How do I know? Prolapse Questions

Hi everyone. I have been reading a few messages and especially by people who write about a bulge at the vaginal opening. I have been fortunate so far as my recovery seems normal. I had an abdominal procedure. I have no children. My question is this:

How do you know you have a prolapse? If there is a bulge does that NECESSARILY mean there is a prolapse? I have a bulge but I swear it seems I've had it forever, like, all my adult life. I don't know if it is bigger or not. It doesn't hurt. I don't have incontinence or constipation (at least not different from all my life).

Would I have pain? Would I know if I had prolapse? Is it possible that I have had it always and never knew? If I do have it, does it NEED correcting just because it's there?

Thanks....
I hope I'm scaring myself over nothing. I just want to be normal again and healthy and able to work and enjoy life!

Hi scaredy_cat
I had a rectocele when I had my surgery done and I had no idea it had been there. It didn't hurt and wasn't really causing me any problems that I was aware of. You need to ask your dr about how important it is to get it fixed if you have one. I don't know much about this. I think it would be wise to try to find out if you have the problem then you can ask your dr what your options are and what are the consequences if you wait.
Depending on what is going on there are sometimes non surgical options for you. I know that doing kegals is always a good idea. That's something you could start doing if you aren't.
There is a section in our resources with links to information on prolapses. You might want to do some reading there to help answer some of your questions. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...=browse&cid=27
I hope it turns out to be a false alarm. Let us know.
's, Rita

Thanks for your quick reply.

You said you did not know you had one. Did it give you troubles? Have you ever given birth?

You know...I never even suggested the idea to my doctor. In fact, I know you all won't approve but I opted out of an internal exam after surgery!! I was so scared. I just didn't do it. I am going to read more about prolapses, but the truth is, every "drawing" I see makes me think I have one. I then look with a mirror and think maybe I don't. Then I think I do. I'm not even scheduled to go see my doctor again. She has totally released me unless I have a problem.

One other question about this....
It seems to me that the vaginal walls should in fact "touch" at the opening. Diagrams seem to show there is a void...that they don't actually touch. However, mine have always touched! I keep thinking the "bulge" I see (front and back even) are actually just the walls normally...I mean...they've always been this way! Could I have had a prolapse since I was just say... 13 yrs old?

I'm 36. I didn't mention that.

I know I sound silly!! Forgive me...

scaredy_cat
I'm sorry you're worrying over this. I don't think it's silly when you have a genuine concern, but I do think you should just go to your dr and let your mind and your imagination have a rest. It would be silly to use up all this valueable energy and not ever have your answer, and the only person who is going to be able to tell you for sure is your dr.
Yes, I have given birth, several times and really had no idea this thing was there. I think I could have gone on just fine with it the way it was at least for a while. There is no way of saying for sure if problems would have developed for me.
Difficult labors are one factor that can bring on a prolapse,but that isn't always the case. Many women who have never had children deal with prolapses. In my case the prolapse didn't happen until many years after my last child was born.
Another good question for the dr is if they get worse over time if they aren't taken care of. It seems logical that they might because prolapses are so common as we age. Unfortunately gravity takes its toll on many parts of our anatomy, this is just one more.
Please call and make that appointment. You will be glad you did and then you can stop thinking about all of this. If there's a problem you can decide if you want to take care of it or wait. The option is always there. Let us know if you find out anything.
's, Rita

Hi scaredy_cat - I don't think you're silly, but I do believe that knowledge is power. I'm no a medical person, but I want to know what is going on with my body. I know that when I read things on line I can talk myself into having many problems that aren't actually problems. The way I resolve those is to talk to my doctor. When I had my post-op exam, I asked my doctor to show me the vaginal cuff so I would know what it is supposed to look like. Yes, the walls of the vagina touched. It saw something that looked like a bulge to the side in back, and asked my doctor what it was. She said it was normal, and was just the vaginal wall. The cuff itself looked like a straight line, like a seam that had been sewn. I'm glad I looked with the doctor so I know what looks like normal for me. If I were you, rather than work myself up over a possible prolapse, I would ask my doctor if it's possible that I have one. It may be that what you are feeling is nothing abnormal. It may be that you have a prolapse that does not require immediate attention but should be watched. It may be something more serious. There's really no way to find out for sure without asking your doctor about it. To me, anything beats worrying about the unknown.

Hi, thanks for the responses! I know...the answer is "call the doctor" but if you notice my name here is "Scaredy_cat"-----I chose it well

I think, for now, I am going to see how I feel in the long term. I mean, I'm not one who has a lot of exams, but I have had a few over the years. It seems to me if I had a problem a doctor would have said something during those?? I did not know about rectocele or even that it existed before I started reading too much online. I'm afraid I'm one of those who thinks she has every disorder she reads about. I even spent one evening crying because I was afraid I'd get a fistula.

I'm paranoid---I do think I will wait a while and see if I decide I'm maybe normal. My insurance would not be thrilled about paying for a visit that is unnecessary I'd think..... I do really really appreciate all the responses.

I know you are all right. I'm just too dang scared of the exams for now......

*hugs*