Aa
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (MUST READ)
Ladies/Gentlemen I don't have a question so much as it is a statement. If you don't have a copy of Sherrie J. Palms book, "Pelvic Organ Prolapse, The Silent Epidemic," please get it. I ordered mine from Amazon.com. You will be amazed at the knowledge she has compiled and the "hands on" advice she gives is superb for the "before and after" surgery questions/care because she has lived through it. Reading her book was like having one of Oprah's "AHA MOMENTS." I've marked, highlighted, and made comments in the margins of most of the pages as it related to me. It was like I was walking in her footsteps.
I am 60 and had a stage III Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). I had my surgery (cystocele, rectocele and mid-urethral sling) on Jan 21, 2011. I'd been diagnosed back in June 2010 by my gynecologist and referred to a urogynecologist at the Washington Hospital Center. After a few visits and some urology tests, I was diagnosed with Stage III POP in July 2010. Never heard of it! Come to find out it was almost as common and "apple pie." Women just did not want to talk about it because it was so embarrassing. WELL I WANT TO SHOUT ABOUT IT! I am 10 a year breast cancer survivor and I feel I'm a POP survivor too!
I was "flapping in the wind" trying to find as much information as I could about POP. I was all over the internet trying to find information about it. It was sheer luck that I stumbled upon Sherrie's first internet video. She was asking the same questions I needed answers to regarding POP. Some questions, I didn't even know I should be asking. She was starting a grassroots advocacy for women suffering with pelvic floor health issues. I followed every search engine leading to anything she had posted on the web. I found a web page www.sherriepalm.com and found her book.
Although I was extremely anxious to get the surgery done, I held off until because I had a pre-paid planned trip in late August 2010. And I wanted to wait until after the holidays once I knew it was "life altering" and not a "life threatening" condition and the recovery period would be 6-8 weeks. Although it sure felt like it was "life threatening" when I first heard the diagnosis. I wrote to Dr Oz and asked if he would do a segment on POP in late November 2010. I gave him my surgery date in hopes that something would be aired before them. The second week of Jan 2011 he did a segment on POP and it was titled "women suffering in silence." I almost cried. That's it in a nutshell so to speak. I'm in my 5th week of recovery after surgery and doing fine thanks to my urogynecologist and Sherrie J. Palm's book (or should I say POP Bible).
I am 60 and had a stage III Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). I had my surgery (cystocele, rectocele and mid-urethral sling) on Jan 21, 2011. I'd been diagnosed back in June 2010 by my gynecologist and referred to a urogynecologist at the Washington Hospital Center. After a few visits and some urology tests, I was diagnosed with Stage III POP in July 2010. Never heard of it! Come to find out it was almost as common and "apple pie." Women just did not want to talk about it because it was so embarrassing. WELL I WANT TO SHOUT ABOUT IT! I am 10 a year breast cancer survivor and I feel I'm a POP survivor too!
I was "flapping in the wind" trying to find as much information as I could about POP. I was all over the internet trying to find information about it. It was sheer luck that I stumbled upon Sherrie's first internet video. She was asking the same questions I needed answers to regarding POP. Some questions, I didn't even know I should be asking. She was starting a grassroots advocacy for women suffering with pelvic floor health issues. I followed every search engine leading to anything she had posted on the web. I found a web page www.sherriepalm.com and found her book.
Although I was extremely anxious to get the surgery done, I held off until because I had a pre-paid planned trip in late August 2010. And I wanted to wait until after the holidays once I knew it was "life altering" and not a "life threatening" condition and the recovery period would be 6-8 weeks. Although it sure felt like it was "life threatening" when I first heard the diagnosis. I wrote to Dr Oz and asked if he would do a segment on POP in late November 2010. I gave him my surgery date in hopes that something would be aired before them. The second week of Jan 2011 he did a segment on POP and it was titled "women suffering in silence." I almost cried. That's it in a nutshell so to speak. I'm in my 5th week of recovery after surgery and doing fine thanks to my urogynecologist and Sherrie J. Palm's book (or should I say POP Bible).
Best Answer
Yes, in general women do not share info with their husbands beyond that they have pain, there is so much stigma attached to symptoms POP. The more we spread the word, the more comfortable everyone will be with talking about it, even the "yikes" stuff.
