Cystocele

Hi Ladies,

I had LAVH, BSO on 11-27-02. This past Friday, I went in for a rountine chest X-ray. That morning, I started to have mild shooting pain in my lower abdomen area. I told my Primary Care Physician the symptoms when I went in. He said not to worry that it was probably scar tissue. By Sunday morning, I could hardly walk.....the pressure and pain in my abdomen area was horrific. I went to ER and after a series of tests, the last one being a pelvic exam, I was told that I had cystocele. I was discharged with meds and told to call my OBGYN at 9:00am this morning for follow-up. The pressure seems to have lessened this am but I haven't been up long this am. I woke at 5:00am. I am having strong urges to pee, but only little dribbles come out when I go to the bathroom

Has anyone had this problem before and what did they do to help the cystocele. Maybe my estrogen levels are low. I read that estrogen is supposed to maintained or strengthen the muscles in the abdomen area. Is that true?

What should I tell my doc. this am. Do I need to take the estrogen shots?

Thanks.....Very Confused and Scared.

Tracy

Hi Tracy! I'm so sorry you're having such painful symptoms! I didn't have any pain from my cystocele (before the hyst).

It is true that estrogen (and also testosterone) can help maintain the health of the tissues of the urogenital system down there, and that can help lessen the symptoms you're having. With your endo history, though, I wouldn't think estrogen shots would be advisable. You might want to ask your DR about a vaginal estrogen cream or other vaginal estrogen product (Estring, vagifem)... there is a discussion of the choices in the article on vaginal dryness .

Also, I'd recommend that you ask for a referral to a urogyn for evaluation of your cystocele and symptoms. This may be a little out of your regular ob/gyn's comfort zone. Just my

s,
-Linda