prolapse Vagina

[JayceeJC]

after about 2-3 months of constantly feeling like I need to pee I get to the doctors. I’ve been constantly feeling I need to empty bladder even 5 mins after going. I sometimes only dribble a bit if I go back and sometimes I get off the loo when I think I’ve finished only to dribble. No pain, no blood. Doctor told me I have a prolapsed vagina so I guess it’s pushing against the bladder/urethra. Being referred to a gynaecologist to discuss the way forward. Im 62 years old. Has anyone else had this and what happened.

[Hidden]

Hello Jaycee. I'm sorry your having trouble. I can sympathise with you as I'm going through it now. I've been to embarrassed to go to the gp about it but I finally did a couple of weeks ago after i totally lost control of my bladder with laughing.The gp said a pessary may be able to help but after my examination she said it's more involved as my bladder, bowel and uterus has prolapsed. I new it was bad as I can't have a bowel movement properly! I have another appointment next week with a different gp to see if a pessary would help. I'm hoping so as I really don't want an operation. I have lichen sclerosus as well so I know for a fact I will get a flare up!

You may be more suitable for a pessary. Hope you get sorted ok

[JayceeJC in reply to Hidden]

thank you Sylvester 66. It’s the constant feeling of wanting to pee which is driving me crazy. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for a gynae appointment. What does a pessary do, I wasn’t offered one.

[Hidden in reply to JayceeJC]

Oh I know that's the thing these days. Waiting for an appointment. My gp hasn't referred me to gynaecologist though so I'm glad they are gonna try a pessary. I don't know much about them but I think they put it in to hold things out the way!

[JayceeJC in reply to Hidden]

thanks again. Let us know how you get on. I’m just going to have to carry on till I get an appointment. I think I might need to take note of when I go so I can space out the visits otherwise I’ll never get off the loo. 😊

[Equant in reply to Hidden]

hi Sylvester66

I have a stage 2 and stage 1 uterus prolapse and slight rectal, two months along. I’m 68. Im doing the NHS pelvic exercise app, three times a day. It’s £2.99 easy quick and doable anywhere. It is essential to keep your bowels pretty clear as any constipation build up pressures down on the bladder. It is imperative not to strain when going to the toilet. My GP told me to take two tbs of ground flaxseed every day which works well, and put my feet up on a stool, which def helps. I intend to go to a woman’s physiotherapist and maybe try a pessary. If you are in the uk the pessaries used by the NHS are hard plastic and apparently can be painful to insert. The silicone ones you pay for are softer and less painful. There is a a good Facebook page FPOPS UK (female pelvic organ prolapse support) which is a mine of information too. I was also given a very low dose of vaginal HRT . I am still collating information. The whole thing is horrendous and very depressing at times. Good luck to you .

[Hidden in reply to Equant]

Hiya. Thanks for sharing your story too, I'm sure it must help people reading all these different experiences of prolapse. I too had 4 big babies, my last was 10lb 7oz ha.

To have a bowel movement I have to support the front with 2 fingers and I never really have the urge to go anyway. I only realise I need to when I'm trying to push a wee out so God knows what it's like down there. I'm surprised I wasn't just referred to a gynaecologist at my gp appointment. She just booked me in with a different gp for the pessary which is next week.

Do you suffer with hip pain too cos I have done for a while!

I don't have Facebook. This site is quite good to share though.

Yes your right it gets you down doesn't it. With having lichen sclerosus, microvascular angina and lupus, I have plenty of appointments 🙄. I really don't want an operation though. I'm waiting to have a bunion and 2nd toe sorted so I don't want to be immobile much more. My sister said you can't do anything for weeks after a prolapse repair!

Oh yeh also I have flaxseed on my cereal every day and I have 2 senna every night. I'm on morphine for pain relief so that has definitely impacted on how my bowel is how it is, I have diverticular disease to contend with which can be agonising. Bloody hell I didnt realise I'm such a wreck 😬.

