Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse

I had a bladder prolapse and I opted for surgery(sacrocolpopexy). It was done robotically (DaVinci). I had it done in March, minimal discomfort, five small scars and I am doing fine. It is imperative to find an experienced doctor!!!!!! No more squats with weights, horseback riding, motorcycling, etc. But that is o.k. I am glad I did it, I am 78 years old and walk three miles every day, do light weights, sit ups, and stretching exercises.
Friedelknoll1940

This summer I had a bladder prolapse diagnosed as being between a 2-3. Currently have a pessary upon commendation of a young Obgyn. I did have back to back bladder infections, but none recently. Am considering surgery, as my age 50 plus Obgyn recommended surgery which he does vaginally. The young Obgyn uses laparoscopic surgery, and recommended the pessary. My question is what women have experienced with a pessary, and the recuperating time for repairing a bladder prolapse.

I posted recently @mjforch, and was ordering WHO/LOCATION of hospital where you surgery was completed (at Mayo?). How long was your recovery, and is your prolapse better? I’m 58, and am wondering when or if I should have surgery.

Hi, @mjforch, and welcome to Connect. I had bladder (and rectal) prolapse repair surgery personally almost 7 years ago. I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic. It was performed the end of January and it wasn't till May that I didn't need to take a nap every day. The recovery was rather long and challenging. My bladder is starting to dip down again, but not to the point where it was when I had the surgery. I have also had a pessary, and I found it tolerable, but not optimal.

I'd also like to invite @pizon @letsgo @skd43usa @galah11@friendlyhelp @goldentretriever65 @smartchick43 into this conversation to comment on bladder prolapse and use of a pessary or when or if one might have surgery. @contentandwell may also have some thoughts on this.

@mjforch - my understanding is that you are using the pessary in the meantime, and considering whether to stay with it or have the surgical repair for your bladder prolapse? Is that correct? Are you currently leaning toward having the surgery or away from it?

As I mentioned before......no problems with my prolapse surgery....sacro polpopexy......done by Da Vinci robot at Memorial Herman in Houston. I had it in March, no discomfort, no down time, and I am 78 years old.

I am 57 and 2 yrs ago I prolapsed all at once to stage 2-3 after the surgery was done to correct it over a yr and half ago it left me with nerve damage....if you can live with it please do

@lisalucier Wow, there is a wealth of information here, thank you for involving me.

I have seen a urogynecologist at MGH two times for urinary incontinence. I presume that is from a prolapsed bladder. The first thing she recommends is PT, there are specialists in PT who deal with urinary incontinence. Basically the PT teaches you umpteen ways to do Kegels -- walking, sitting, when you arise from sitting, and so on and so on. The doctor has also prescribed a drug for me, trospium. I am just finally picking it up today, it took forever to get the doctor and pharmacy to coordinate for a pre-approval. It's a fairly new drug so will cost me a bit more than my other prescriptions, about $57 a month. If it helps though it is worth it.

So far there has been no mention of surgery, except to possibly to repair a rectocele which is related to fecal incontinence not urinary incontinence. I never had a problem with that until I got on immunosuppressants and now I do. Mine is exacerbated by eating certain foods -- healthy foods, like oatmeal, strawberries, blueberries, and salads!. I am still trying to get a more definite feel for what I can and cannot eat. I was having wonderful salads every day for lunch with lettuce, strawberries, chicken, and goat cheese so I have stopped them. I am beginning to suspect the berries are the biggest cause of my soft stools. With a rectocele, some of the fecal matter gets caught in what's sort of a hernia, and then since it is soft, can seep out later. I do also have weak anal muscles though, does the surgery help that?

No mention has been made of a pessary. I guess that's something I should ask about. What exactly does a pessary do? I don't think my urinary incontinence is the type that can be helped with surgery, it is urge incontinence. I do need to address the other problem though. She wants me to see my gastro first and have some tests to get a better definition of exactly what is wrong.

I have shared here more than I have shared with ANYONE. I find this to be a rather embarrassing topic so it is nice to have people to share with who have similar problems. I am discouraged that the recovery from surgery takes so long.
JK

Hi Lisa Luceir,
I hope I’m answering the right email! If you have a problem with soft stools which I do and a bowel prolapse, my urologist suggested Metamucil to add bulk to help my loose stools. A lot of people think that Metamucil is only for constipation. Also I have found that chocolate and cheese will firm up bowels. Some people don’t have same results with chocolate, it makes their bowels loose. I don’t think you have to give up up your nutricious salads and oatmeal with berries. Just add cheese to your salads and I think your problem will be solved. As for the oatmeal, add some form of chocolate to it like like the almond butter with chocolate in it. I’m not a doctor, but these methods have worked for me! By the way I also have a prolapsed bladder and surgery will only make it worse at this point. I’m starting PT for it too as soon as I get an appt. Let me know if these changes help.

I did some PT for my prolapsed bladder, but I unfortunately was one of the percentage of people who "fail" that treatment. I evidently have very poor coordination of my pelvic floor muscles, and when asked to clench one would clench another, and so forth. I think at times the physical therapist may have thought I was kidding in those instances, but I actually was trying really hard to do as I was asked. Required a lot of concentration on my part. So, eventually I learned from my therapist that I was deemed to have failed this therapy (I always think of it in terms of a treatment failing the patient, though). My understanding is that pelvic floor PT is helpful for many women with prolapse, however.

@contentandwell - the pessary is used to push the bladder back up so that it is not protruding out of the body or not putting pressure on the opening and feeling uncomfortable. This Mayo Clinic information on pessaries shows some of the types https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-incontinence/multimedia/pessary-use/img-20006056. I've tried the ring type.

After I finally had the surgery to correct the prolapsed bladder and rectum, my urogynecologist actually suggested just what you are saying, @coralbells1: he said he tells all his patients to take a fiber supplement powder daily (I take the clear, tasteless kind in my morning coffee).

@astabenno1990 - sounds like your prolapse surgery and recovery went really well. Do you think about it much anymore?

@pizon - where are things at with the nerve damage now after your correction surgery?

Thanks for the response. I’ve been to two OBGYNs locally, the one I’d seen for years recommended surgery, and the second one, who is much younger recommended a pessary. I didn’t even know what a pessary was, and can review the symptoms in hindsight, and can see that I was slowly heading towards a prolapse. (Had one child over 9 lbs with forceps, 34 years ago.) I’m not sure what my next course of action will be, frankly.
My story is at the last part of July I felt like my insides were “hanging low”. The OBGYN I’ve gone to for about 10 years diagnosed a bladder prolapse, described a pessary as messy, and assured me I wouldn’t like it, didn’t even insert one. He said he did surgery vaginally, and suggested that as an option. I put the surgery off because I needed to be with our daughter, who was having a child the first part of October. I knew I couldn’t do surgery and be with our daughter if an August surgery was done. In the meantime, I got a second opinion from a younger OBGYN, and he inserted the pessary. I did have two UTI’s back to back, which apparently sometime happens, but I was able to be with our daughter, and the pessary is doing its “job” so to speak. Our daughter had a beautiful baby boy, and I made it through the mini “prolapse” crisis by using the pessary. I can insert it on my own. It sometimes feels strange, and I’m considering surgery
The OBGYN I’ve done to for years is in his 50’s, and does vaginal surgeries. The younger OBGYN does laparoscopic surgery.
My questions are 1) Which surgery is best (vaginally or laparoscopic)? 2) Can the prolapse really be “fixed”, or will I go through a surgery and still need a pessary? I’m 58, do take a blood pressure med, and another med for hypothyroidism, but would consider myself healthy.