Prolapse

Hi Everyone, I wonder if anyone has had the same problem as myself. A few months ago I had a feeling that something had slipped down into my vagina, this is the first time I have experienced anything like this. I have been several time to my GP who told me all was normal. My problem became more uncomfortable a feeling that something would drop out and this awful feeling that something was there that hadnt been before. Eventually I was sent to a gynocologist who said that all was normal, apart from the fact that I was two stones overweight, he said my pelvic floor was fine. I was so upset because I feel that he was wrong I have all the symptoms of prolapse. I went back to my doctor who has really confused me, I insisted on being examined standing, and I told her exactly what and where I was feeling the bulging, she examined me and said that what I was feeling was muscle, a rigid band of muscle and I just cant accept this at all. How can muscle be there and why is it sometimes worse than at other times, I have to make sure that my bowel is okay because that makes things worse, I just dont know where to go next and feel so miserable. I am coping with being uncomfortable, its fine when I am sitting, but I am not coping with the fact that the doctors dont believe me. Husband is wonderful but says that if the doctors say I am okay then I must be and I must stop worrying about it, I am 60 years old. Any comments would be appreciated, bye now, Polly

Hi Polly and welcome! I've moved your post over here to our Hysterectomy Options and Alternatives forum, which is the place for discussing different diagnoses and treatment alternatives if you're not yet scheduled for a hysterectomy.

What other symptoms are you having besides the feeling of something being down there? Are you having problems with urinary incontinence? Trouble with bowel movements?

I had my hysterectomy for prolapse; I didn't actually know I had a prolapse until my cervix was outside of my body. At that point it was a pretty easy diagnosis for my GYN.

If you're not confident in the statement by your DRs that you're fine, why not get another opinion from a different DR?
s,
-Linda

Hi Thanks for your reply, its not so easy in the UK to get another opinion considering that my GP and specialist have said that there is nothing wrong, but I am trying. I am so uncomfortable and just cant understand why they cant find anything, I can certainly feel it and thats the main thing as far as I am concerned.Never been one for going to see doctors and feel very upset that I am not believed, I just wish that I could hear that someone else has been told the same as I have, as I have never heard this explaination before. love Polly

Hi Polly! I can really understand your frustration - we know our own body! I have a somewhat similar story about not being believed... In May, my gynecologist confirmed my suspicions of prolapses at my annual visit (I am 64) and because I had a severe uterine prolapse - my cervix is pretty much outside my body - and I have both a cystocele and rectocele, she decided to send me for surgery to a new specialist in town who could do all 3 repairs at one time... After waiting 5 weeks to see that doctor, she totally dismissed my problems, told me that since I am diabetic and overweight, I could die having surgery for such a simple matter, and wanted to assign me to a pessary clinic at the med school where she practices... Many tears and much anger later, I went back to my gynecologist, who said she had sent me for surgery & not a second opinion. and has now planned surgery with herself doing the hyst & rectocele repair and a urologist who will repair my significant bladder problem at the same time... no date yet, as they have to coordinate between the two of them so that I only have one anesthesia... Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to let you know that some doctors have different agendas for us ladies!
s to you, Polly, and I hope you can get this solved - you know when something is not right with your own body!
Mary

Thanks for that Mary, I will keep you informed of anything else that happens, I live in fear of things falling out, hasnt so far but I still would like to know what I am feeling if its not the cervix, Polly

Dear Polly:

Perhaps you can ask your doc about trying out a pessary. That may make enough of a difference to get you back to a comfort level that works for you.

Here is a link to some prolapse info in our Resources Directory https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...=browse&cid=27

I hope you are feeling better soon. I am sending huge cyberhugs

Hi Housemanager

I'm in the UK as well and it seems GP's don't really know enough about these things it's really a specialist subject.
I'm 43 and last Sept I sneezed and felt a funny sensation down below, yes as simple as that. My uterus must have been on it's way down but I never realised as I'd never heard of this before. When I think back I have had problems using tampons for a while.I was referred to the hosp and adviced to have a vaginal hyst but there was no mention of a repair. I paid fro a second opinion and decided to have my uterus suspended. My cervix was at the entrance to my vagina. The doc tried to fit a pessary but with no luck ( he tried about 6 different sizes) he said I had no support in my pelvis whatsoever. I had surgery on 14th April and all was going well until last week when the prolapse came back. I have only been back at 5 weeks.I am now having a hysterectomy in November.I was devastated as my vaginal wall is prolapsing as well now and I found out I have a large fibroid. If I were you I would ask to be referred to the hospital a pessary could help you. I'm sure it's better to catch it early.

	Quote:
Originally posted by sunflower04 I had surgery on 14th April and all was going well until last week when the prolapse came back. I have only been back at 5 weeks.I am now having a hysterectomy in November.I was devastated as my vaginal wall is prolapsing as well now and I found out I have a large fibroid.

Dear sunflower:

During my pre-op research, I learned that prolapse can be attributed to heredity, excess weight, a lifestyle of heavy lifting, excessive coughing (smokers?), age (post-40), and/or post-vaginal childbirth.

I also learned that once you have prolapsed, you are likely to prolapse again, because the factors listed above probably haven't changed

I hope you are able to find some relief. I am sending huge cyberhugs

Hi housemanager...

If you still feel unhappy, tell your doctor so and ask for a second referral to a different specialist. Ask around, look on the internet and at the websites of your local BMI private hospital to see if any gynae lists the pelvic floor as his speciality.Mine did just that, which is why I say this.

I really understand what you are saying. 15 years ago when I had my first prolapse I was very distressed because the 3 doctors in my practice found nothing much...they referred me privately to a v good consultant, who found nothing much!They started asking if everything was alright at home etc and indicating that I was stressed and imagining it all...

I stood my ground, had a second appt with same consultant, who found the prolapse that time, apologised, and operated. After the op, he said it was even worse than in clinic and apologised profusely for not finding it the first time....

So when after 15 years wear and tear the same symptoms appeared again, I asked to go directly to a specialist stating pelvic floor as an interest. If you can afford it, go privately for the consultation so you see the consultant not the 'team'..it is about £150, but well worth peace of mind.

Good luck!

PS to my post above.....my second specialist (My hero!) actually said that it is very hard to see just how bad a prolapse is until in the operating theatre 1. cos we are usually lying down and 2 cos we are awake. So he understood the problem...