Surgery Vs Pessary

[Jasparswim]

I'm 62 have an anterior and posterior prolapse of vaginal wall. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this lump hanging out of my vagina 6 weeks ago. Never knew about a prolapse before. My GP examined me and is now referring me to a Gynaecologist/ Urologist. I am in the mindset that at my age I don't want to mess around with a pessary, I just want to get surgery over and done with and get on with my life. I've been doing pelvic floor exercises and the mass doesn't protrude until I go to the toilet and it pops down. Also if I go for a walk it's uncomfortable. I swim most days so my pelvic muscles have always been used and I've always done my exercises over the years. Had one child 27 years ago - yes forceps were used. Those that have had surgery, were you able to get on with your life afterwards and was it the route to follow. My husband is very patient as our sex life is not happening at the moment.....but it's not an ideal situation. I'm just finding out info online and trying my best to get ready for appointment next week with Gynaecologist. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Kam73]

the surgery was the best thing I have done for myself. No regrets and no post op problems

[Elaine2710]

Yes surgery is probably the route to go down but in the UK at the moment the waiting list will be long. So in the meantime tell your surgeon that you would like to try a pessary because this will help. I didn’t like it at first but it was a godsend while waiting for my surgery and it did make doing daily tasks a lot easier. Good Luck.

[Bluebell6]

Hi

I could have written this post myself!! I get where you’re coming from. I’m 58, and like you, I felt too young to be bothered with a pessary and just wanted the surgery and get on with life. I first went to the drs 18 months ago and am 6 weeks post op for anterior and posterior repair. I am just about feeling normal as I had infections, adverse reactions to antibiotics and now a yeast infection BUT already things feel better… No dragging etc…. I did have to go through the process of pelvic floor physio, and uro dynamic tests before surgery. Whilst waiting my consultant prescribed me with oestrogen pessaries which were a game changer whilst I was waiting.

Good luck

[HashtagNell]

I have no advice but I'm empathising strongly. I'm nearly 70 and in the last month mild vaginal prolapse got noticeably worse, and ten days ago, I felt something go. After that, the sensation was that I had a balloon inside my vagina trying to get out. It wasn't painful but it wasn't fun.

I'm in the UK where the health service is not working, so contacting my (male) GP wasn't reassuring. I'm not sure he even thought there was much the matter, or that I counted as 'urgent' (currently we are not allowed to make face to face appointments unless we are urgently ill). He muttered about pelvic floor exercises (I have always done them but obviously I've stepped them up) and in any case he examined me lying down in the morning when the prolapsed bits were less lapsed (I'm betting you know what I mean).

He told me my vaginal walls were atrophied. Right, I know this is a medical term. But frankly it doesn't feel good to be told you're atrophied, and it wasn't particularly relevant to the prolapse I don't think. He recommended oestrogen for the atrophy, go away and do the pelvic floor stuff and see how I get on.

Referring me to a physiotherapist, he said, would be the 'next step'. I wasn't convinced I needed to see a physio to learn how to do pelvic floor stuff, so I didn't think much of the next step. I thought I needed to talk to a gynaecologist.

After a week of pelvic floor exercises, the balloon felt worse and I was increasingly upset, and kind of guilty. I have friends who are being treated for cancer, friends who have died. I felt I was making a fuss and shouldn't be.

In the end I paid to see a gynaecologist privately (a referral, even if my GP had offered one, which he didn't, would have taken probably six months). No, I am not well off, but hell... The gynaecologist was relaxed, nice and talked through various options. I opted to try a cube pessary which I am using at this minute. I don't know whether this is going to work for me but I'll try it with the pelvic floor exercises. Surgery would be my last option, and I don't want to pay to see my lovely gynaecologist again until I've saved up!

I would love to talk to somebody else who had been through this stuff, and I know there are loads who have, but where are they? I appealed on Twitter and got back absolutely nothing. This pessary thing is hard to insert, and harder to remove. Even that is really scary.

[Jasparswim]

I've seen a Gynaecologist...I'm in the UK. I have opted for surgery as I have both an Anterior and posterior prolapse. Bowel is stage 3...bladder is stage 2 and womb is stage 1. I'm doing pelvic floor exercises myself at home. Plenty of info online showing how to do them properly. I do lots of walking and swimming so not interested in a pessary, plus the problem will only get worse not better. I don't want to have surgery when I am older and maybe not so fit. Rather have it now so I can recover and get back to my life. I'm married so want to resume normal functioning soon.

[Jasparswim]

I've had my pre op assessment at the hospital and I'm waiting for call for surgery. This route was very quick and easy. No waiting list as people tend to choose or be encouraged to take physio or pessaries to cut costs. I declined both these suggestions as I want to get the problem sorted sooner rather than later and I don't want things being inserted that cause more angst. Well I was referred to the private Patient Plus section at local hospital which I am very pleased about. I met the gynaecologist who is also the surgeon. Very nice lady who explained everything and put my case forward. I am a bit apprehensive but I feel this is the right choice for me. I have no plans in place for the summer and wish to travel at a later date so this hopefully will proceed soon. I am amazed how quick this is all happening. It will be a posterior and anterior repair at the same time. I have prepared a "recovery room' at home for me to sleep or recover separately away from hubby to have my own space. My mum lives round the corner from me and at 84 will pop in to help out and hubby will initially take a week off to be at home. I decided that surgery was the best option for me at the age of 62 I don't want to faff around with inserting pessaries etc as this is not really helping the problems get better, but delaying surgery till when I'm older and not so fit. I swim 3 times weekly and walk 4km daily in my routine so want to continue this after the op. My goal. I want to have holidays and travel. If I have to sacrifice 6 weeks to 3 month recovery so be it. Those of you struggling...please consider your options. Do what is right for you at the right time and question what your health professional is suggesting you put up with. I do not want to insert pessaries in my vagina and have unnecessary pain and inconvenience. I would dread all the waiting for appointments and trips to hospital or GP. There are very few face to face appointments at GPs these days so the procedure would be a long haul situation I'm sure. Not many women choose surgery but I'm looking at it as an investment in my future and not have this problem on my shoulders until it has to be done in old age when I may be less fit and suitable for general anesthesic. I feeling positive and would like to hear from anyone with positive outcomes of surgery. Fingers crossed I get my date soon, so I can plan a holiday for the autumn after recovering throughout the summer months at home.

[MissStar]

You might find the non-surgery and reversal of prolapse approach offered by Whole Woman interesting - check out website wholewoman.com. I have signed up and am working on their programme. It might be worth a try while you wait for surgery??? Good luck whichever approach you take !

[Jasparswim]

Thankyou...surgery due in a few weeks. I'm past the stage of reversal, my bowel is stage 3/4 prolapse. No way back - the damage is done. 😒

[Jasparswim]

Ok, so I'm having Anterior and Posterior surgical procedures on 13th June. On NHS but been referred to Private section of hospital. Examined by a woman Gynaecologist who is doing the surgery, had a personal meeting with the anesthetist and the Surgical theatre staff are phoning me 3 days prior to surgery to explain pre op preparation etc. I decided against pessaries and physio so all in all it's taken from appointment with lady Dr end of February 2023 till June 13th for surgery. My rectocele is now quite low and hangs down just inside vagina stage 3 and even though my bladder cystocele is stage 2 it gives me little problems. 6 weeks recovery at home.