Want to discuss prolapse bladder or any kind of prolapse

Hi @upartist, welcome to Connect! I'm so glad you've shared this story with the community; it's important information and it's valuable to have different perspectives. I hope that you'll continue to be a resource to others on Connect!

How is everything going for you now? What kind of exercises are working the best for you?

Hello Ali and all. Due to the nature of my surgeries, my exercises may be a bit unique. I am also a therapist and have designed movement programs for patients of various ages and diagnoses, which has facilitated my personal outcome. My comments here should not be a design for anyone reading this, as each individual body has different and unique needs and issues. The strengthening and flexibility approaches I use are focused on stabilizing the pelvic girdle, the hips (globally) and the abdominals, all within smaller ranges of movements. Maintaining hip and lower back flexibility is as much a priority, but without the loading at the end ranges. I have found that lateral pelvic and lower back flexibility/movement is a priority and has decreased pain for me. It should be noted that I have had to build very slowly and carefully to prevent triggering pain cycles, especially through the hamstring, gluteus, and actual pelvic floor muscle and tendon groups. There are certain activities which I have found that I have to avoid, including numerous yoga movements and positions (to much loading on certain ligament groups), traditional sit-ups (these trigger abdominal spasms), and rowing machines (this triggers tailbone pain). I am now able to tolerate 30 minutes of bicycling with a cushioned seat, interval jogging-walking or hiking for 1 hour, light weights combined with various careful movement combinations, 30 minutes of kayaking, and general swimming. After any pelvic floor surgery, the woman (or man) should integrate a carefully and guided rehabilitation program to build up targeted areas of fragility/weakness. The trainer/therapist should be familiar/trained with pelvic issues, female aging with areas that become weak and unstable (following child bearing especially) not just interested in this area, though an interest is very important. Designing a safe program requires homework, research, and patience. I hope this helps.

I'm new to talking with other people about my problems. Three years ago I had surgery for what my doc said was "the trifecta" uterine, bladder and rectal prolapse. He said I needed surgery and since I had had breast cancer, he suggested a hysterectomy too. I went along with it...He's the doctor, right? Since then, sex is so painful I don't have it and I went from a vibrant person to just not feeling great. I cant take hormone replacement because of my history with breast cancer, so after a second opinion about my sexual disfunction, the doc suggested the Mona Lisa lazer therapy, which I did with little results. Now.I'm prolapsing again and the first doc wants to do surgery again. What the heck? I don't want to live with prolapse..I have a very physical life style. Anybody have anything for me?

@maxann, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It takes courage to talk to others about health issues. Thank you for bringing your concerns here. I would like to connect you with @tanglefoot, @upartist @kathleenw and @Restless67 who have previously discussed prolapse and everyday living after prolapse.

In the meantime, here is some information about painful intercourse from Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/1VJ9Lwt It states that surgeries or medical treatments may contribute to the issues you are experiencing. "Scarring from pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy, can sometimes cause painful intercourse. Medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause changes that make sex painful."

@maxann, have you considered getting a second opinion from a different physician before having another prolapse surgery? Also have you thought of consulting a sex therapist?

I would like to be tagged on this discussion too as I am totally blinded by this and too embarrassed to talk to the doctor about it. I don't know if it's vaginal or rectal prolapse. I suspect rectal since I've suffered so often from chronic constipation/diarrhea. Can someone tell me what the symptoms of each...

Hi everyone. I am so glad to have found this group as I'm very confused. I don't know whether I have a prolapse or not and my last OBGYN visit, she said everything was great. I didn't notice this until I got really constipated and I can feel a bulge between my vagina and rectum. Although I have hemorrhoids from childbirth I don't seem to have anything else back there unusual and nothing is coming out the vagina either. It's just this bulge like the rectum is taking a turn down before deciding to come out...This is so hard to discuss...does anyone else feel this way. I am actually blushing writing this stuff. How do I know if it's bladder? Vagina? Rectal? Do I speak with my OB? I am 56. Menapause for about 5 years on HRT. I also noticed that a very strong orgasm seems to make everything push down? What to do?

Hello Maisie

Have you considered going to a specialist to give you a second opinion whether or not you have a prolapse. Sometimes it can go undetected. What about a physio thereapist who deals with prolapse as well. They can give you an internal examination as well and maybe detect a prolapse or not. I think if you are still feeling uncomfortable and uncertain, you need a second opinion to be sure. I have had a prolapse for over ten years now and my prolapse is a stage 3, so it would protrude out of my vagina area if I did not wear my support. I hope you find out soon by getting a second opinion to ease your mind. Blessings to you.

Hello Maisie,
I am sorry you have to deal with the discomforts of pelvic floor dysfunction. It is frustrating to find informed answers for sure, as there is much misinformation and partial information out there. Because of the different ways pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor prolapse can manifest, Tanglefoot's recommendation to seek the opinion of a specialist is a good one. A differential diagnosis is imperative in making the right decisions while moving forward to get answers. I would recommend a Uro-Gynecology center. These teams of clinicians include specialized physician assistants, specialized physical therapists and nurses, specialized gynecologists, and very specialized surgeons. A comprehensive center will provide good patient information, which helps you move forward and have some level of informed control. In order to gain a complete perspective on your needs, specific tests must be performed. These tests provide functional and physical measurements. Before any treatment and surgical decisions are made, the information from these tests must be looked at and considered by a team, with the patient included. There are various treatment options out there, but these treatments need to be targeted and accurate, or they may not work. Surgery is always the last option, as outcomes are never perfect. So the scale must be weighed in carefully. Please do not feel self conscious about this topic. This is an important topic, and one's day to day life can be devasted by the varying degrees of this condition. Hang in there and don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for your future.
Respectfully,
UPArtist

Has anyone had any experiences with a cystocele? (prolapsed bladder)

Welcome, @AlwaysHopeful.
I moved your message to this existing and active discussion about cystocele and other prolapse, so that you could meet fellow members talking about this important topic.
You may also be interested in these past discussions:
- scheduling sacrocolpopexy and cystocele repair...more than a little scared http://mayocl.in/2iWHE4a to read the messages by @wandili @montanagal @operationqueen

AlwaysHopeful: how are managing the prolapse? Do you have any questions you'd like to ask the group?