Anyway I'll fill you all in after my appointment on 30th May 👍

[JayceeJC in reply to Hidden]

wow, 4 big babies would definitely have done that. I only had 3 weighing in the 7lb-8lb region. I too have Diverticular only found when I was experiencing too much diarrhoea and weight loss. Don’t feel I have any diverticulitis issues but regular stomach cramps and ibs-d. Still no reason why I’m losing weight even today. Anyway, good luck with the appointment.

[Hidden in reply to JayceeJC]

Oh you will know if you have a flare up! Nasty. Usually the pain starts in the bottom left of your tummy.I had a colonoscopy and he showed me all the little pockets dotted around! Maybe you should get the losing weight checked out 🤔

[JayceeJC in reply to Hidden]

I always assume the sudden stomach pains and race to the loo is my IBS, maybe it’s the Diverticular issue. Pain normally bottom right. I’ve told the doctor and other professionals about the weight loss and they just congratulate me as I’m T2 diabetic as well though I’m doing nothing to help the loss.

[Hidden in reply to JayceeJC]

Maybe keep an eye on that then x

[NiamhP]

Hi Jaycee,

I am having an operation on the 2nd June; hysterectomy, bladder and rectocele repair. I have a ring pessary for 6/7 years which kept the prolapse from protruding through the vagina. That was fitted every 6 months initially, since Covid every twelve months. Some practitioners are excellent at fitting (nurses & doctors), others a bit clueless and therefore quite an uncomfortable experience. The ring I used was quite big and was warmed to make it more bendable and lubricant used by the experts and no uncomfortableness at all when done correctly. Occasionally I had to push it back in place but not often. I removed it in Feb to help them assess the size of the prolapse and now appreciate how well it worked as the prolapse is very evident sticking slightly out of the vagina. I have had a lot of UTI s since as well. The bowel is affected, I sometimes have to use glycerin suppository to empty prior to going out, and had a period where there was slight leaking.

My operation is scheduled for two hours with a bowel consultant and gynae consultant jointly doing the operation. I am seventy so hoping that it will be a success and a life changer. Currently everything I do takes into account whether toilets are accessible etc. I love walking but between the prolapse descent and bowel issues it has become quite a challenge. I always wear a tens pad going out and occasionally have had a urine leak when I cannot get to a toilet in time. I believe having had two nearly 10lb babies back in the eighties may have contributed to these problems. I will keep you updated as how successful or otherwise the operation is.

I would recommend the ring pessary to address a straight prolapse, works well when fitted correctly. There was a nurse at my local surgery who was excellent but moved and the nurse at the pelvic floor unit at my London hospital is superb. However, over time the rectocele has impacted on the bowel so I am hoping that the operation will make me feel like a new woman! I starred this process in Dec 2019 so it’s been going on awhile and got worse over time whilst waiting for surgery .

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[JayceeJC in reply to NiamhP]

thank you so much for your comments. I’m not sure I would like to have a ring pessary but it’s early days and not sure how long it will be before my gynae consultation. The constant feeling of wanting to urinate is very depressing. I also suffer with very bad ibs-d so I take a lot of Loperamide which does help. Good luck with the op on the 2nd.

[Pelvicblues in reply to NiamhP]

Just want to say I'm wishing you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery! Allow yourself plenty of time to recover 🙏

[NiamhP in reply to Pelvicblues]

Thank you. It does come with a warning that it might not be successful but I felt it was worth the risk to try and improve my quality of life. With the womb gone that will be one less factor in the equation. I am so determined not to do anything afterwards that might impact on the success of the operation, no heavy lifting etc. Getting old brings a whole new set of challenges I had not factored in. Will keep everyone posted as to the outcome when things have settled.

[Jald]

Hi Jaycee. Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble. I've also got a prolapsed vagina. This has been helped by Hrt cream which helps to firm up the vagina. The cream was prescribed by a gynaecologist. So I hope that when you do get your appointment you'll get some relief.

[HashtagNell]

Empathy. I would reinforce the good idea of starting right away with the NHS Squeezy App, in combination with oestrogen to firm up the vaginal tissue (I am 69). I do the Squeezy exercises six times a day, and although my issue is not quite so advanced I have found this really helpful.

