Loss of vaginal sensativity and Urinary issues

[mommy2myboys]

I am 27 years old and ever since the birth of my last child (which was a very tramatic and damaging birth, he needed up coming out oddly and I was left with over 20 stitches from tearing), I have been having problems with loss of sensation in my vaginal walls, as well as issues with leaking urine and having to urinate very frequently even if it is a very little amount, I feel like I can not hold it. Its to the point where I have to where a panty liner everyday just for fear of coughing or sneezing an ending up leaking. I have been to my OBGYN and about it and she acts like its no big deal! Well it is! The lack of sexual sensation is ruining my marriage since I have the lack of feeling my libido seems to have decreased drastically. And the constant uncontrollable urination is embrassing and I think it is causing the UTI's I have been having. It seems I get them every few months. Please someone help or give advice. I have read into pelvic floor surgery, but I do not believe Medicaid in Illinois covers it and neither does my husbands insurance. Please help! I need to save my marriage and my self. It is depressing and I feel gross due to the whole situation. Thank you!

[MCFOR]

A POP Diva to a POPsister.  Love the name POPsister!  I named myself the POP Diva because I'm on the band wagon/grass roots platform to get the word out about POP to help prevent and avoid surgery whenever possible.  However, if you have to have surgery, I highly recommend a urogynecologist or you are asking for a boat load of issues if you have problems afterward.  I have a very forward thinking OBGYN who recommend my Urogynecologist.  My urogynecologist did a thorough review of my stage 3 proplapse.  She reviewed all the options I had including surgery, explained how each had it's own merits with regards to my particular situation and my husband and I determined surgery was the best route for me because we were still sexually active.  I found Sherrie J. Palm last year on the internet when I was searching for answers about POP once I was finally diagnosed and I think God I stumbled across her.
I followed everything I could find about her which led me to her book "Pelvic Organ Prolapse The Silent Epidemic"   and her web sites on POP:  http://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org and http://www.sherriepalm.com.   She and I had similar POP diagnoses.  She had her surgery about a year before me.  I had mine in Jan 2011.  Her book was like reading my own story in trying to find the right answers when there appeared to be none.  We women are so "under cover with POP" that it drives me crazy that I had to go through so much trouble to find out that it is a COMMON OCCURENCE IN WOMEN OF ALL AGES.  We just don't talk about it with each other because it is so embarrassing and deals with intimate situations with our spouses.  So we have been suffering in silence.  Mommy2myboys I'm so glad you found Medhelp and Sherrie J. Palm and all the women like me and POPsister to help you along the way.  Let's keep talking to each other to get the word out until we see ads about it on TV like we do for everything else, i.e., breast cancer and erectile dysfunction.  Then maybe it won't be such a COMMON OCCURENCE and it will become more of a preventive medical diagnosis.

[sherrieP]

It is always most upsetting to women as young as you to suffer significant damage with childbirth; know that you are not alone. Many women have significant damage from childbirth but are embarrassed to speak about the symptoms; you have taken a great first step in seeking help.

It is unfortunate that your ob/gyn is so insensitive; this attitude infuriates me and I'm sorry to say I hear it frequently. You are right, it IS a big deal; all women want is to feel normal again. Do not feel "gross" about your symptoms, there are over 3 million women in the US with pelvic organ prolapse, the good news is you want to do something to help yourself.

First step is to read this article about pelvic organ prolapse so you understand it better, there are 5 types of POP and once you read the article you can send me more details about your symptoms and I'll do my best to guide you.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Womens-Health/Taking-Pelvic-Organ-Prolapse-Out-of-the-Closet/show/1148?cid=591

Based on what you are indicating, you may have a cystocele (bladder drop). You may be able to utilize treatments to improve it. There are exercise programs you can use to help yourself. Are you famililar with Kegels? They can be of benefit too but must be done properly. The lack of sensation is likely due to nerve damage sustained in the 2nd stage of labor and having that many stitches indicates potential scar tissue as well-something myofascial release therapy may help with. Unfortunatly I don't think this will be covered by Medicaid.

Do you have access to a physician list with Medicaid? Rather than discuss this with your gyn, it would be great if you could see a urogynecologist, the specialist for pelvic floor disorders. If that is not possible, if you can get your gyn to refer you to a physical therapist, they are extremely helpful in guiding you with treatments they start off showing you and you end up doing at home. The physical therapist should be a pelvic floor specialist so you get the right treatments.

Also is it possible to see a different gynecologist if you can't access a urogyn?

Once I get a bit more info from you I'll do my best to help you find a way to help yourself, hang in there!
Sher