A friend I met after my surgery just had a book published about her experience of her bladder sling and hysterectomy surgery. Some funny parts and a great read. Wish she would have written this before my surgery! She did a great job!
Its called Bad Bladders: Taking control and can 'be found on Amazon -great job Lynn!!
Im sorry to hear what a difficult journey you have had.
I have used a pessary which has been helpful. It can take some trial and error to get the right one and there are a lot of types. Look at the silicone pessaries as well. Did you have a Urogynecologist do your operations?
I am wondering as well if you have seen a womens physio to see if they can help you with your pain issues. After so much surgery you may have nerve issues as well pelvic floor issues that could be helped.
I hope all goes well for you. Please come back to us if you need more help and to share how you get on with your pessary fitting
I have had anterior and posterior prolapse for ten years. First repair operation botched by Registrar who stood in for the consultant who was ill. Five more ops over the past years -all making symptoms worse. I am now in the position that i have discomfort whilst walking. Pain on sitting or lying down. Little sleep. It is a living nightmare. I read the suggestion re a Pessary.. Am going to see my Doctor to ask if this might help my symptoms/pain. Will report back once fitted - or refused!
oh you are NOT alone! not by a long shot. i am 54 and have had interstitial cystitis for thirty years. mis diagnosed, passed off as i am just an anxious person. now i have bladder prolapse that has worsened this to extreme. i found an excellent dr in rochester ny this past week. understands and is specializing in IC. they also deal with prolapses, both type. most women still in this day and age DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. i have a pessary to carry me through till my bladder is "happier' and we can discuss surgical repair or not. but i am not so sure this v brace is the long term ans. it can be a temp cover for what you need to address. a pessary can be a more supportive option. really. honest. i have been suffering through wearing bladder protection for fifteen years. this pessary has supported me and i am not leaking as before. get to someone who know what the heck they are doing. even if it takes ten drs. my dr said it averages 8 to get the correct diagnosis and correct treatment. so dont fret, and i know it is exhausting, you begin to feel like a neurotic person, but YOU ARE NOT. to all the women who suffer in silence with prolapse and I.C. you are not alone but in a world where women still wont talk about it, admit it, or get correct and effective treatments for this. dont let a dr fluff you off. you know your body, and if something isnt right, change drs. after all, remember, with the cost of health care, THEY WORK FOR YOU. YOU ARE THEIR EMPLOYER, so dont let yourself be treated like they are doing you a favor. without you, they would be working at a gas station, they should keep that in mind when they are treating patients like they are fools.
hang in there.
I was just wondering what your results were?
I also started out very gradually with my prolapse. Unfortunately, it did hit to be a Stage 2 prolapse and the doctor reccommended that I have surgery..which I am petrified. I surfed the web and found a site Fembrace with a girdle type panty with support straps which has been a lifesaver to me. I would strongly reccommmend it to anyone. It is called a V-Brace.
It is good you are going to see a Urogynecologist. I understand how worrying your simptoms will be to you. Get all your questions ready for your appt and if you are nervous consider taking someone with you.
Pressure and leakage can be a prolapse related symptom. If this is the case consider asking for a womens physio. Not all Drs suggest this but it can be very useful as strong Pelvic Floor muscles are important.
For some reason i cant get into this site most of the time! Sorry i havent replied but i was unable to! Im seeing a specialist on the 13th of March. I'm starting to suspect i may have a uterine prolapse as well,and ive been getting some pains in my back area so possibly i have all the prolapses. I'm trying not to worry or think about it though,as hard as that is,since I wont know for sure until i see the specialist. I will admit i hate waiting though! Thanks for the advice and again,sorry it took me so long to reply :-)
You are not alone with your symptoms. Press on for a referal with your GP. If you experiencing bladder prolapse issues it will be even more important to get the right advise and also womens physio therapy in order to strengthen your Pelvic Floor and hopefully gain back more control of your bladder.
Some GPs are not able to diagnose prolapse at all and the less they know the more likely it will be that they will try to fob you off. You are on the right track. Keep going.
Let us know how you get on.
I also leak a tiny amount when releasing from squeezing my pelvic floor muscles but I'm not pushing out, just slowly stopping the hold. I can't find anything on the net about this, it's like I'm the only one with these symptoms.
Hi, sorry for the late reply, I was having trouble with my Internet. I'm having trouble getting a referral for a urogynogecoloist.my dr wouldn't give me one because he said "it's normal" and to do my pelvic floor exercises (obviously I'm not going back to him, he's an idiot, and i do my pelvic floor exercises anyway and theyre not helping)the last week I've now progressed to leaking when aroused or just laying , trying to get to sleep at night. i don't understand it, my muscles seem fairly good, I no longer have the feeling I might leak when coughing etc, only when sitting/laying down. It seems to me there is always a little urine left and it dribbles out. I'm assuming something is pressing on something and squeezing it out. I hate this, because my symptoms aren't typical it's hard to get advice. I'm going to another gp tomorrow to try and get a referral. I just want my old body back.
Prolapses can suddenly get worse for more than one reason especially when the pelvic floor is weak and no exersise is done. I feel more pressure on my bladder when I lie down even though i dont leak!
Are you seeing a Urogynecologist for referal? Make sure you are as they specialise in prolapses. It is good you are ruling out any urine infection as well. I feel my urine smell has changed since I have had prolapse and I did have an infection recently. Keep an eye on any odd or different symptoms and relay them to your Urogyne when you see them.
Let us know how you get on.