ugh... I think I have cystocele :(
I am so distraught over this... and don't know what to do. I constantly do kegels... so I don't know what else to do? I have an appt tomorrow am with midwife, but am afraid to do much until then. :(
has anyone had this and recovered after awhile?
Nope, never had it.... I have done some reading on kegels though (I hate doing them, and was hoping to find an "escape route" to not do them. Also, I did them extensively after my second child was born because of some stress incontinence and it didn't do a thing).
First- are you doing kegels right? The popular belief that you can "do them anywhere" and "just do them all the time" isn't really accurate. If you're doing a kegel properly, it should take all of your attention because you're supposed to be working all of the pelvic floor muscles and that takes considerable effort. You shouldn't need to do them all the time because a couple of good 5 minute sessions a day where you're really working at it should be sufficient. You also need to reverse-kegel - instead of tensing everything IN push everything OUT.
Also, squats- what kegels can do with time is make your pelvic floor muscles tight. If they're tight they're lacking flexiblity, and shortens the muscle making them less effective at holding everything in properly. You need to do kegels to strengthen and squats to lengthen. To do that, you need good strong butt muslces (kegels pull your saccrum closer, and strong glutes pull it back to lengthen those muscles). So squats to strengthen your glutes is important.
That said, I don't kegel OR squat. Very bad.
Here's a link on the glutes:
http://www.birthrelaxationkit.com/truth-about-kegel-exercises.html
Has a video, too!
Hrm, video doesn't work. Here's another one by the same person- looks like it's the same info, re-explained:
Okay, so I am going to see a physical therapist for "down there" for some pelvic floor workout... but I was afraid of the worst, and my midwife said it wasn't too bad, but a good idea to see the specialist now...
I can control my bladder (I know, tmi , right?) and so she said that was a really good sign. I was thinking the worst so I am totally relieved.
I do kegels all the time, but think I need to learn some new exercises at this point. I am just so thankful that I can save then parts through exercise at this point.
I have a cystocele and a rectocele, lucky me right?!?! For me symptoms are frequent leaking of urine and pressure in my bottom like I need to have a BM, but don't really. Also, I can feel the bulges vaginally and can't wear a tampon or diva cup well, everything falls out. I don't have any real pain associated with this. Future plan is hysterectomy and bladder suspension...yippeeee.....
forestmushroom, I hope the PT works for you!! I tried that route, they hooked me up to a nerve stim thing that showed I have no nerve control left to even do kegels correctly. I have a special insert that is suppose to help stimulate the nerves to see if they can be rejuvenated, hasn't worked, I've given up.
I have a cystocele and a rectocele, lucky me right?!?! For me symptoms are frequent leaking of urine and pressure in my bottom like I need to have a BM, but don't really. Also, I can feel the bulges vaginally and can't wear a tampon or diva cup well, everything falls out. I don't have any real pain associated with this. Future plan is hysterectomy and bladder suspension...yippeeee.....
forestmushroom, I hope the PT works for you!! I tried that route, they hooked me up to a nerve stim thing that showed I have no nerve control left to even do kegels correctly. I have a special insert that is suppose to help stimulate the nerves to see if they can be rejuvenated, hasn't worked, I've given up.
super hugs, 2amigos ... Thank goodness you don't have any pain! Did they tell you to not lift stuff, or does it impact how active you are?I hope the PT works, too. When will you have to have the surgery?
rozzie mama, I just felt different down there and was feeling my lady bits, and the wall in the front feels pushed in, if that makes sense? if you google pictures of cystocele it might make more sense. My midwife said it was very common and that "I wasn't alone" and not to trip out. My health insurance through the state will end soon, and I am not sure when I will be insured again in the future, so having a long term condition freaks me out.
So I've been doing some more reading because your post made me think a bit about the "weirdness" I'm feeling, and I'm positive now that I have a small rectocele. It's not severe, but if I'm constipated I can feel it bulging and after I go I can feel it sitting there like an empty balloon and I can push it in with my finger and feel it pooch out if I push down at all (like I'm trying to poop). I haven't had my midwife check it out yet, but I'm 100% sure that's the problem. Definitely explains my difficulties when I need to poop and some of the constipation like feelings. I think I've also been confusing the pain when I sit from that as being tailbone pain (it's not bad, just uncomfortable).