But I can see the bladder issue is a bit of a nightmare for you. It is telling you: do something NOW. So you can get a natural sponge pessary right away and try that yourself. They are easy to insert and soft, so there would be nothing lost in trying and you don't have to wait for an appointment. I have found them better than the cube pessary prescribed by a gynaecologist, and you can use them multiple times. You can buy them from various sources, and some women use sponges instead of tampons or pads for menstrual flow, so this is a well established practice. I got mine here and they came quickly: puresponges.co.uk/prolapse-...

[JayceeJC in reply to HashtagNell]

thank you so much for your very interesting message. I will try and order some sponges. My doctor said I won’t need any HRT or lubrication but at this stage I’m happy to try anything to eleviate my symptoms.

[gymkat in reply to HashtagNell]

Oh you have found a brilliant website for sponges! I’ve saved it. I have been using sea sponges as pessaries for a couple of years. It makes a huge difference.

[MissStar]

My sympathies, sounds very challenging indeed. I am dealing with mild prolapse with constant painful dragging sensations. You may be interested in the Whole Woman approach (non surgery, posture/breathing approach) which has helped a lot of women avoid surgery and pessaries, and live a good life. Also very good for hips/knee problems, and simple solutions to post menopause vaginal/vulval discomfort. Website: wholewoman.com

[Bea61]

have a bladder prolapse - very sudden accident in kitchen 2yrs ago (and 2 other floods since) still waiting on NHS procedure...can't walk very well or even from one bus stop to another as the pressure in abdo is heavy, legs ache and lower back pain is sometimes unbearable ...was attending bladder incontinence clinic for scans and advice for 12 months and set me up with abeena but really need a procedure...have put on so much weight as very inactive and its affected my confidence in leaving the house..so plans for travel or meet ups with friends/family are also affected ..very debilitating...try and to the pelvic floor exercises daily several times but feel quite low ..also have widespread OA and also diverticular disease throughout colon ...so ladies above, we are being hammered ...wish you all good day🌻

[JayceeJC in reply to Bea61]

I’m so sorry to hear of all your issues. I’m just suffering with the prolapse and I feel that is restricting me. Given up the leg exercises in the gym and line dancing now everything seems to be heading south. My ibs-d was the only thing hindering my outings before this as it would just come on in seconds and I was diagnosed with diverticular about 3 years ago. I hope you get the treatment you need asap. I don’t expect a gynae appointment for at least 6 months so I’m the meantime I’ll carry on with the pelvic floor exercises and pads. Good luck

[gymkat in reply to JayceeJC]

Give the sea sponges a try - they lift the prolapse up and you can get on with life. I had the op but it failed after 9 months. I’m a chronic asthmatic so I cough a lot and the violent coughing after a bout of flu weakened it once again. I also use the Kegal-8 to strengthen everything. Between that, the oestrogen cream, and the sponge I’m doing well enough.

[Mrshappyme]

hi i had a bladder repair september last year after 6 weeks i started feeling like i had a preasure to pee and did quit alot every time i had to go as if there was something pressing on my bladder nurse came out did a bladder scan and said bladder is emptying ok .so my doctor said shed refer me back to my gyno so im waiting . not heard anything as yet . it feels like i have to get up in the night 3 and 4 times a night to urinate .and like you when i get up off the toilet when i think iv finish i can have to sit back down quikly love to have some idea what is causing this

[JayceeJC in reply to Mrshappyme]

hi there. Sorry to hear you’re suffering too. I was told after an internal examination that I have a prolapse and it’s putting pressure on my bladder which I guess gives me the feeling I need to go. Waiting for a gynae appointment not sure what my options are but a nip and tuck up might work 😊

[Mrshappyme in reply to JayceeJC]

thankyou for your reply hope you get it done soon and a fast recovery i too am waiting on a gyno aportment so i can find out if i too have a prolaspe thanks all the best take care

[JayceeJC in reply to Mrshappyme]

I’ll let you know how I get on, let me know too. I know my hospital is really busy so it could be 6 months before I see someone.