Will my dropped bladder improve or do I need surgery?

I had my 3rd child 4 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago noticed tissue buldging out of my vagina. It is a dropped bladder. I am seeing a urologist tomorrow. Question: Do you think this could improve on its own? Or do I just get the surgery over with? I am very active and have 3 kids under the age of 4, so I have to be able to lift them, etc. I have no other symptoms or issues other than the gross tissue buldging out of my vagina. Has anyone had this surgery and if so, what does it entail? I am 39 years old, fit, and shocked this has happend. All of my kids were under 6.5 lbs, so this is so unexpected. I'd appreciate your input!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by droppedbladder I had my 3rd child 4 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago noticed tissue buldging out of my vagina. It is a dropped bladder. I am seeing a urologist tomorrow. Question: Do you think this could improve on its own? Or do I just get the surgery over with? I am very active and have 3 kids under the age of 4, so I have to be able to lift them, etc. I have no other symptoms or issues other than the gross tissue buldging out of my vagina. Has anyone had this surgery and if so, what does it entail? I am 39 years old, fit, and shocked this has happend. All of my kids were under 6.5 lbs, so this is so unexpected. I'd appreciate your input!

Hello Dropped bladder,
I have one also. Welcome to the dropped bladder club.
Congratulations on your new baby! I have read many times on the internet that women experience what you have after a birth and after some time, tissues tighten up again. Are you breastfeeding? This keeps the estrogen lower I believe. Can you do kegels? No one told me about these exercises and I wish they would have!
I have had a slightly dropped bladder since the birth of my youngest son who is 19 yrs old. It has dropped progressively over a long period of time. Mine is a grade 1 to 1 1/2 or so. I got 3 different opinions . I was having symptoms of slight pressure in the vagina and occasionally have trouble urinating but it hasn't been that way for a while. I also have a hypermobile urethra. My ex gyn wanted to fix it right away. The urologist I went to said I could do PT or get it fixed or do nothing. He referred me to a new gyn he works with because I expressed interest in fixing it surgically. The new gyn whom I like alot better, said he would let it alone until it bothered me more. There are complications from having surgery, just be aware.That does not mean they will happen to everyone.
I have been doing kegels at night. Are you familiar with those? I take vaginal estrogen also to keep tissues stronger. Do you know what grade your dropped bladder (cystocele) is? How much does it bother you? A pessary is another solution to consider if you are not ready for surgery.
From what I was told by the urologist-- He can fix the hypermobile urethra with sling (tension free vaginal tape sling) and the new gyn will do the cystocele repair. The big issue with me is mesh. I have become very much more informed from this site about mesh and mesh erosion. I was told I would get a mesh sling. Great. I mostly only leak when I cough, sneeze or laugh without crossing my legs. If I cross my legs, I don't leak. I did have trouble last night trying to slap shot a hockey puck back and forth to my son who is 19. I leaked a little drop everytime I did it. But think of the exertion and pressure on your abdomen! It would be similar to a hard sneeze. It bothers me some days more than others. I have put off calling them back. I can't decide if PT will help or not. I think once its prolapsed, nothing but surgery can "fix it" But PT can strengthen and keep it from possibly worsening. It is an individual decision. I think this surgery is elective until it gets bad enough that the bladder hangs outside then surgery is indicated. Do you have pain or any trouble urinating? Did you have this dropped bladder before you were pregnant with your third? I would ask my gyn for his/her opinion. I even think it is wise to seek a second and third. At my point with this, I have read on this site that a urogynecologist is the best to fix any pelvic prolapses but alot of women also have had their gyns or urologist do it. Good luck. Get off your feet as much as possible. I know that this is extremely hard to do witih young ones around until you can call your dr.

Hi, after my last child (20 yrs ago) my bladder was pretty dropped.. but after I stopped breastfeeding, things improved a bit and it didn't really bother me. Now as I am older, it did drop more - causing more issues. I think your doctor will make you wait at least 6 months - till your hormone level improves.

Hi Droppedbladder,
The heaviest of my 3 children was 6lb 2oz, so it is not their weight that does it to us. He wore an adult sized hat by the time he stated school, so perhaps that was the issue. He is 15 years old now, I've had 2 more babies and I had my surgery 8 weeks ago. I had damage to both the back and front walls of my vagina and to my pelvic ligaments, so the details of my experience are different to yours, but what I'm about to write for you is broadly similar to Amar's story in terms of weighing up what to do and crucially WHEN to do it.

The immediate damage healed to some extent. The most troublesome symptom at that stage was urine leakage, but it ceased to be a problem (except if I had a respiratory infection with a cough) with the healing of the initial injury, pelvic floor exercises and maintaining and improving overall fitness. I was able to jump on the trampoline with no problems! My plan was to delay surgery till my kids were beyond needing lifting and I achieved that. The 'baby' turned 11 recently. He still asks if I will ever be able to lift him up again by the way . . . .

Eventually, the damage to my pelvic floor meant that I was beginning to lose my core strength despite being active and my cervix was sitting low and scraping on my clothes. So i was gradually reconciled to the need for surgery.

It is great that you are seeing a urologist at this stage so you will know what the initial problem is and will be able to track the healing. Make sure this doctor considers the whole of your pelvic floor, not just the bladder. You've found the right place to research your options and make an informed decision about the best way to deal with your bulging tissues.

Good luck and let us know how you go.

J