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Prolapsed Bladder after Hysterectomy for Prolapse
I am a 65-year old teacher with a bladder prolapse that gets worse as the day goes on. I will go into the washroom at work to urinate and can't and by the time evening comes, I have to lie down doing Kegel exercises so I can empty my bladder at bedtime. I gather it's Stage 3 because it feels like it's falling out and protrudes so that I can fell it when I'm walking.
The surgeon just said that nothing could be done about it when it happened after I'd had hysterectomy with anterior and posterior repair. He said that he will not do surgery with the methods they have now so I'm left with this problem that is driving me crazy. I ordered a "truss" that is ridiculous and just cost a lot of wasted money. I ordered a book on exercises that say it takes six months of doing them four times a day when I'm teaching all day, marking and prepping at night. I don't have the time and retiring right now is not an option.
I am getting osteoporosis and am supposed to be doing lots of exercise. I had been doing it, but have had to stop altogether with this problem. I have told some of my friends at work but nobody talks about it or knows anything about it.
Any help you could suggest would be appreciated.
Joan (Canada)
The surgeon just said that nothing could be done about it when it happened after I'd had hysterectomy with anterior and posterior repair. He said that he will not do surgery with the methods they have now so I'm left with this problem that is driving me crazy. I ordered a "truss" that is ridiculous and just cost a lot of wasted money. I ordered a book on exercises that say it takes six months of doing them four times a day when I'm teaching all day, marking and prepping at night. I don't have the time and retiring right now is not an option.
I am getting osteoporosis and am supposed to be doing lots of exercise. I had been doing it, but have had to stop altogether with this problem. I have told some of my friends at work but nobody talks about it or knows anything about it.
Any help you could suggest would be appreciated.
Joan (Canada)
Did you have a Gyne do your hysterectomy? Also, did they support the top of your vagina?
Consider seeing a Urogynecologist as they are prolapse specialists. I wonder if the Gyne that did your hysterectomy was out of her depth when you mentioned bladder prolapse.
Any straining to have a bowel movement is contraindicated for prolapse and can cause prolapse anyway. I take Miralax/Laxido and also use good evacuation technique to make BMs easier. Have a look at the sqatty potty to raise your legs while on the toilet for the correct position for evacuation. You can use a childrens step stool etc to get your feet higher as well.
I suspect you have pelvic floor issues which could be making your muscles tight inside so relaxing them may take help from a womens physio therapist and/or bowel biofeedback. Ask your Dr to refer you to a Urogynecologist and womens physio. You could ask a Urogyne to refer you to a womens physio as well.
A pessary could indeed help to support your bladder as well so look up pessaries and take some information about them to your appt so you can be measured for one as it is a Urogyne who will measure you but they often havent seen the full range of pessaries available.
I am so sorry you have had such an upsetting experience with your operation and subsequent prolapsed bladder and BM problems.
It is really important not to strain to have a BM so consider the options mentioned and also see your Dr for help with appropriate laxatives etc as well as a referal to a Urogyne.
I wish you luck and will be thinking of you as I know how upsetting this can be.
Let us know how you get on
Consider seeing a Urogynecologist as they are prolapse specialists. I wonder if the Gyne that did your hysterectomy was out of her depth when you mentioned bladder prolapse.
Any straining to have a bowel movement is contraindicated for prolapse and can cause prolapse anyway. I take Miralax/Laxido and also use good evacuation technique to make BMs easier. Have a look at the sqatty potty to raise your legs while on the toilet for the correct position for evacuation. You can use a childrens step stool etc to get your feet higher as well.
I suspect you have pelvic floor issues which could be making your muscles tight inside so relaxing them may take help from a womens physio therapist and/or bowel biofeedback. Ask your Dr to refer you to a Urogynecologist and womens physio. You could ask a Urogyne to refer you to a womens physio as well.
A pessary could indeed help to support your bladder as well so look up pessaries and take some information about them to your appt so you can be measured for one as it is a Urogyne who will measure you but they often havent seen the full range of pessaries available.
I am so sorry you have had such an upsetting experience with your operation and subsequent prolapsed bladder and BM problems.
It is really important not to strain to have a BM so consider the options mentioned and also see your Dr for help with appropriate laxatives etc as well as a referal to a Urogyne.
I wish you luck and will be thinking of you as I know how upsetting this can be.
