Advice regarding surgery for prolapse?

I have a uterine prolapse as well as a prolapse of the vaginal wall (which I've written about several times here over the past couple of years).

Pelvic floor exercises are not helping.

I'm wondering if anybody has had surgery for any sort of vaginal prolapse, or knows anyone who has, or knows where I can find an online support group?

Any help/guidence would be much appreciated!

Bea,

You poor thing! I am not sure what is available surgery wise, perhaps you could seek the help of a specialist in this area? Maybe a bit of googling to see someone who has lots of experience in prolapse.

Hi Kelly,

I'm feeling a bit distrustful of the medical profession after my birth experience (which I'm sure contributed to the prolapse in the first place)!

Although I have sought 2 different medical opinions I wouldn't mind speaking to someone who has actually had the surgery done. Expecially as my physiotherapist has expressly advised me not to have it (which is easy to say if you don't have to live with it 24 hours a day)! She believes that the failure rate is too high.

I'm in a bit of a dilema - feel I can't continue to live with this, but am terrified of having the surgery!

Bea, my friend had a pretty nasty prolapse, hers was due to tissue degradation from a very early menopause. She has been working with a gynae for a while and has had therapy using some sort of electric device to stimulate the muscles (I think - it involved sitting on some sort of pad thingy for however many minutes a day). I'm just mentioning this because perhaps there are other options you could pursue before opting for surgery.

Bea you don't mention where you are living, perhaps you could ring the women's information line in your state, find out where the main women's health clinic is, and speak to them about specialists in your area who are known to be good. They often get recommendations from women about doctors who are sensitive to the needs and emotional state of women - which will be just as much a part of your healing as any physical treatment. Also it might be a really good time to look into some counselling around your first birthing experience as it sounds like you still have some pain there. Often the body doesn't heal until the trauma is released.

Good luck on your healing journey, I hope you are able to find supportive health workers who can help you with this with the sensitivity and skill that you deserve!

Hi Bea, just a few ideas, one already mentioned above :)

So, are you seeing a gynae-physio? Or at least one who specialises in women's health? It can make a big difference. Also, have you tried a pessary? I know a fair few women who found the pelvic floor exercises didn't have any impact but doing them once fitted with a pessary (basically a plastic insert you put in your vagina to physically "hold up" the prolapses while you work on strengthening the muscles) made a massive difference. Even for those women it didn't work that well for, wearing the pessary gave them some relief from the "dreaded drag" as they put it.

Also, as mentioned above, some places can use a small electrical device which stimulates the muscles to contract - think like those slendertone machines for giving you great abs (could do with 3 of those for each roll and one for each handle over here :)) but for the vagina. Those can be very useful for women who had severe trauma/bruising/tearing during the birthing process, because sometimes the nerves are so damaged you CAN'T do the Pelvic Floor exercises properly - the nerve doesn't tell the muscle what to do properly and doesn't tell you if it can't do it either. In those cases the damaged nerves lead to loss of muscle tone and it's a vicious circle - you can only contract the muscle as hard as the nerves will tell it to contract, and the device which contracts the muscle externally can really make a difference.

The surgical route is a last-ditch one because if it doesn't work the fact that the tissues have been sugically altered makes it even LESS likely you'll be able to cure yourself conservatively, which is probably why your physio is cautious. That isn't to say it won't work for you, just that it can be a risky path to walk. The other thing is that if you plan to go to have another baby the surgery can "un-do" and leave you with an even worse prolapse, so they tend not to want to do it until a woman has finished having kids.

I don't know how your birth went but directed pushing, forceps and ventouse deliveries and deliveries with significant episiotomies, bruising or tearing all carry higher risks of prolapse, as do epidurals given too late (so you have no sensation at all during pushing and can push so hard you damage yourself). Perhaps something in there will ring bells? I do think debriefing properly and healing from the pain and trauma of the birthing will be useful to you, even if it doesn't (it might well though) help you on your physical healing journey.

I hope you get some answers soon. :hug:

Bx

Thanks for your replies. I do love the support of BellyBelly women!

I am seeing a gynie. A pessary is not appropriate for me because part of my problem is my ligaments have been so stretched that my pelvis no longer sits where it should meaning my hips are significantly wider, and my pelvis is lower and on an angle. This is causing me a great deal of back pain. I also haven't been able to lie on my back or my stomach basically since well before I gave birth due to the intense discomfort it causes. (It's like being pregnant forever in that I can only comfortably lie on my side)! So the problem is not just with my vagina or cervix.

I've seen everybody! Oestos, physios, gynies and counselors. I have come to the conclusion that I think surgery would be the best option for me at this stage. Can't believe so many people have it done, yet there doesn't seem to be any personal accounts about. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place?

Anyway, thanks again.

Bea,
Can't talk from personal experience. But my mother had a prolapse repair. (she used say it felt like carrying a brick around down there). She has never looked back and often wonders why she didn't seek help earlier. I think you would need to give serious consideration re more bubs however i'm sure if you decided to procede with surgery the surgoen would have that disussion with you. The gyno that did my mothers repair speaks very positive about the surgery and feels it is sad that so many women suffer in silence.
Not sure if the above helps but all the best and take good care of yourself.

Thanks for your reply jmmum. It's good to know there are people out there who've had it done and are happy with the result. I can certainly relate to the 'carrying around a brick' analogy!

Do you know what sort of prolapse your mum had by any chance? (For example, bladder, unterine etc)?

Bea,
Not sure. I know one of the issues she had was urinary track infections. She also had issues with emptying her bowel. I will get more info next time I talk to her (she lives in the country). She will be staying with me in a few weeks time so if you like I can get her to chat with you via PM's. If you need to do something earlier I can discuss it with her then fill you in just let me know.