A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed with a prolapse. Something else on top of my PMR and struggling to get over a lousy cough/cold (had prior to cough). To my relief PMR well controlled at the moment after some yo-yoing. Currently on 10mg for a further month after GP increased from 9mg (went as low as 5mg but obviously too quickly) and then will begin trying to titrate again. On Prednisolone since July '24. I was wondering if there could be any correlation with having PMR/taking Pred or just to put it down to having given birth, albeit 45 years ago, an hysterectomy 30 years ago or the natural ageing process. Appointment with a Women's Health Physiotherapist next week but just feeling deflated about something else to contend with after being what I'd consider very healthy until 10 months ago.
Prolapse (ladies): A couple of weeks ago I was... - PMRGCAuk
Prolapse (ladies)
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Oh dear. Can understand you being deflated. I doubt its the PMR - more likely the other things you mention and I guess that cough wouldn’t help! Glad you’ve got an appointment so quickly and hopefully targeted physio will help. It is hard to accept these things but at least you can do something about it. I hope it goes well.
Sorry to hear this dismaying news. I hope it can be sorted out. There is muscle weakness with this disease and coughing may well have contributed.
I was similarly afflicted when I got to well under 10mg Pred having started on 60mg. I would have been about 57/58 then. I went to a pelvic specialist physio as recommended by my GP. It was put down to weakening effects of Pred, deconditioning, and previous childbirth x2. I found pelvic floor (PF) exercises to be not very effective. The reason for this was my poor PF was being given every job in the office while my lower back, hip, pelvic and leg muscles had bunked off. When she put me through my paces I realised how weak I was even though I thought I was pretty good. So not only did I have to do my PF exercises far more frequently than I was, but I had a load of moves for the rest. Incidentally, I went to a podiatrist too for Achilles tendonitis and they prescribed the same exercises for my appallingly weak apparatus from the navel down to my feet.
Things did improve but I do have to keep it up especially after regular bouts of Covid etc. I also find that if my gut isn’t happy (gas) or I put on any visceral fat above a certain level I know about it. It’s a long road with no final destination in terms of exercises.
When I was nursing and seeing many ladys’ parts where the sun don’t shine, I found that many people who regard themselves fine after childbirth or being very fit had fairly lax PF’s, a problem waiting to happen later on.
Wise words SnazzyD and with a touch of humour too which always helps! I don't appear to have any 'pull up and squeeze' so hoping the physio can point me in the right direction, so to speak 🤔 I'm not trying at the moment as have read if done incorrectly could make worse. When I had my son in 1980 I don't recall anything about doing pelvic floor exercises, neither when I had my hysterectomy. No doubt times have changed. I'd laugh at not being able to hold my wee or a dribbly sneeze and just put it down to normal ageing process. I'm not laughing now!
You have my sympathy.. I think it will probably be more age related as it happened to me in my late 60s long before I’d even heard of vasculitis and its many diseases and despite remembering to do my pelvic floor exercises. I was prescribed a pessary ring and sometime later tablets to insert as well so in the main it’s not caused me any issues. But recently it seems to have become more pronounced so at times I can feel very conscious of it. I note SheffieldJane’s comment about muscle weakness so perhaps now having LVV or being on Pred has contributed. (I’m intending to get it checked out ) Never know what’s coming next do we? .I keep telling myself just smile and count your blessings 😃 I do hope it easily gets sorted for you and doesn’t cause further discomfort.
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Sorry to hear that - all of the above I suspect except PMR, though you never know. My cousin was here recently - not long after an op for the same, disgustingly healthy and fit as a fiddle (here to ski at 76!!) but a similar history to you otherwise except never taken pred in her life.
I think it is probably more to do with giving birth all those years ago. I gave birth in 1980 and was diagnosed over 2 years ago. I had an episiotomy and epidural. I lived an active life gardening, carrying heavy shopping and not thinking about what I might be doing to my body. I had a hysterectomy in 1999.I know from belonging to a Facebook group that women in their 20's, upwards have them. It is usually linked to having babies but some people haven't had them.
Women's health is one of the worst areas for appointments at hospitals. I tried to go private but as I was slightly overweight 2 consultants refused to treat me.They also said I was too high risk as have other health problems also. One would operate buy it had to be cancelled due to low sodium at pre op. If you do think of going private remember they don't have any emergency facilities.
A private Women's physio is a good thing and some can fit pessaries, also some GP'S can. Don't also be surprised if you see one person and you are diagnosed with one type of prolapse and someone else say it is something else. Prolapses are wore for standing and as the day goes on and vary in symptoms. I have symptoms that the people who should know say are not connected but so many people in my group ask the same questions about them so I feel they must be connected.
As you can tell I have read a lot and I hope you don't have towait long to be anyone at the hospital. Good luck.
Thank you for your input.
Oops. Pressed too soon 🙄 Birth of your child same as mine and hysterectomy 2 years later than me! I'm hoping not to have to go down the surgery route. I'm fortunately going private. Don't want to wait weeks for advice and fingers crossed, and everything else below too 😲, hoping to prevent it getting worse. The oestrogen pessaries are helping me feel more comfortable.
My cousin went privately for her op, she had seen the same one for a hysterectomy and she said she was pleased she'd seen her privately as she had just had to give an appointment to someone for a YEAR's time! Just for assessment!!
Was the year for a private patient? My one I saw privately was a 3 month wait but in the end it didn't happen.
I guess it depends how big the prolapse is and what’s affected. In the first place mine was dealt with by aGP at our practice who had a particular interest in women’s issues. Thereafter the pessary ring is changed every 6 months by a dedicated practice nurse who is the first point of contact for any concerns. Hope you don’t need an op 🤞
I have a prolapse front and back which has got better (stronger) with thyroid hormone - caused by violent coughing whilst sitting down - the Women’s Health people should offer you oestrogen cream which does help as when oestrogen low the tissues become less strong and can cause prolapse
There is a correlation with oestrogen AND vitamin C for collagen strength as Pred depletes C !
Made me laugh and wince at the same time !