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.

@rachelanne

Hi @shalomadonai (love the name!) I have had the prolapse since falling on a snowbank in 19996! It was then exacerbated by my Stroke in 2001! I also drink raspberry tea and cranberry juice; as my Physician told me they would help my situation! I am not allowed to try any procedures, because of my many allergies to medications and anesthesia due to Epilepsy; but hope Collagen works!
Take care and welcome to this wonderful, extremely dedicated, knowledgable, caring community!

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@rachelanne @shalomadonai I just googled collagen treatments and it sounds as if they are surgically implanted and are primarily for stress incontinence, is that correct? My incontinence is not the stress type, it's the urge type.

Also, who makes the raspberry tea? We did a tour of the Celestial Seasonings Factory when we visited my son in Denver in October. The factory is right outside of Denver. They had many fruit teas to sample and they were delicious but I don't remember a raspberry one -- maybe that one was just not available for testing that day. I have always heard that cranberry juice is good for this but that is pretty caloric whereas teas can be left unsweetened.

I am still wondering what the garment you mentioned is too.
JK

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@lisalucier

Hi, @contentandwell - prior to when I had the surgery on my bladder and rectal prolapse, the surgeon and his staff, especially, did tell me a number of times this was a "major surgery." I made arrangements for care and transport to preschool and other activities for my kids, who were tiny at the time, for 6 weeks. I had to extend the daycare for my children (I was a stay-at-home mom at the time) two additional weeks part-time cause I just didn't have near the stamina needed to safely and appropriately take care of them yet. Then I had my children back fully after that, but was still in the mode where a great deal of fatigue hit me daily and required a nap, which worked as my kids were also at a napping age.

Though I made preparations for my recovery as instructed by the medical team, I think I was naive and didn't really know what a "major surgery" meant at that time. I also had a UTI after the surgery, which I believe is somewhat common, but then had a bad reaction to the medication I was given for it. I also recall going back on the medication for bladder spasms that I'd been on presurgery, so I must have been having issues in that way, too. So, at least a couple complications arose in my case.

I think that just as we are doing here, it's helpful to get input from as many women as you can as you seek to determine the right decision for you personally on prolapse surgery.

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Hi. I am new here and wondering how to just "post" something rather than "reply" to someone's post. All I see is "Reply" but no "Post a new message." Can someone please tell me how to just post something new?
Thanks.

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@labbydog

Hi. I am new here and wondering how to just "post" something rather than "reply" to someone's post. All I see is "Reply" but no "Post a new message." Can someone please tell me how to just post something new?
Thanks.

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Hi, @labbydog and welcome to Connect. Here is some information on getting started on Connect you may find useful, especially "How to Start a Discussion." https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/

Do you have an interest in prolapse, @labbydog?

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I have had a repair, 10 or 12 years ago, for bladder prolapse that went very well. I was told shortly afterwards that I have a rectocele as well that was not repaired at the time. I can't imagine why they didn't tell me/repair it at the same time.

I have been a little confused because I have seen both rectocele and rectal prolapse referred to in this discussion and I believe those are two very different things. Are we discussing both or one or the other?

Has anyone had rectocele surgery? If so was it done vaginally? I have had several abdominal surgeries, one with a severe infection and septic shock, resulting in many adhesions. Laparoscopic surgery is not possible and an open abdominal procedure would be risky at best. I'm hoping that vaginal surgery would avoid most of the adhesions and would therefore be an option.

Any information on rectocele repair would be appreciated.

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@konniehoover

I have had a repair, 10 or 12 years ago, for bladder prolapse that went very well. I was told shortly afterwards that I have a rectocele as well that was not repaired at the time. I can't imagine why they didn't tell me/repair it at the same time.

I have been a little confused because I have seen both rectocele and rectal prolapse referred to in this discussion and I believe those are two very different things. Are we discussing both or one or the other?

Has anyone had rectocele surgery? If so was it done vaginally? I have had several abdominal surgeries, one with a severe infection and septic shock, resulting in many adhesions. Laparoscopic surgery is not possible and an open abdominal procedure would be risky at best. I'm hoping that vaginal surgery would avoid most of the adhesions and would therefore be an option.

Any information on rectocele repair would be appreciated.

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Hi, @konniehoover - I believe the conversation has gone in varying directions due to the initial post, "Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse." That said, you've made a valid point about differentiating types of prolapse. Here are a couple of definitions that may be useful:

- Posterior vaginal prolapse (rectocele) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectocele/symptoms-causes/syc-20353414

- Rectal prolapse https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectal-prolapse/symptoms-causes/syc-20352837

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@contentandwell

@gailg the doctor I am using is a urogynecologist. She was recommended to me by my daughter’s sister-in-law who mentored her. I could not bring myself to go to someone I know though, she is family! Also, she is affiliated with a different hospital. I am trying to keep all but my PCP at MGH, just easier that way and I always have great results there. I keep my PCP here because it’s about an hour and a half to get to Boston during the day.
JK

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@contentandwell
I am also in Boston vicinity....have seen MGH urogyn twice and am working with a physical therapist now, but no specific therapist or therapy was ordered by MD. How are you doing now?

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@mslw

@contentandwell
I am also in Boston vicinity....have seen MGH urogyn twice and am working with a physical therapist now, but no specific therapist or therapy was ordered by MD. How are you doing now?

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@mslw I'm doing OK, not great but better than I was. The urogyn I see is at the MGH satellite facility in Waltham. Do you go there or to Boston?

I did PT with someone on a list she gave me of pelvic floor physical therapists -- I am in southern NH. I think I learned all I could from her. She strongly stressed that you need to not skip more than two days or you really set yourself back, and I am finding that to be true. I have also started taking a medication, Trospium. It is definitely helping, but still not as good as I would like. I don't know if this is true of all of the drugs for incontinence but it makes you incredibly dry. You are supposed to take it with a large glass of water. I take it at night and then the next moring I have to drink another large glass of water. The other side-effect of this drug is that it makes you a bit light headed. It said to take it in the morning and I found that I needed to wait to leave the house because of that, so I asked the doctor if I could take it at bedtime and she said that would be fine. You are supposed to take it on an empty stomach. I no longer notice the dizziness. I don't know if that's because my system adjusted to the drug or if it's because I am sleeping.

How are you doing? It takes a while to figure out what is best for each patient I think. I am considering having botox for it. That's a pretty easy procedure, right in the office. It would be so nice to not get up so many times during the night. I used to be up about 8 times a night. It's down to 3 or 4 now, so much better than it was.
JK

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I’m new just tonight but I would think that if there are products that would make a difference to our situations, it would be great to know that. I dont mind as long as it isn’t a pushy experience.

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The best investments I’ve made with my prolapse, was to go to a teaching hospital meaning a hospital connected to a university where where they have programs for medical doctor degrees and go to the urology department for help. My doctor Dr. Matthews is the head of the Urology department of Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, NC connected to Wake Forest University. She actually did not recommend surgery at this time, but did recommend bladder physical therapy. I went from getting up multiple times a night (and day) to getting up once a night and much less during the day. My therapist taught me exercises to strengthen the muscles that hold the bladder. I have a friend who also went and she went from going ten times a night to once a night! Dr. Matthews also helps with bowel prolapse too. Hope this helps!

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@shalomadonai

Hi everybody. I am new here I dont even know how to start a discussion. I have prolapse too and I am drinking red raspberry tea and taking collagen. I want to buy the garment too. I appreciate any coments. Also I am making an appointment with a clinic specialsing in prolapse to see my options.

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how do u take the collagen and is it any particular kind of tea? do u think it's helping? ggm

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