Vaginal pessaries

[Apple40]

HiI should be really grateful for advice from anybody in the same position as myself, who has managed to navigate the position in the UK regarding pessaries for pelvic floor prolapse.

I am nearly 75 and found out around 6 months ago that I have a rectocele, grade 2, and a cystocele, grade 1 which unfortunately are symptomatic. I don't want an operation if I can help it, for many reasons, and am therefore looking into getting a pessary. Unfortunately I don't seem to be getting very far with this and am becoming very frustrated. My gp surgery now fit pessaries themselves, apparently, but I strongly suspect they are only able to fit a ring pessary, which I understand are unsuitable for a rectocele. I would be quite prepared to fork out for a visit to a private pessary clinic but this seems impractical as there are so few of them and they are all based in the south of England. I live in the Midlands and don't drive, unfortunately. I realise I need to discuss all this with a doctor but so far I have been unable to arrange a consultation to discuss pessaries, local oestrogen, etc. I feel as if I am being fobbed off at every turn. I have paid for several private pelvic floor physiotherapy sessions and have bought a Kegel8 20 machine which I have used for several weeks, with some success.

Please help, I am rapidly losing hope!

[Sunnysidoop]

Sorry to hear of your frustrating situation. I also have cystocele and rectocele. My physio was excellent but only got me so far. Pessaries then helped but only for a while, after which I couldn't get a tampon to stay in . I removed pessary and discovered my muscles had weakened. Thus I believe the pessary made.my muscles stop working for themselves. Muscles improved somewhat after permanent removal of pessary and use of vaginal estrogen. In fact the estrogen has been the one thing that's helped the most and significantly so

[Apple40 in reply to Sunnysidoop]

Thank you for that very helpful reply. Looks like vaginal oestrogen is the thing to go for.

[giggy63 in reply to Apple40]

Hi apple40. I use the jade and pearl pink pessary sponge. You have to trim it to size but it has changed my life to back to normal. Worth a try for about £17.....

[Apple40 in reply to giggy63]

Hi. Thanks very much for your response. I am certainly tempted by the sea sponge but am a bit daunted by it at the same time! Do they provide detailed instructions on which way to put it in? And does it interfere with bladder and bowel emptying?

[giggy63 in reply to Apple40]

Yes it tell you how to trim it until its comfortable for you. It says dont cut them in half but i have and its just rite and works great! Basically you just push it in as far as it will go. You can still go to toilet while its there but i use a tena mini just incase it leaks abit but mostly it never does.... hope this helps.

[Apple40 in reply to giggy63]

Thanks so much for that. I will definitely give it a try!

[giggy63 in reply to Apple40]

That great please let me know how you get on. Remember to buy a soap free wash to wash it in every night...

[Apple40 in reply to giggy63]

Sorry to go on but am a bit concerned about how I get this thing out! Also, where would I get a soap free wash from? Thank you for your help!

[giggy63 in reply to Apple40]

You bear down then just pull it out theres no way it can get lost. You can get feminine wash from any supermarket... hope this helps

[Apple40 in reply to giggy63]

Thank you! Sorry to be a wimp!

[Hidden]

Hi, don't give up. I wear a pessary for cystocele. I've been wearing it for about 15years. What has helped me is removing it at night but more importantly to stay physically active to maintain core muscles in the abdomen. Keep up the pelvic floor exercises. They don't solve everything but do add to the overall strength and stability of the pelvic floor region. And get a friend to drive you to another pelvic floor specialist. It could be very worthwhile.

[Apple40 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for getting in touch. I appreciate hearing about what everyone else is doing to deal with this problem. I finally got some oestrogen cream from the GP, as recommended by my physio, and will start using that now (mind you, I shall be quite nervous to so so, as apparently the cream puts women at increased risk of dementia if they start taking it past the age of 65). The good news keeps coming!

[Hidden in reply to Apple40]

You can always use less of the cream or ask for a lower dose oestrogen cream. I use it vaginally but in a very low dose. Hope it works for you too.

[Apple40 in reply to Hidden]

Hi again. I'll follow your advice. Thank you.