Is it prolapse?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi ladies. I just discovered a ball looking thing inside of my vagina. I only see it when I stand or sit. Not when I lay down. I'm also having pains & pressure in my pelvic area & rectum. Could this be prolapse? I'm also have swollen lymph glands in my neck, arm pits & groin which is concerning. I've been on an antibiotic for almost two weeks for a uti. But I'm not getting any better. Is it normal to have swollen glands, along with the pain & pressure with organ prolapse? Really scared.
1 like, 7 replies
donna64518
Posted
Forgot to mention that I'm a 55 year old woman. I have only had one child which was 28 years ago. I had him naturally. Been thru menopause for a lot of years. Earlier than most women. I still have all of my female organs.
sheila89754 donna64518
Posted
Like others have said it sounds like the lymph nodes are a separate problem, a return to your doctor for that is a must. I do hope you can get that sorted.
It does sound like you have a prolapse, possibly a cystocele, which is the anterior walk of your vagina. The bladder can drop and cause the bulge.
I had a vaginal hysterectomy, sacrospinous fixation, anterior and posterior repair nearly six weeks ago. Google them and look at images! Like you I could feel a bulge which I see when standing, much worse at the end of the day and began to be uncomfortable when sitting and walking. It felt better when I pushed it back in, but it didn't stay! I had constant pressure in my bottom and I think tended to get constipated too. ??
I am just 58 and like you went through the menopause early, starting at about 43, the symptoms definitely got worse afterwards.
It took me years to pluck up the courage to see my GP, I thought it was something I had to accept. It transpires I had triple pelvic organ prolapse, confirmed by my gynaecologist. I was offered a ring pessary, great for pushing everything up into place, but hopeless when doing any activity; I just leaked loads more than without it! I then had all the urodynamics tests to check my bladder function. I was told that the prolapses would not get better and surgery was an option. It took me a year to decide I had to go for it, I do a lot of exercise and horse riding was the last straw! A couple of months ago I got off a horse and literally wet myself, luckily I had black jodhpurs on!
It is still too early to tell whether it has all worked, I've been told it takes about six weeks to heal physiologically and at least another six before the repairs will be secure.
I have to say the surgery was all fine, having no abdominal wound it's hard to imagine what I've had done. YouTube is great, but scary, to remind me! 😳 I've had very little pain and always dreaded the recovery rather than the surgery, it's a long journey before knowing whether it's worked, my main fear is that it won't have.
Apologies for my rambling, this site has been amazing, I wish I'd found it before my operation there is so much information from real women, who've been through it all. I've found it hugely supportive and reassuring.
Good luck!
DorryC donna64518
Posted
A prolapse shouldn't make you ill (lymph nodes etc.). It's more like a hernia. I had a rectocele and that is a hernia in the fascia on the backside of your vagina. Maybe the swollen lymph nodes are from your UTI? I'm not sure if a cystocele increases the chances of a UTI, but I don't think a prolapse could directly cause an infection.
Your doctor is the one that can tell you for sure I feel you have a prolapse but you can read up on them on a medical website like the Mayo Clinic and find out about symptoms. I did that and, after reading, was certain I had a rectocele as the symptoms were dramatic. I went to my GP, said I think I have a rectocele. She checked and I most definitely did. Referal to a specialist and then surgery about 9 or 10 months later, which I thought was slow (I am in the US).
donna64518 DorryC
Posted
Thank you DorryC. I too am in the USA. I keep reading about prolapse & it sounds like I have some sort of prolapse. But not sure why I'm having the swollen glands? I've been on an antibiotic for about 10 days now. You'd think it would have gone away by now. Second type of antibiotic.
You can have pain & pressure with a prolapse? I have it in both my rectum & vagina. And I only see the "ball thing" when I stand or sit. I have an appt with obgyn dr. But they can't get me in until the end of the month. So I'm nervous to say the least.
DorryC donna64518
Posted
I'm glad you have an appointment set up with your obgyn. They should be able to tell what is going on and refer you to a urogyn if they aren't not one themselves.
Maybe you should talk to your normal doctor about your lymph nodes. I'm not a medical professional of any kind, but it seems like it's much more likely to be related to your UTI or some other normal doctor illness. I hope you feel better soon.
fwiw, I had a very bad rectocele and had surgery about a year ago. It was a very slow recovery for me, but definitely worth it and I am doing much better than I was pre-op.
Cazinbed donna64518
Posted
Hi Donna
3 weeks ago I had prolapse surgery. I could see what looked like the end of a ball protruding outside of me , with what looked like a few creases on it. It was the end of my womb. During my surgery it was pushed back into place. My vaginal walls had also collapsed so I couldn't have a hysterectomy- the womb needed to stay to support vaginal repair. I had no heating down feeling and it was only discovered through a routine smear test. Definitely go to your doctor. The lymph glands stuff I would suspect is separate. Best wishes and good luck, Caz.
Cazinbed
Posted