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Christmas Eve Gift; Cystocele - Prolapsed Bladder

Posted , 7 users are following.

leelee1122
leelee1122

Hello! 

I discovered my cystocele the other day and it was confirmed at a Dr. appt. on the 27th. I'm going to a specialist on the 3rd, so until then I'm not exactly sure of what level the prolapse is yet. 

Sadly, I've never heard of this condition - ever! I'm still in shock that it is/was never discussed as a potential medical condition at any of my annual visits. (Short rant, sorry!)

I am 52 and have been full menopausal for many years. I don't even remember when my last period was! I had 2 vaginal births in my late 20's. I am also very physically active and run (or did run) 3 miles 4 times a week. Sounds like a perfect storm for a prolapsed bladder, right? Anyway, I had absolutely no symptoms whatsoever when I felt the infamous heavy feeling and then discovered the little bulge inside my vagina opening when I was showering after my run. 

I've been reading everything I can find on the net to try and make the best treatment option for me. I was thrilled to run across this site during my frantic search for information. I've learned more hear in one hour than I have on any medical site, bar none. So, thanks to everyone for participating in these discussions! 

I'm posting to see of anyone has tried to "reverse" (if that's even possible) using estrogen cream/hormone treatment along with exercises? 

Has anyone tried to correct the problem with any other methods besides having a hysterectomy and/or using a pessary? 

Thank you for taking the time to read my post!

Happy New Year and wishing everyone health and joy in 2018!

2 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • jaquetta_98543
    jaquetta_98543 leelee1122

    Posted

    Leelee, I feel for you. I am 55 years old and I had my last period 4 years ago. A couple of months ago, I felt a bulge in my vagina. I was just like you, I had no idea that this happened to women. I was diagnosed with a cystocele and a rectocele.  My uterus is in tact. I am now waiting on my next appointment with a gynecologist to discuss surgery.  The way I understand it, the muscles that hold everything up get weak and your organs can sag down. I especially, didn’t realize that the rectum could fall. Hugs
    • leelee1122
      leelee1122 jaquetta_98543

      Posted

      Thank you, jaquetta98543! Are you considering any type of estrogen replacement therapy? It's my understanding that the depleted estrogen that can happen after menopause can contribute to the thinning and weakening of the vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles. XXOO

  • steph16921
    steph16921 leelee1122

    Posted

    Be sure to see a Urogynecologist! Also you do not necessarily need a hysterectomy 
    • leelee1122
      leelee1122 steph16921

      Posted

      Hi steph! My appointment is definitely with a urogynecologist!! And thank you for that hope-- I thought a hysterectomy would resolve the whole issue. 

      I have absolutely no other symptoms. So, I'm thinking pessary, estrogen, therapy, and a ton of pelvic floor exercises the rest of my life. I'm not over weight, but I will admit I've never paid enough attention to my core strength. I just love to run. 

  • Imnotadoctor
    Imnotadoctor leelee1122

    Posted

    I agree with Steph don't have an unnecessary hysterectomy. I had an anterior repair & hysterectomy in 2013. Following this I developed a rectoenterocele & vaginal vault collapse. I have just had this repaired with posterior repair & SSF. I can't say for sure the hysterectomy caused this but it didn't help. Try physio and something like Vagifem first. Good luck. X 

  • Rosa747
    Rosa747 leelee1122

    Posted

    Hi. You haven't said if you have any symptoms besides the bulge. If you don't have any significant urinary symptoms then kegal excercises and the other things you mentioned may be suggested to you in first instance by hospital and more likely to work in mild prolapse . I agree so little info about this and yet so common. I wish it had been mentioned to me in antenatal classes when I had my babies as I wouldn't have punished myself at the gym or maybe continued kegals forever.. hope your appointment goes well x

    • leelee1122
      leelee1122 Rosa747

      Posted

      Thank you Rosa. I do not have any other symptoms besides the bulge. I feel very angry towards the medical profession right now- and betrayed.  I believe that if there had been even a modicum amount of preventative care this could have been avoided. Like you said, I might not have done as much running and paid more attention to my core muscles and those kegal exercises! 

      Woulda, coulda, shoulda - here's to not living in the subjunctive in 2018!  Cheers and Happy New Year! 

  • paddiwhack
    paddiwhack leelee1122

    Posted

    Keeper I am sorry you have a need to join this group but there is a lot of support here. If you can feel the bulge at the entrance to your vagina it may be your rectal wall (posterior/back )that has weakend. Usually a bladder prolapse is felt higher in the vagina on the anterior wall (the front).

    I had never had any problems until last year at four years post menopausal and I think the change in hormones in these delicate tissues definitely let to or exacerbated my symptoms. I had grade 3 rectocele and cystocele. My first born if two pregnancies was a bit difficult but I hadn’t even considered that I may have problems in later life. One in two women who have had children have a prolapse of some kind. Considering this is so high - and I had no idea until I was one of them- you would think that during and after pregnancy this would be discussed.

    Having said that I don’t think it would have changed anything.

    I had a rectocele, cystocele and perineoplasty repair 8 weeks ago. It’s a big op and recovery to full capacity is slow.

    However I am already delighted to have had it done. I feel so much more comfortable internally and less bloated feeling unless I am on my feet for too long.

    I have been prescribed HRT cream to insert vaginally to increase the health of dry menopausal mucous membranes of tissue which will aid comfortable intercourse too.

    Bowel and bladder action is normal and comfortable.

    I now need to work out how to manage my work in the future and think before I lift.

    20 years of nursing and lots of lifting all my life, animals, bales of hay, sacks of dog food all contributed to abdominal pressure and this is what we need to avoid .

    Sorry I’m waffling.

    I hope once you have s consultation you will know specifically what your problems are and the best way to treat it.

    Wishing you all the best . Let us know how you get on.

    • leelee1122
      leelee1122 paddiwhack

      Posted

      Thank you paddiwack! My prolapse is definitely a bladder. That was confirmed at the gyno visit, but I'm anxious to learn the level of the prolapse from the specialist. 

      Best wishes on your road to a complete recovery and restored health. 

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