Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse

Posted by Tanglefoot @tanglefoot, Aug 2, 2015

I am looking to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse that other ladies have experienced as well. I would also like to comment on incontinence as well. There is a lot to talk about when it comes to prolapse bladder etc and it seems to be a silent epidemic among women. If there are others out there like me, lets talk about it and I have some solutions. I am surviving prolapse bladder without surgery and I have been living with it for over ten years. I wear a support garment that is light and easy weight and fits right under my existing underwear. Don't know what you are doing or wearing, but I would like to hear from you. Thanks.
Tanglefoot

***NOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY DIRECTOR***

February, 2017.

Thanks to a Connect member, it was brought to our attention that @tanglefoot may have a vested interest in promoting the support garment "hideaway" mentioned in this discussion. Further investigation revealed that @tanglefoot is the designer and inventor of this product, and that she routinely posts on discussion forums using pseudonyms. Posting solicitations or advertisements of any kind violates Mayo Clinic Connect's Terms of Use. We have decided to leave @tanglefoot's past messages as to not interrupt the flow of conversation, but she will no longer be able to post to the community.

Colleen Young

Community Director, Mayo Clinic Connect

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Women's Health Support Group.

<p>I would like to know more about vaginal and rectum prolapse. It was thought by my gyn. I had vaginal prolapse and had surgery to repair it. It turns out I have rectonal (rectum) prolapse instead. The 1st surgery was for not ! Once I have the 2nd surgery, is there any side effects I should be aware of?</p>

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Hi @Restless67
Good questions to ask! Here's some info from Mayo about rectal prolapse surgery, including risks and what you can expect http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/rectal-prolapse-surgery/basics/definition/prc-20013462

I'm also tagging @kamie @kathleenw @joycejem who were asking about rectal prolapse a while back. Kamie, Kathleen, Joyce did you choose to have the surgery done? Hope you'll join the conversation.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

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Thank you for posting my discussion here to help other ladies with prolapse. I have not had any surgery and that is because I don't want surgery for prolapse. I am 65 and cannot wear a pessary either. There is so much more we can try to do for ourselves to avoid surgery. My only problem was my prolapse was starting to drop down further towards the opening of the vagina area. I can go to the bathroom fine, no problems. I found out that walking, good posture and pelvic floor exercises can help a lot to control and manage a prolapse. I am a stage 3 prolapse bladder and I am surviving with a prolapse bladder without surgery for the last ten years. I learned that you cannot lift heavy things, you must keep your urine and bowels moving well by eating the right foods. Avoid coughing if you can, it pushes the prolapse out, just like lifting does or pushing if you are constipated pushed the prolapse out too. I am wearing a support for my prolapse that is very comfy and stops my prolapse from coming out. Hope others can find ways to survive without surgery if possible.

Tanglefoot

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Hi Mrs Tanglefoot,<br />
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My response to you regarding the female prolapse and you wearing something in your underware. I hadn't heard of that. And having the prolapse & the cloth you are wearing it for 10 years? Why not get the surgery and fix it once and for all? Are you afraid of surgeries? In the meantime before surgery I can see wearing something if the rectum starts falling out. My surgeon told me to use k-jelly and gloves and gently push it back in when it come out. If you don't it will get dried out and cause pain.<br />
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The surgery does not hurt at all. Just some minor issues. In 6 to 8 weeks and your vaginal area is tight again.<br />
<br />
The men will love that.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't like having it hanging out at the wrong times. Some of us has men in your lives sometime or another.<br />
<br />
If you have an active sex life, it can get messy and embarrassing at the wrong time.<br />
<br />

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Hello Restless 67

Please do not underestimate the pain of prolapse SURGERY. I have spoke with hundreds of women who have had that surgery. Some were in extreme pain afterwards, some had a relapse prolapse within a short length of time ( A YEAR OR TWO) others were fine. One size does not fit all and I am not interested in going through an operation that is not necessary for me or women like me.

I do have a normal sex life and when one has a prolapse bladder , it goes back up where it belongs as soon as you lay down in bed. No problem there. When I get up, I do not have a piece of cloth on. I have a very supportive prolapse support garment called the Hideaway. If you google Hideaway prolapse garment you can read about it and what the testimonials say from other ladies like me who are not having surgery. This Hideaway is not just a pad, it is supportive material inside a sling with adjustment elastic for your comfort. It stops the prolapse from coming out all day long and you cannot even remember you have it on it is so comfy.

Now as far as bleeding and dryness goes. I have none of that because I use natural Vitimin E gel capsuls and stick a pin in them, squeeze out the gel and apply it every night to inside of the vagina area all around the prolapse etc. It is a great natural mostiurizer for menopausal women as well and it has healing properties in Vtiimin E natural gel capuls. You can also apply coconut oil if you are allergic to Vitimin E.
I know someone who has a rectal prolapse and she is wearing the Hideaway support garment as well and she is fine. She puts the Vtiimin E gel on her rectocele and like you said she gently pushes it back in, puts on her support garment and she is good to go for the day. Not everyone wants surgery or needs surgery.