Let us know how you get on
Hello Joan, I, too, am frustrated and dismayed by bladder prolapse. Had a hysterectomy with accompanying surgery for hemmorhoids. After surgery, couldn't have a regular bowel movement, because, I believe, the surgeon seemed to have overcorrected and made the anus too tight. Forcing and bearing down, to the extent that I would almost lose consciousness when having a bowel movement, is what I believed has caused my bladder to protrude and "bubble" out of my vagina. Have gotten urinary tract infections for the first time in my life. I had the hysterctomy because my uterus was protruding, and now am experiencing this bladder prolapse. Tried to discuss this with surgeon...she made a hasty retreat from the consulting room. Have made an appointment to find another gynecologist. Will ask about a pessary....wish I would have gone with that in the first place....Carole C.
Hi there and welcome to the prolapse forum. It is good to hear you are going to a Urogynecologist for a second opinion as they are prolapse specialists. Find out first what they say before you make any decisions. Also, ask them about a pessary and look pessaries up as you could use one of these to support your prolapses while you make a decision. There are lots of types of pessaries. I have a silicone T pessary Type R and there are lots of other ones. Urogynes measure you for a pessary but they rarely know the wide range of pessaries available to make sure you take your own information with you as well and discuss the different types that hold up different types of prolapse.
Since you are post menopausal oestrogen cream can be really very helpful as it keeps they vaginal tissues in good condition. I use this and put it on my pessary as well for both lubrication as well as to help my vaginal skin as well.
It is a good idea not to make any hasty decisions regarding prolapsed op as you need to be happy with your decision and have time to consider your options.
I hope you get a Urogyne appt soon. Make sure you have all your questions written down for your appt and take someone with you if possible as well for support.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Since you are post menopausal oestrogen cream can be really very helpful as it keeps they vaginal tissues in good condition. I use this and put it on my pessary as well for both lubrication as well as to help my vaginal skin as well.
It is a good idea not to make any hasty decisions regarding prolapsed op as you need to be happy with your decision and have time to consider your options.
I hope you get a Urogyne appt soon. Make sure you have all your questions written down for your appt and take someone with you if possible as well for support.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Hi! I'm new to this site but have found all this information very valuable. I am 55 yrs. old and just stopped menstrual cycles in Sept. I recently had a bladder infection treated by my gp, but when meds didn't initially stop the urgency to urinate, I called my gyne and went to have my annual exam to make sure all was ok. He informed me that I was Grade 2 bladder prolapse and slight rectal prolapse. I too, had never heard of this and felt no symptoms other than a lumpiness inside the vaginal area. He recommended anterior and posterior repair with stitching of the tissues. He also wants to do a hysterectomy!.( I have never had any issues with my uterus). Do you know if it's possible to do the anterior and posterior repairs without a hysterectomy. I am going to go to a urogyne for a 2nd opinion, but would like to gather as much info as possible beforehand. I am currently feeling better, the bladder infection cleared up and I am not sure I want to have the surgery quite yet, due to relapse issues that I heard were a big problem. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. Frustrated_ K
Do you not use estrogen cream either? It is a good idea to use the cream vaginally in order to keep the vaginal skin as healthy as possible as long as your Dr is happy to prescribe it for you.
Some ladies take bio identical hormones as well which are a bit different to HRT and may be tolerated for a longer period.
Do you want to use a tampon to keep a vaginal prolapse supported from coming down? A pessary is a better option especially if your vaginal skin is dry etc as the tampon will dry out your vagina and could create drag when you pull it out. A pessary is best measure for by a Urogyne and there are many different types that are for different or multiple prolapses. Do some homework before you go to your Urogyne and take leaflets with you. I have a silicone pessary which is very helpful.
I understand your worry with the possibility of a new partner, but men rarely notice our prolapse bulges unless they are hanging externally.
Getting a proper diagnosis from a Urogyne will help you to know exactly what is going on and what treatment choices you have. Take a pessary catalogue with you and discuss this as well.
Good luck and let us know how you are getting on
Some ladies take bio identical hormones as well which are a bit different to HRT and may be tolerated for a longer period.
Do you want to use a tampon to keep a vaginal prolapse supported from coming down? A pessary is a better option especially if your vaginal skin is dry etc as the tampon will dry out your vagina and could create drag when you pull it out. A pessary is best measure for by a Urogyne and there are many different types that are for different or multiple prolapses. Do some homework before you go to your Urogyne and take leaflets with you. I have a silicone pessary which is very helpful.
I understand your worry with the possibility of a new partner, but men rarely notice our prolapse bulges unless they are hanging externally.
Getting a proper diagnosis from a Urogyne will help you to know exactly what is going on and what treatment choices you have. Take a pessary catalogue with you and discuss this as well.
Good luck and let us know how you are getting on
You gave all such good info, I also have the bladder falling and leakage, I am not on hormones, took myself off 12 years ago. So can I use a tampon or not and what is the other plug you suggested. I am 65 and in good shape and excercise all the time. Tired of this new body part just hanging around. Afraid to get involved with a new guy because of this.
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