I've been doing a bit of reading about treatment plans, risk, etc. It sounds like once you have a surgery the risk of a repeat prolapse goes up dramatically, and after a hysterectomy the risk of all of your internal pelvic floor and organs folding in on themselves goes up- not to mention other problems with hysterectomy.
I also found this site: http://www.wholewoman.com
She seems to be selling some program (I never trust info from people who sell stuff, but on the other hand, it's NOT surgery!) and she is saying things like proper posture and exercises that strengthen your hips and belly can encourage proper organ positioning. You can check the theatre link and go to the right hand side, she's got a video there. It needs some fact-checking but it's interesting/frightening. There is also a forum on the site of people who've tried it and got positive results. I'm considering it. My prolapse is not a problem- not painful, etc- but on the other hand, I'd like to NOT have a prolapse, and I"m worried about it getting worse as I age and have more babies. I do kegel and hate it, and I never feel like it's doing anything anyway. Obviously didn't prevent a rectal prolapse, either.
So I've been doing some more reading because your post made me think a bit about the "weirdness" I'm feeling, and I'm positive now that I have a small rectocele. It's not severe, but if I'm constipated I can feel it bulging and after I go I can feel it sitting there like an empty balloon and I can push it in with my finger and feel it pooch out if I push down at all (like I'm trying to poop). I haven't had my midwife check it out yet, but I'm 100% sure that's the problem. Definitely explains my difficulties when I need to poop and some of the constipation like feelings. I think I've also been confusing the pain when I sit from that as being tailbone pain (it's not bad, just uncomfortable).
I've been doing a bit of reading about treatment plans, risk, etc. It sounds like once you have a surgery the risk of a repeat prolapse goes up dramatically, and after a hysterectomy the risk of all of your internal pelvic floor and organs folding in on themselves goes up- not to mention other problems with hysterectomy.
I also found this site: http://www.wholewoman.com
She seems to be selling some program (I never trust info from people who sell stuff, but on the other hand, it's NOT surgery!) and she is saying things like proper posture and exercises that strengthen your hips and belly can encourage proper organ positioning. You can check the theatre link and go to the right hand side, she's got a video there. It needs some fact-checking but it's interesting/frightening. There is also a forum on the site of people who've tried it and got positive results. I'm considering it. My prolapse is not a problem- not painful, etc- but on the other hand, I'd like to NOT have a prolapse, and I"m worried about it getting worse as I age and have more babies. I do kegel and hate it, and I never feel like it's doing anything anyway. Obviously didn't prevent a rectal prolapse, either.
Astria, I found the same site and had the same though! Like how can I trust this since it is all a sales pitch.
I am going to see the urogynecologist for an assessment and physical therapy... Surgery terrifies me, but the thought of not being active because of this freaks me out, too. Definitely going to do whatever I can to avoid this getting worse. :(
Well, shit. Since I did more reading on that site about prolapse and symptoms of prolapse I did some more feeling around. I have a prolapse in the front as well- pretty severe, I'd say, but it started happening after my second was born and was pretty gradual and I didn't think anything of it. When I'm upright (like sitting on the toilet) the front wall of my vagina is pushed almost as far as the vaginal opening. If I'm laying down you can't see it at all, but it's quite obvious when I'm upright. Again, it doesn't hurt (if it hurt I would have noticed it as a being a problem sooner!)The rectocele is absolutely nothing in comparison.
Now I'm pissed. Definitely talking to my midwife about it, see if I can get a referral for physical therapy from her or if I'll need to see a doctor. I'm absolutely not doing surgery (especially not after watching that video from the site I linked!). It's weird that I've had at least the cystocele for more than a year at least, but now that I know it's a disorder and abnormal I'm freaked out about and can't stop thinking about it. I kegeled like a madwoman last night (while laying down) until I felt like something was going to cramp up.
