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What does/did your prolapse look like?

Posted , 10 users are following.

Jojo112
Jojo112

Ok, so since my son was born 5 years ago I've had a leaky bladder, when I cough, sneeze, and now, sometimes it just leaks inbetween. I've put it down to child birth, and poor pelvic floor muscles. I've always had a weak bladder as in I wee a LOT.

since my daughter was born 2 years ago, I have had issues with poo. If the poo is slightly hard, it gets stuck in my vaginal wall, and I literally have to put my fingers into my vagina and push the vahinal wall where the poo is in order for it to come out. This has become more frequent recently. So I went to the GP this morning who said I had a "bulge" but I don't know if he meant bladder or bowel/front or back.

i can't feel the bulge in normal daily life. So I thought I'd have a look, and I can see a bulge (not massive) but I don't need to look hard it's noticeable right away, under my urethra and runs back about 2cm. Is this a bladder prolapse or is this what a normal vahinal looks like after 2 kids? When I push, literally it looks like the inside of my whole vagina is bulging to the front, looks a bit red and wrinkled. It's not hanging out tho, and without pushing it doesn't bulge to the front.

so is what I am describing a prolapse? The doc referred me to a gynaecologist so I am now waiting. Im wondering if it's likely I will need surgery with what I have described above. 

Thanks,

pan extremely embarrassed jojo

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • helen12670
    helen12670 Jojo112

    Posted

    Hi Jojo , I'm a 15 week post op front and back ( anterior and posterior) prolapse repair lady . You did the right thing and went to your doctor and got a referral , it's definatley sounds like a prolapse, can I ask do you have the sensation you have a tampon in incorrectly or a dragging feeling down below as you usually get this with a prolapse so near to the entrance of the virgina as you mentioned you can't feel the bulge in day to day life .  
  • JoolsB
    JoolsB Jojo112

    Posted

    Hi. Don't worry too much as it will all get sorted. I had the same sort of bulge that you describe and it was a rectocele (bowel wall) so 4 weeks ago I had a posterior fascial repair and now no bulge. And, having had a good look with a mirror, it all looks very shipshape and shiny down below! Lol. I also had a vaginal vault repair which I didn't know I needed until I saw a consultant. So I had both done and under spinal block so awake throughout. First two weeks I felt exhausted, buttock pain horrific, having a bowel movement made me scream and I thought I would never feel normal again. Four weeks on and I take 3/4 sachets of Movicol a day so I now have virtually painfree pooing! I try not to stand for too long as it makes me ache and I still rest more than I ever would. Plus I am now religiously doing pelvic floor  exercises 3 times a day as I want it to all stay where it is! You don't say how old you are but obviously not very old if you have young children so you need to get it sorted. This Forum has been a great support to me. Hope all goes well.
  • lynn53651
    lynn53651 Jojo112

    Posted

    Hello Jojo

             It definitely sounds like a prolapse bladder. You will know more when you see your doctor. To help you with your bowel movments, make sure you have enough fiber in your diet so that you do not have hard stools. Eat fruit and vegtables etc. and anything that helps you have easier normal bowel movements. Nothing should get caught if you have enough fiber and your bowel movements remain softer.

                             Lynn

  • Jojo112
    Jojo112

    Posted

    Thank you for replying ladies!

    Helen, theres a very faint dragging sensation but i cant work out if this is normal or not as it must have been there a while. On the topic of tampons though, could this explain why it feels like my tampons are falling out if i do ever use them? I hadnt thought of that before.

    Its lovely to hear your success stories with this, can i ask, was anyone offered other treatment aside surgery, or does this not generally happen?

    I just cant face surgery with 2 young babes to look after. But if it has to be done it had to be done.

    Jools, your vagina now sounds lovely lol. Glad you are healing well.

    Im 29 BTW

    • JoolsB
      JoolsB Jojo112

      Posted

      I now feel like a victim of vagina envy!!

      Seriously though there is an alternative you can try. Two years ago my GP referred me to a physiotherapist who specialises in female prolapse problems. She did a number of tests, some of which could have been really embarrassing but luckily she and I shared the same sense if humour so it was all fine. She gave me exercises to do and I saw her four times. I am not sure whether I benefited  much or not. I think if I had gone earlier for help then it would have done but mine was pretty bad. But anything is worth trying.

  • martina40186
    martina40186 Jojo112

    Posted

    You need to go to a urogynocologist and he will diagnose your condition. I am 6 weeks post op with a rectocele repair....had same issues as you describe. Hope this helps.
  • Jojo112
    Jojo112

    Posted

    Lynn,

    My poo's arent really that hard! They are a comfortable solid, but they still get stuck. Im not constipated in any way. So i need to aim for softer, i will certainly try as u have suggested! Thank u x

  • Annilou
    Annilou Jojo112

    Posted

    Hi Jojo112

    Today makes me 2 weeks post anterior & posterior prolapse and bladder (incontinence) repair.

    Like you, I couldn't cough, sneeze, jump, run or laugh without leakage. I could also see and feel my prolapse. My children are slightly older than yours (12 & 7).