Of course if you are in pain, cannot go to the bathroom, have sexual issues, then you would probably have to have some sort of surgery. In the meantime those who are managing their prolapse without surgery are doing just fine. There is no messy sex as you say, it is quite natural and fine, as again, the prolapse goes back up inside when one lays on their back. So for those out there suffering silently, don't be afraid. A prolapse is not life threatening, it is life altering and you have to learn what is best for you. Blessings to all the ladies who walk in my shoes.

TANGLEFOOT

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Thanks Kelsey for your comments. I am very passionate about helping ladies with prolapse. I suffered silently for so long because this is such an embarrassing topic to talk about. After all, who wants to be the poster girl for prolapse? When I was conducting research on my prolapse bladder, I discovered that 1 out of 5 women will suffer from some type of prolapse either after birth or before or after menopause. That is because our pelvic floors are weak and the organs become two heavy and start sliding down the inside walls of our vagina in the case of prolapse bladder. Rectocele prolapse is much more to the behind area of course and affects bowel movements and is very uncomfortable is one is constipated. So it is very important to keep those bowels moving and eat a good diet. Then there is uterus prolapse as well.
I believe that the doctors need to inform young mothers to conduct pelvic floor exercises by consulting with a physio therapist who will know exactly what each individual needs to do in order for these exercises to work for them and strengthen the pelvic floor that holds these organs.
The problem is, prolapse is known as the silent epidemic because no one wants to talk about it. So lets change that ladies and start to talk about it so we can make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering from prolapse. Don't suffer alone, we are here to talk and trade ideas.

Blessings to all my prolapse sisters
Tanglefoot

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@tanglefoot Well said! It's a joy to have you on this forum and sharing your struggle with other women so they don't feel so alone.

Question for you... have you ever tried physical therapy? If so, curious to know if it helped at all?

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@kelseydm

@tanglefoot Well said! It's a joy to have you on this forum and sharing your struggle with other women so they don't feel so alone.

Question for you... have you ever tried physical therapy? If so, curious to know if it helped at all?

Jump to this post

Thanks Kelsey, its a joy to be on this forum so that we can all share ideas. When you speak of physical therapy, I am thinking you are talking about pelvic floor exercises. So watch and follow some of the videos that are on Youtube for pelvic floor exercises for prolapse. However, I was informed that to have a true assessment on how those pelvic floor exercises are helpful is to have a full physical check up conducted by a physio therapist to know which exercises are the proper ones to follow. Where I live it is quite expensive for physio but I know others have it covered where they live. So if you do live somewhere , where physio is covered by all means check it out for our prolapse. They will teach you the proper posture as well and posture plays a huge part in helping prolapse bladder.
I also walk a lot and walking and bike riding are both very good for prolapse as well. Don't become a couch potato because you have prolapse. You are much better off finding the right solutions to help you manage your prolapse if you cannot have surgery etc.
Prolapse has been around for centuries and it never killed anyone. It is not life threatening, it is life altering. I laughed out loud when I read that the Egyptians use to have their women stand on their heads for hours if they had a prolapse. They thought this was the cure because the prolapse would obviously go back up where it belongs when the women stood on their heads. It is when we stand up that gravity pulls on the organs and allows the prolapse to slowly fall down towards the opening of lady parts.
Keep searching and keep reading everything you can about prolapse and then you will be equipped with the information you need in order to decide what is the best solution for you.

Blessings to all of you
Tanglefoot

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Where are all the ladies who are walking in my shoes with a prolapse? There had to be more of you out there who are suffering silently like I did for years. Please don't be alone, share your thoughts. I would like to help give you the advice that I have learned over the years to help you with your prolapse.

Best Wishes
Tanglefoot

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Hello,
I am new this discussion, and I wanted to see what people were saying about prolapse. I personally have been through extreme things with this issue. Because of the extent of my individual situation, I did have an extensive reconstruction of my pelvic floor done by a very experienced surgeon. My advanced global prolapse was a result of damage from oversized babies and a forceps delivery when I was younger. As each woman's situation is very very unique to their lives, it is so important to consider the impact the prolapse is causing, the woman's age and general health with the anticipated recovery time, the preparedness of the clinicians providing services and wisdom of the plan specific to that woman, and the importance of attempting all options before the surgical decision is made. I have had a good outcome, but it took great work to get here in combination with guidance and ongoing targeted exercise. This is in fact my new normal, but a good one. My prayers and best wishes to any woman who is considering any kind/degree of pelvic floor surgery. Go in prepared and take the recovery seriously. Try all options of treatment first. There are many knowledgable clinicians out there to guide you.

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