Also still haven't told my husband about it. Not sure why. I also am having a lot of trouble picturing myself talking about this to any of my friends who have kids. I've NEVER heard anyone talk about this before- but stitches, bleeding, sex is always talked about. What's with that? And no one ever told me to kegel to avoid prolapse or even mentioned prolapse as a thing that could happen. I was told to kegel by my doctor and midwives with all three pregnancies to avoid "that embarrassing sneeze-pee" but not to keep my organs from falling out of my vagina?!?! If I had known this was a thing that could happen (I somehow thought it could only happen to "old" women, post menopause), known what to watch for, then I could have been doing something about this months and months ago. I have to stop thinking about this, I'm just getting worked up.
So you're supposed to not be active with prolapse? That's gonna be a problem... kind of a non-option, really.
No one has ever said I could be active or anything to that end. Just that activity could potentially make it worse, with heavy lifting or straining. I have waffled on the surgery option as well. My mom had it done years ago and has felt so much better. No leaking of urine, etc. I don't want to pee myself for the next 30 years (after 30 years or so I would expect some leakage just from being old :) ). Having to wear a pad every day to keep from soaking myself sucks...not to mention when I have a bad cough I seriously wear depends otherwise completely wet myself. :(
This is absolutely an issue that needs to be talked about more from healthcare providers!
Well, shit. Since I did more reading on that site about prolapse and symptoms of prolapse I did some more feeling around. I have a prolapse in the front as well- pretty severe, I'd say, but it started happening after my second was born and was pretty gradual and I didn't think anything of it. When I'm upright (like sitting on the toilet) the front wall of my vagina is pushed almost as far as the vaginal opening. If I'm laying down you can't see it at all, but it's quite obvious when I'm upright. Again, it doesn't hurt (if it hurt I would have noticed it as a being a problem sooner!)The rectocele is absolutely nothing in comparison.
Now I'm pissed. Definitely talking to my midwife about it, see if I can get a referral for physical therapy from her or if I'll need to see a doctor. I'm absolutely not doing surgery (especially not after watching that video from the site I linked!). It's weird that I've had at least the cystocele for more than a year at least, but now that I know it's a disorder and abnormal I'm freaked out about and can't stop thinking about it. I kegeled like a madwoman last night (while laying down) until I felt like something was going to cramp up.
Also still haven't told my husband about it. Not sure why. I also am having a lot of trouble picturing myself talking about this to any of my friends who have kids. I've NEVER heard anyone talk about this before- but stitches, bleeding, sex is always talked about. What's with that? And no one ever told me to kegel to avoid prolapse or even mentioned prolapse as a thing that could happen. I was told to kegel by my doctor and midwives with all three pregnancies to avoid "that embarrassing sneeze-pee" but not to keep my organs from falling out of my vagina?!?! If I had known this was a thing that could happen (I somehow thought it could only happen to "old" women, post menopause), known what to watch for, then I could have been doing something about this months and months ago. I have to stop thinking about this, I'm just getting worked up.
So you're supposed to not be active with prolapse? That's gonna be a problem... kind of a non-option, really.
I agree! Why not just talk about it? They warn you about everything else-- don't eat lunch meat, etc! I freaked out when I first discovered it, too.. and got all teary eyed explaining it to the midwife. ((hugs)) When I mentioned it to my husband, he was very caring & sweet.
No one has ever said I could be active or anything to that end. Just that activity could potentially make it worse, with heavy lifting or straining. I have waffled on the surgery option as well. My mom had it done years ago and has felt so much better. No leaking of urine, etc. I don't want to pee myself for the next 30 years (after 30 years or so I would expect some leakage just from being old :) ). Having to wear a pad every day to keep from soaking myself sucks...not to mention when I have a bad cough I seriously wear depends otherwise completely wet myself. :(
This is absolutely an issue that needs to be talked about more from healthcare providers!
I lift my 2 year old all the time, and don't know about running, etc now? I think my hesitancy is more psychological then anything... I don't know why more healthcare peeps don't mention it... since it is very common. I do kegels all the time! But that doesn't seem to be enough, it seems...
this is good to know that hormones can make it more extreme..... damn hormones....
typing one handed.... nak. :)
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