    I can honestly say, yes, the surgery recovery has been more than I was expecting. I have cried and been stuck in bed more than I would like...However, my surgeon (gynescologist) was incredibly happy with my surgery. My bleeding has now stopped, and I've been walking, today a very slow paced 3km.

    I suspect we have youth on our side. If you have finished childbearing, I would encourage you to get the prolapse and bladder fixed. I am looking forward to jumping on the trampoline and running around with my children and not being embarrassed!

    Here (in Australia), if you have private health insurance you should be able to schedule your surgery when it suits both you and the doctor. With two small humans, you will need help at home 24x7 for the first week. You will not be able to drive for at least the first 3-4 weeks, and no lifting your gorgeous little one for 6 weeks. Your partner will reap the benefits if you can find some help weeks 1&2. I know I feel somewhat 'normal' today. No nap, no pain relief; it's actually everyone around me reminding me I'm not to lift or do things (except bending over - I still feel as though everything is falling out. I've been told that is the stitches. The sensation is like a tampon dislodging).

    This forum was a life saver for me. Everyone's experiences are different (just like childbirth!). Be better prepared than I was, ask as many questions on this forum as you need to, I have found the wonderful women here willing to offer advice and sound words of wisdom.

    Best of luck!

    • diane2017
      diane2017 Annilou

      Posted

      Hi Annilou I am interested in your experiences especially as I, too, am in Australia. I have felt the past 4 days or so strange pressure that I put down to perhaps an infection. My GP said I have slight bladder prolapse. I have had 4 vaginal deliveries and so I am no work of art down below. I took the step of looking in a mirror two days ago and saw what I thought looked like a Witchety Grub amount of flesh near the entrance to my vagina. Being an Aussie you can visualise this. I am scheduled to see my Gyno in 2 weeks. Damm stuff always happens to me right on Xmas. I have always had a pretty weak bladder but lately (past 2 months) noticed more incontinence issues than normal. I hope he can repair me in time to fly overseas in early March....I have had a great deal of trouble actually finding accurate pictures of what this condition looks like...I am an expert at Cartoon depictures. I was very happy to read your experiences, after looking at many websites.
  • helen12670
    helen12670 Jojo112

    Posted

    Hi Jojo , what a good piece of advice you have had about whether you may choose to have more children it's quite a significant fracture to your decision  to have the op now or later and only one you can make . The most important thing is to get a diagnosis and discuss the options with your consultant . You can find out a lot from this forum site , I wish I had like you joined it in the early days instead of waiting 7 weeks post op ( now 15 weeks post op) not that I would have changed my mind about having the op but I would have be equipped with all the questions I should of asked about my recovery . As I am sure you are aware by now there are lot of us ladies out there who are or have gone through this condition so carry on asking as many questions as you can so you can make the right decision for you . 
  • Jojo112
    Jojo112

    Posted

    Annilou,

    No more babies here. So looks like i need to take this forward & get it sorted!

    I need to wait for the specialist appointment and go from there i guess. I will probably have more questions then!

    Jools i will look into that, thank you.

    Me and my husband have had another feel tonight, and i can actually push my bladder back up to where it should be, it goes quite a long way 😁

    Will let you know how i get on at my next app. Thank u all x

  • Jojo112
    Jojo112

    Posted

    Hi ladies,

    Im just wondering, if they suggest surgery, what is the waiting time like for the op, in The uk?

    How long were you ladies waiting?

    • lynn53651
      lynn53651 Jojo112

      Posted

      Jojo before you jump right into surgery please do yourself a favour and explore all the alternatives. There are lots of young women who have save themselves operations by conducting pelvic floor exercises for starters. You have to have physio therapist show you how to do them so that you are doing them correctly. Also do your homework to find out how many ladies have had successful surgery and if so how long did it last. There is a lot to research before you decide to have your bladder sewn back up. It is by no means an easy recovery and you must prepare yourself for this entire journey if that is your choice. If you are prepared there are no disappointments or suprises. If you want to look at some pelvic floor exercises that have helped stop my prolapse from getting worse,  just google "The Ultimate Pelvic Floor Exercises by Canadian Living" These are very good and are demonstrated by a physio therapist. Good luck with your decision whatever it may be, just make sure it is your decision and not someone elses.

                                   Blessings to you

                                   Lynn

  • Jojo112
    Jojo112

    Posted

    Thanks lynn.

    I do pelvic floor excercises every day, i have done since being a teenager, as like i said i have had a weak bladder for a long while, which has gotten worse since the kids came along.

    Im hoping that physio of some sort/pessary can help in the first instance! Im just wondering if they say i require surgery im trying to plan ahead roughly, as i have several holidays coming up.

    Im 29 years old, if i can get this sorted the sooner the better in my opinion. I just want a normal vagina. If that takes physio, great, pessarys, great, surgery -fine. Just trying to plan ahead.

    • lynn53651
      lynn53651 Jojo112

      Posted

      I am glad you are doing all the right steps to try to see what works best for you. You are at a good age to keep doing the physio and try other alternatives that may work for you. Keep up the good work and planning ahead is of course a good thing.

                                                             Lynn

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