2 Comments
i told my husband soon after i discovered the name of my condition. really no one had ever told me this can happen! i really freaked out and now he seems to feel sorry for me, encouraging treatment. it is now definitely at stage 4 and causing problems. btw i'm only 47! this was first noticed in december last year! my underwear/jeans do not fit right, i can't clean properly, my very unpredictable periods are more of a mess, and of course i have constant pain. currently i am trying to find help without having a hysterectomy or the mesh. i read about laparoscopic suture hysteropexy, but can't seem to find out if anyone in florida will perform it, even better using the robotic method. also no one can tell me if this can be outpatient surgery. so far all i can do is call to see who can work fairly with my very low (almost nothing) income! this is embarrassing and depressing!
Zomblien - It seems prolapse surgery is risky as far as how effective it is and how long the effects last. And it is major surgery. Many robotic surgeries are done by surgeons with very little robotic training and not everyone is a candidate for it due to surgical risks such as nerve damage. Unfortunately too, many women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse are told they need a hysterectomy and their bladder tied up. Hysterectomy makes you even more prone to prolapse without the uterus there to anchor the bladder and bowel. And hysterectomy has many other adverse effects as well.
Are you aware that a pessary can be used to suspend your organs? They have to be custom fitted and there are a number of different types. They don't need to be removed and re-inserted very often. There may also be some exercises you can do too. The Whole Woman website may be helpful. Best of luck to you!
Are you aware that a pessary can be used to suspend your organs? They have to be custom fitted and there are a number of different types. They don't need to be removed and re-inserted very often. There may also be some exercises you can do too. The Whole Woman website may be helpful. Best of luck to you!
Sherrie;
I am terrified to have the surgeries that you all discuss. I have been dealing with POP for close to ten years and even though my life and activities have been compromised I do not have the pain and problems discussed in the previous comments. I have been following the information on the wholewoman.com website which concentrates on lifestyle and exercise while living with this issue rather than compromising the support and structure of the pelvic floor with POP surgeries. However, I continue to do research as I would like to get my life back and did visit Dr's Miklos and Moore in the Atlanta area this past fall, who are considered the best surgeons in the field of pelvic reconstruction. Are you familiar with them?
I do appreciate the information on the Whole Woman website, but I have been looking for a forum to discuss the positives and negatives of POP surgeries. Thanks for your work in this field, and hope the women here will continue to share their experiences and recommendations.
I am terrified to have the surgeries that you all discuss. I have been dealing with POP for close to ten years and even though my life and activities have been compromised I do not have the pain and problems discussed in the previous comments. I have been following the information on the wholewoman.com website which concentrates on lifestyle and exercise while living with this issue rather than compromising the support and structure of the pelvic floor with POP surgeries. However, I continue to do research as I would like to get my life back and did visit Dr's Miklos and Moore in the Atlanta area this past fall, who are considered the best surgeons in the field of pelvic reconstruction. Are you familiar with them?
I do appreciate the information on the Whole Woman website, but I have been looking for a forum to discuss the positives and negatives of POP surgeries. Thanks for your work in this field, and hope the women here will continue to share their experiences and recommendations.
I will watch that one instead. :)
I just ordered your book today from amazon. Cant wait to read it.
I just ordered your book today from amazon. Cant wait to read it.
Skip the Dr Oz piece, so much misinformation on it-there is a link to the PBS piece that is well done on APOPS homepage-you can watch the entire clip.
http://pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/
The book is not in Kindle form yet but 2nd edition will be out soon and it will be. You can access free chapter on symptoms on the APOPS website as well.
Sher
http://pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/
The book is not in Kindle form yet but 2nd edition will be out soon and it will be. You can access free chapter on symptoms on the APOPS website as well.
Sher
I am will look for the book for sure!!
Do you know if Dr Oz will re air that episode or if there is a place online we could watch it?
Do you know if Dr Oz will re air that episode or if there is a place online we could watch it?
I sure hope one surgery will get your pelvic cavity balanced. I truly wish the FDA or the AMA would establish guidelines for who gets to perform POP mesh procedures-most complications could be avoided if only fellowship trained urogyns and urologists were allowed to do them..
Good luck, let me know how surgery goes.
Sher
Good luck, let me know how surgery goes.
Sher
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Community
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
