I have had it for 4 years now, with no side effects.

[msmono in reply to young-at-heart48]

Oh, thank you that sounds great. Can I ask where you managed to get a sillicone one?

[young-at-heart48 in reply to msmono]

I had a private appointment with a consultant, because I wanted the pros and cons of surgery. I didn't want surgery but thought I should get all the facts. The consultant suggested I try this pessary, I had to pay for it as I had gone private, it cost £90, but I was told it should last for 9 years, the best £90 Ive ever spent. Not sure if you can get them on NHS.

[msmono in reply to young-at-heart48]

Thanks. I'd definitely be willing to go privately for that!

[young-at-heart48 in reply to msmono]

See if you can get it on the NHS first.

[kitzka in reply to young-at-heart48]

Sorry to get in the middle pf your discussion discussion but can you tell me what type of pessary worked for you? I am in the U.S. and so far haven't found a pessary that works for me. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[young-at-heart48 in reply to kitzka]

Sorry but I'm in the UK, so don't know what is available in the US. All I can say is that I have a sillicone ring pessary, for me it was just a matter of getting one the right size. Good luck.

[kitzka in reply to young-at-heart48]

Thank you. That really does help.

[msmono in reply to kitzka]

I’ve read a lot on here about silicone being better than pvc. Also I think the one out in for me may have been to big as had trouble weeing. I’ve also got a natural sponge coming so may try that (see other posts on here about those). Good luck 😊

[Aqua52 in reply to young-at-heart48]

Thanks so much for this. I've just had a pessary fitted and am having problems. Next NHS appointment in a month. Does this have a brand name or do I just ask about a silicone ring pessary? If no joy with NHS, I think it's worth going private.

[young-at-heart48 in reply to Aqua52]

Hi, Thanks for your questions, it has made me root through a pile of papers I have in a cupboard, to find the letter from the specialist. My bedroom floor is now covered with paper for shredding, burning etc. Any way I found the letter, my pessary ring is a Milex folding ring pessary. Good luck with your appointment.

[Aqua52 in reply to young-at-heart48]

Ah bless you! Thank you so much. I've been worrying myself so much and only joined the forum this morning. This is definitely my preferred option if suitable. Thanks again x

[pizon in reply to msmono]

I had this same problem with the pain upon trying different pessarys…I was later diagnosed with pudendal neuralgia try to find a pelvic pain specialist..I had many many pessary fittings to no avail and it turns out it was the nerve that was aggravated by the pessary and my prolaos…

[marilwyd]

I have bought the Kegel8 Pelvic Floor exercises which is better.Its a bit expensive but it fits inside under the prolapse and with a choice of many programmes, it does the hard work for you.Its good for prolapse and helps with incontinent as well.Maybe worth a try.Good luck x

[msmono in reply to marilwyd]

Hi and thank you for replying. I've been considering the Kegel8 but read some comments that it only works during early-stage prolapses?

[HighlandMo]

I use natural sponge instead of a pessary (I didn’t like the sound of them - never tried one). You can get sponges as menstrual tampons or specially for prolapse. The prolapse ones look far too big to me. Mine are only about 5cm in all directions but the main advantage is that no matter what size you buy they can be trimmed to size. You can get them with or without strings attached (like a tampon).

Here is a link to some with string already attached. puresponges.co.uk/img8996-l...I have bought natural silk fina sponges and attached dental floss using a darning needle. You can replace the "string" when it looks a bit past it. If you do it this way (much cheaper so you an have lots of them) soak the sponge and feel them all over to make very sure the sponges are free from any little bits of grit from the ocean!!The same website also tells you how to look after the sponges. 

Every evening(I don’t use one over night as I feel this lets things breathe and gravity is not against you at night) I clean that day's sponge with unscented soap. Then every 4 days use baking soda (1 heaped teaspoon to a mug of warm water) to soak the last 4 sponges whilst getting washed and dressed then rinse and squeeze them out and hang them in a mesh laundry bag to air dry. You soon get into a routine for cleaning them angd it only takes a few minutes. 

When using a sponge remember to squeeze it out in water first to make it soft then I put a little bit of coconut oil on it and also a little around the entrance of the vagina to help get the sponge in. It's a bit strange to start with but you get to know the angle and where it needs to sit. My first try was a disaster and it felt really scratchy but I tried again a few weeks later and took a bit more care and it was fine. Some days it's so comfortable I forget it's there and some days the sponge slips a bit and feels uncomfortable - maybe the sponge is too small or too big or maybe it's not in right. Whatever, it gives me confidence that my insides can't escape and gives me time to work on the exercises that might work long term

[msmono in reply to HighlandMo]

You've given me a lot of hope there as well as some useful information. I like the being more in control aspect of a sponge. I'm going to give it a go for sure. Thank you so much for the help and advice ☺️

[Lovemy2woofs]

join the Facebook group FROPS Uk it’s a great support group for those with prolapses

[msmono in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

Thats sounds great -thank you!

[Looneytunes in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

I couldn't find that group are you sure that's right?

[msmono in reply to Looneytunes]

I found it but had to log into Facebook first and ended up putting ‘prolapse group’ and it came up. Don’t know if this will work m.facebook.com/groups/24480...

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Looneytunes]

facebook.com/groups/2448083...

[Asfur]

Hi, sorry to hear about the pessary, I'm having one fitted this month and very sceptical. Have you already gone to the women's physio? That might help more than GP... I found some YouTube videos helpful, such as Dr Bri's vibrant pelvic health

[msmono in reply to Asfur]

hi, well a lot of people have good experiences with them too. It can always be removed if it doesn’t work out. I haven’t seen the physio yet - my GP fitted it. I just think it was too big as the pain was similar to bowel pain. Thanks for the video tip - will be interested to see it. Good luck and let me know how you get on! 🙂