Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse

Can you please explain what Stage 1 Prolapse is? I will be going for a test on Tuesday. The test was explained to me, sitting on a chair that has an opening, urinating while the Tech. looking on a computer to see how the bladder is working. What is the Procedure to fix it?

Thank You so much for investigating.

I had mild prolapse for years without any urination issues. Yet it all gave way but I'm fixed up now. 1- The new mesh is to hold up the bladder. This mesh allows the tissue to grow through it to attach. With aging our own tissues aren't strong enough. 2- If that doesn't help with frequent urination or total voiding which is tested for like you did, a sling is placed permanently to lift the urethra, it's a small device.
Both procedures can be done vaginally.
You must see a surgeon who only specializes in this procedure. Do not expect the basic OB/GYN to give you good results. I made that mistake after my hysterectomy by a basic OB/GYN. I went to a highly regarded specialist surgeon and prolapse surgeon and all still holding after 4 years. No more needing to know where the bathrooms are when out on shopping trips!!!! Medicare approved for these procedures so do your homework on the surgeon.
For Stage 1 you may only need the sling. It is not a complicated surgery but you will need a general.

Hello and I wish you the best of luck I do want to add if you are considering surgery and if you are in the state of DE DO NOT use Dr. Howard Goldstein. After my repair for bladder prolapse almost at stage 3 has left me with nerve damage even though the problem has been fixed correctly for 1 and 1/2 years after my surgery and much pain he misdiagnosed me over and over I had to go out of state to see another uro/gyn when you use the dr. thru Christian Care (there is only one practice in the state of DE) you can not go to another dr. in that practice so if you see one and you don't like them or are not happy with your results you can't see any other dr. in the practice you must go out of state please do your homework and I wish you the best of luck

The different stages of prolapse range from 1-4 for the bladder which is what I had. I had a stage 4 bladder prolapse prior to my surgery. I have previously gone through my experience and the type of surgery I had on this forum so if you search for my posts you will see them. But briefly, I had a surgery called sacrocolpopexy with hysterectomy. The hysterectomy is usually done with this procedure because the uterus is basically in the way and it is a much simpler and shorter surgery if they remove it. I am 64 so I am post-menopausal and so there wasn't an issue of having future children, but I still was a little concerned at first when I was told it involved a hysterectomy. But after I thought about it and got used to the idea, I was okay with it. It is done with the DaVinci Robot and laproscopically. There were 4 little holes in my tummy below the belly button where I suppose instruments, etc. were inserted. I say "were" because you cannot see them anymore and my surgery was about 1.5 years ago. I am very glad I had it as it had gotten to the point where there was rubbing and tissue abrasion from the rubbing just from daily activity. At the end, I was having bleeding and soreness and just could not hardly move around because I would start to bleed.

They measure bladder prolapse by how far the bladder descends into the vagina. Mine was so extensive that I don't think anyone ever measured it or did a test as it was an obvious stage 4 (the most extensive). Stage 1 is the least extensive so it might be the case that your procedure will be different. But definitely see a urogynecologist and make sure you look into reports from patients who have had the procedure with them. I found 3 in my city (Austin, TX) and went to two of them. They both told me exactly the same thing and the procedure they intended to use was identical. It was just a matter of who I liked the best and felt most comfortable with.

Just take the time to do your homework and find a doctor that you are comfortable with. If you have issues with incontinence or frequent urination, your doctor should ask you about that as well and even if you don't, he/she should test you to see if you are likely to have such problems once your bladder is fixed. This is because sometimes bladder prolapse can mask incontinence due to the fact that the bladder drops down and gravity makes it harder for the urine to flow out when you have the prolapse. But if the bladder is raised as it is in surgery, then the urine can flow more readily and any incontinence issues may show up. The study my doctor did for this was called a urodynamics study and he determined that once my prolapse was fixed that I might have some incontinence. As such, he did some fix for this during the surgery in hopes that I would not have to have a second surgery to have this done. He must have estimated correctly because I have not had any problems with incontinence since my surgery.

So hopefully you can see that you definitely need a specialist (not just a OB/GYN or a urologist). There are just lots of things to consider. The mesh they use these days is not the same kind you hear about on the TV commercials with the lawyers. My doctor actually showed it to me and it is more like a piece of nylon than what I had envisioned so it is softer and more pliable. I don't feel it at all.

Please keep us all posted on your progress and any questions, concerns you have. You are right to ask questions and do your research. We are definitely here for you.
Best to you.

@kimspr3 That sounds like a test I went through. In my case it was to determine if I was a good candidate for botox injections, which I am.
JK

Hi, @kimspr3 - this Mayo Clinic information on uterine prolapse may also be helpful https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-prolapse/symptoms-causes/syc-20353458

Thank You Lisa, You confirmed I made the right decision. A Visiting Nurse suggested I see a Urogynecologist. I researched, liked what I read, had a visit now I am reassured. I go for the test tomorrow. Not found of that test. What I have is uncomfortable, don't remember if I mentioned when urinating either flow won't start, I wait, than starts and stops, at times can't tell if it stopped. are those the side effects? I hope you don't need a second surgery. Thank You again

JK, Thank you for you input.

Went on the site very informative. Now I have a few more questions to ask the Dr. Thanks