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Hi all, I am a 65 year old women, had a hysterectomy in my 20's...hernia operation about the same time (20's). I have had a number of bladder infections with blood. In order to void I have to lean forward. (I've been telling doc. about that part for years) About two months ago I started to hurt in my vagina/pelvic area. It was after an especially terrible time with constipation. I think something happened inside. I have never heard of prolapse and when I was looking for answers this problem came up. I feel in my heart that I have a prolapse but not sure which kind....I think it may be both bladder and bowel. I've been waiting until my 65th birthday (when I will have medicare to help with $$) to get an evaluation. What I was surprised at was the lack of bloggers/forums that are current (many post were 2005 or ???) The information is all the same as far as what doctors are posting but it isn't enough information. Are there other sites that can help fill in the types of symptoms you experience..type of pain, severity & more. It would be nice to talk to women my age that have had hysterectomies and are experiencing some of the types of symptoms I’m having. I need to know if I can walk and how many pounds I can lift..things like that. So many questions!!! Thanks in advance for your help.
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Baci,
January 19, 2010 - 3:34pmI'm wondering what your opinion is regarding the above comment, and suggestion?
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I AM 60,and had cervical cancer at 23,ovaries lost to cyst,I was put on hormones to try to keep me healthy,less than 6 months they took hormones bak due to my cancer and family history,so Im not even 30 yet,with 3 small children and dead husband,killed in accident,so I am feeling very old and some of the symptoms you are describing.And from there I get diagnosed with a crippling disease that was invisable,Fibromyalgia! At a time when no one had ever heard of such a thing,at age 45 my test shows Osteoporosis,and menapause .from my brains to my bowels to my bladder to my bones,and today I sit here not seeing anymore doctors,and thier treatment,honey through all of this call my life,I learned one thing,listen to yourself!do not diagnose yourself but every thing and your God given common sense,will tell to seek medical attention,please don't wait for your age,You can be old when your young,pay attention to those little things,that also helps a doctor correctly diagnose the problem.
March 5, 2017 - 9:16pmThis Comment
STWW is going to do you more harm than good. Your SI joints are going to become inflamed as the ligaments stretch. Read what Richard DonTigny and other leading PT's have to say about posture, a floppy belly and maintaining a too prominent lordotic curve. Stay far away from the cult-like WW and its maverick leader. Her 'improvement' has only been as a result of pushing her prolapsed uterus digitally back into position and has nothing whatsoever to do with posture. Also, her shying away from using HRT is a hoax as her foray into using organic raw butter as HRT has no more or less value than purchasing a bio-identical HRT from the nearest pharmacy. Join the many women who have decided to leave before physical damage was permanent. There are other less biased forums to join.
Bless you.
December 29, 2009 - 11:41amThis Comment
Can you tell us more about what you are suggesting is a good alternative? I am confused what you refer to "less biased forum", but have primarily called one choice "a cult", but did not really explain what the positive alternative is...something about posture, floppy belly and lordotic curve?
Have you had personal experience with this? Either way, it would be wonderful to provide more information, so that all of the women can make an educated and informed decision that best fits their needs.
thank you! I look forward to hearing from you soon!
January 19, 2010 - 3:36pmThis Comment
Thanks Moonspinner, I have read about the posture and it would be worth trying. I have fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions so I often have trouble finding a comfortable position....now this prolapse has just added to my problems....It is hard for me to believe that now I have to live with more pain. Frankly I have always had a good attitude and never been depressed....this prolapse is pushing even my limits. I would like to find a way to make it better but realistically it seems like it will be an uphill battle. This site has been the only place I've found anyone to talk to. Thanks for listening. Is walking going to make things worse? Yesterday I walked at least 1 1/2 miles (some uphill) and now I am very uncomfortable. Walking is the easyest choice for keeping fit. I have been looking for information on what I can do to keep strong. Not exercising will make my FM much worse so it seems like a catch 22. How do I find out what I can do? Is the ball ok to use? See what I mean :)
November 30, 2009 - 12:26pmCarol
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Hi Carol -
Another member asked a question a while back about exercising with a prolapse and I think you'll find that answer helpful for your situation.
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/can-jumping-around-during-aerobics-make-prolapsed-bladder-worse
Take good care,
November 30, 2009 - 5:49pmPat
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Pat, I clicked on the link you suggested and it didn't go to the comments for the question regarding excercise.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question.
December 1, 2009 - 9:51amCarol
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Hi Carol - Hmmm. I just tested it, and it worked for me, so I don't know what went wrong. So, I'm just going to paste the info below to make it easier. Thanks for letting me know that you couldn't get to it. Best, Pat
ASK: Can jumping around during aerobics make a prolapsed bladder worse?
ANSWER FROM SUSAN CODY:
The short answer is yes, it may be possible, from what I have read and from what friends who suffer from this have told me. Vigorous exercising like aerobics can actually increase a prolapsed bladder's tendency to dip downwards and that's the last thing someone suffering from this would want.
What this kind of exercise can also do is increase the symptoms and irritate the bladder and vaginal area even more.
A prolapsed bladder is essentially when the pelvic muscles that support the bladder and vagina are weakened, usually due to menopause, aging and/or childbirth. The weakened bladder therefore "sinks" down toward and into the vaginal area, causing discomfort, urine leakage and sometimes painful sex. Vigorous exercises like aerobics may exacerbate the pain and discomfort and can definitely cause a person to accidentally urinate. Some women prefer to change to a different form of exercise until the condition has been fixed, like Kegal exercises if the issue is mild, surgery for a seriously prolapsed bladder or the insertion of a pessary via the vagina (that can be removed)- this keeps the bladder in place fairly well. It all depends on the seriousness of the prolapse.
The best thing a woman can do is as many Kegal exercises as possible. The good thing about Kegals is that you can do them driving, having dinner or while chatting over a cup of coffee. No-one knows anything! Kegal exercises are the exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that are often affected by aging and childbearing. For step by step instruction on how to do Kegal exercises, click here: http://sexuality.about.com/od/anatomyresponse/ht/kegelswomen.htm
Also something for this woman to consider is Yoga, which is believed to be an excellent way to help strengthen pelvic muscles and additionally is a low impact way to exercise the entire body. Pilates is another good exercise. Posture is everything, when dealing with a prolapsed bladder.
I would chose one of these options, rather than aerobics, until the problem has been fixed - which hopefully it will be.
I hope this helps.
December 1, 2009 - 5:11pmThis Comment
Hi Carol,
You are certainly right that hysterectomy is a major cause of prolapse. The uterus is the hub of the wheel of pelvic organ support and its removal causes great instability to the pelvic interior. Ask your doctor about the failure rates of subsequent surgeries for post-hysterectomy prolapse - I think you might find they are fraught with significant risk.
You may find that changing your posture to hold your bladder and intestines forward and away from your pelvic outlet is enough to affect your symptoms and avoid further surgery. Prolapse is extremely common and women the world over are learning to live well with these conditions by returning to natural female posture. The problems become more complicated after hysterectomy, but it might still be worth your while to see what others are saying about natural pelvic organ support at Whole Woman. :) Moonspinner.
November 29, 2009 - 7:45pmThis Comment