Hello Always Hopeful. You have a nice user name and that is the first step to a good attitude regarding cystocele (prolapse bladder). I have had a prolapse bladder for over 8 years so I am pretty much experienced with all the aspects of it. I have researched a lot about prolapse and have learned what to expect and not expect. I have also learned to live with it by not worrying about. Instead I learned how to eat better, no do any heavy lifting, good exercises, lots of walking and finding the right support to wear so I could do all the things I wanted to do. I am not sure what stage your prolapse is but mine is stage 3 and its been stage 3 for several years. If you need to talk or ask any questions go ahead and ask. I am walking in your shoes when it comes to prolapse. Please do not feel alone as 1 out of 5 woman will experience some type of prolapse in their lifetime. It is not life threatening, it is just life altering. I hope to hear back from you so I can maybe help you with any issues you may have. Tanglefoot

Hello Tanglefoot, I just wrote a reply to one of your earlier posts. Thank you for all the posts you write - you have a very realistic approach to this condition. My understanding is that my bladder prolapse started gradually 10 years ago and has now progressed to a stage 3 (nurse practitioner) or a stage 2 (doctor). By the end of the day, I would call it a stage 12. I also have a prolapsed vagina. The doctor suggested a wait and see strategy and if things got "worse". I could have surgery which would involve "sewing up the bladder and doing a hysterectomy through the vagina. He also suggested having a pessary consultation which I have scheduled in March. He never mentioned the Hideaway, but I'm definitely going to look into that. He assured me that "sewing up the bladder" would not involve mesh, but gave little details past that. I am not in favor of surgery, unless conditions got "worse". I like your attitude - I have never had friends talk about this condition - which is surprising because of the high incident.

I don't mean vagina - I have a prolapsed uterus