May 2013 Moms
jayro10
member
Options
Diagnosed with prolapse
jayro10
member
I got the official diagnosis today. Confirmation of the fear that has been consuming me for the past week. I have a bladder prolapse [cystocele] and a small rectal prolapse [rectocele]. I have been suspecting this for a week, after I noticed a feeling like a tampon was falling out of me and a visible bulge in my vagina when I looked with a mirror.
I am having a really hard time emotionally with accepting this. I have googled more than I ever thought possible in the past week, looking for information. This is good and bad: good because I now feel pretty well informed [I have learned more by doing my own research than what I learned at my doctor appt today]. Bad because I can't stop freaking out about what the future holds. I cry every time I think about it...and I can't stop thinking about it.
I never knew that prolapse could occur from childbirth. I've only heard of it in relation to older menopausal women. I know that it's something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I'm not sure what's worse right now, the physical feeling of it, or the emotional and psychological feeling of it. I keep thinking about how I may have to be restricted in activities with my daughter as she grows up. What if she wants me to skip with her, or jump rope with her? Will I have to say no, because those things might make Mommy's bladder fall out farther? It breaks my heart. What about my husband? We wanted to have one more child and although its still possible with prolapse, it scares the hell out of me that it would become worse. What about sex?
The only consolation I have right now, and the piece of hope that I'm desperately clinging to, is that postpartum prolapse can sometimes heal on its own. Although it will never go away completely, it may improve as my uterus continues to shrink and when I'm done BFing and the estrogen returns to normal. But even then, it will still be something that I will have to be constantly mindful of and have to make sure not to do anything that could make it worse again.
I don't know anyone else who has had a prolapse at any stage of life, so I'm feeling pretty alone in this. Anyone out there have this, or know someone who had it and had a good outcome? I'm looking for anything that can cheer me up about this.
Thanks for reading if you got this far.
I am having a really hard time emotionally with accepting this. I have googled more than I ever thought possible in the past week, looking for information. This is good and bad: good because I now feel pretty well informed [I have learned more by doing my own research than what I learned at my doctor appt today]. Bad because I can't stop freaking out about what the future holds. I cry every time I think about it...and I can't stop thinking about it.
I never knew that prolapse could occur from childbirth. I've only heard of it in relation to older menopausal women. I know that it's something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I'm not sure what's worse right now, the physical feeling of it, or the emotional and psychological feeling of it. I keep thinking about how I may have to be restricted in activities with my daughter as she grows up. What if she wants me to skip with her, or jump rope with her? Will I have to say no, because those things might make Mommy's bladder fall out farther? It breaks my heart. What about my husband? We wanted to have one more child and although its still possible with prolapse, it scares the hell out of me that it would become worse. What about sex?
The only consolation I have right now, and the piece of hope that I'm desperately clinging to, is that postpartum prolapse can sometimes heal on its own. Although it will never go away completely, it may improve as my uterus continues to shrink and when I'm done BFing and the estrogen returns to normal. But even then, it will still be something that I will have to be constantly mindful of and have to make sure not to do anything that could make it worse again.
I don't know anyone else who has had a prolapse at any stage of life, so I'm feeling pretty alone in this. Anyone out there have this, or know someone who had it and had a good outcome? I'm looking for anything that can cheer me up about this.
Thanks for reading if you got this far.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Diagnosed with prolapse
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My little bug, Madeline. Born June 2, 2013.
This. Prayers for healing physically and emotionally.
TTC #2:
March - May 2014 - Natural cycles - no luck
June 2014 - Clomid 50mg - BFN
July 2014 - Clomid 50mg - BFN
August 2014 - Clomid 50mg - BFN
September 2014 - Clomid 50mg - Fingers crossed...
I don't know anything about this either but I wanted to say I hope it heals on its own quickly. ::hugs::
I have just been a lurker and rarely post, but I wanted to weigh in on this topic. I'm so sorry you are dealing with prolapse, but there are definitely options. I work for the department of Urogynecology at a major university, where our surgeons operate to treat both urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. I am not a medical professional (I work on the administrative side) so I can't give you medical advice, but I can tell you that our doctors perform many successful operations daily, and that the procedures are relatively quick and easy (as far as surgeries go). If you also have rectal prolapse, it's possible the surgery would be a joint case between a Urogyn surgeon and a colorectal surgeon.
I hope that it does resolve naturally, but I urge you not to wait too long for that to happen before seeking treatment. Typically prolapse progresses, and the longer it goes, the worse it can be and more major of a procedure to correct. I don't say this to scare you, because you were smart to pay attention to your body and are lucky that it was diagnosed quickly. Many women suffer from prolapse for years before noticing and/or deciding to see a doctor about it, and sometimes it can take several months from initially meeting with Urogynecology doctors to when surgery can be booked and completed. By that point, they are desperate for a fix, and having to wait is unbearable. Of course other practices might have shorter waiting times- but often not because these surgeries are considered elective, and not life-threatening- and Urogynecology is a newer medical sub-specialty, without tons of doctors practicing it.
The physical therapy that a PP mentioned is most likely being given for incontience, not prolapse. Our practice has an APRN that conducts these physical therapies, and it involves things along the lines of Kegels- but with professional guidance and often with a machine that reads your body's response. That can be useful for many women post-partum, who continue to have incontinence issues- but does nothing for prolapse, unfortunaely.
The only non-surgical option that would most likely be suggested to you is a pessary- which is basically a ring-like device that holds in the prolapsed organ. This can be a great option for someone elderly or ill who cannot tolerate surgery, but personally, it's not what I would think would be ideal for you as someone young who still wants to have kids. It's not a solution- basically just putting a bandaid on a problem. And using a pessary is not fun- you have to take it out and clean it, go to the office regularly to have it re-fitted and professionally cleaned, and you have to remove it to have sex- for the rest of your life. It's great for a 90 year old woman who doesn't want surgery but is not sexually active. If it were me, I'd rather have surgery and have the problem be solved, and you can live your life just like before. But of course everyone has their own opinion, and what's right for you might be different from what I would choose.
I hope this info helped and I urge you to seek a referral (if your insurance requires one) or recommendation from your OB for a Urogynecologist (sometimes called a specialist in FPMRS, Female Pelvice Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery). They can evaluate the prolapse better than a general OBGYN, and give you all of your options, surgical and non.
Good luck, and let me know if there is any more info you'd like me to give you.
Thank you PP for this info. OP, I am waiting for mt appt next week, but I could have written your post. I actually did write one last week sharing my fears, but less eloquently than you, and I was surprised how no one else seemed to e dealing with this. I dont have an official diagnosis, but it is exactly as you describe. I hope for natural post partem healing of this condition for the both of us, and the patience to handle it.
OP and PP, are there any recommendations fr activities to avoid in the meantime beyond running, jumping, heavy lifting? I am having a hard time not lifting my toddler, and can feel the physical challenge of lifting the LO in the cat seat.