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[choc57]

I'd be interested to know if others have become aware that they are suffering from a prolapsed womb/bladder or rectum during perimenopause. I've just been watching an episode of 'Fleabag' and there was mention of the menopause causing pelvic floors to 'collapse'. I was just one year into changes starting to happen...perimenopause.... when I noticed a bulge. That was 10 years ago and I'm now a few years post menopause. It's not got significantly worse. I've been offered surgery but until it becomes a big problem in my life, which it isn't at the moment I'm doing my kegels and hoping it won't get worse and in fact my gyneacologist has told me it may not get any worse. Having heard this on TV it got me wondering. I've not got any friends with this problem that I know of. Has anyone else noticed they have a prolapse at this time in their lives?

[Tc]

Hiya choc. Nice to meet you 
 I went into surgical meno last year and have since been diagnosed with prolapse bladder and uterus.
I believe with hysterectomy women are told to do kegals but I had only ovaries removed and wasnt told. 

Lack of eastrogen affects collagen which can cause the pelvic floor to weaken and sag. It's good to hear yours hasnt got any worse.  maybe there is an initial "sagging" with the initial drop in eastrogen and then it doesnr progress. Maybe the kegals keep it from doing so. 

I saw a womens physio and she told me not lift heavy weights, and  it's also very important to not get constipated.  She said  if you have to lift, cough or sneeze to tighten the pelvic muscles at the same time. Bit tricky that one, especially with a sneeze!!  but if I manage to do it when I cough it does seem to lessen the "stress wee."

The kegals she gave me were bog standard. I asked her about all these devices on the market and she was pretty dismissive. But I'm thinking of trying the weights

How do you do your kegals.? They ae obviously working well for you.

X

[Taz2]

Yes it happened to me. I finally had a hysterectomy for uterine prolapse and bladder prolapse five years ago when I was 60. Like you I coped for quite a few years but then my GP took me off HRT due to my age and everything slid south   . HRT does keep the pelvic floor stronger and my consultant instructed my GP to reinstate HRT straight after my op. As Tc says it's the lack of oestrogen as we go through peri which causes loss of collagen so muscles become weaker. A common side effect of menopause sadly.

Taz x

[choc57]

Thanks both of you for your replies. I knew lack of oestrogen could be the culprit but wondered how common it was. I'd thought about whether going back on hrt would help Taz but it's not been offered to me. Thankfully at long last all my meno symptoms have gone (mustn't shout too loudly in case they come back...horror of horrors!!) So whether my doctor would let me I don't know but she's not suggested it would help. I was offered a hysterectomy and bladder repair a couple of weeks ago but have decided to wait and see how bad it's going to get. At the moment I have 2 cats so have to lug cat litter and I have a baby grandson I look after sometimes which means lots of lifting. I know that if I have the op I'll have to be really careful and intend to be if I do go down that route but I shall have to wait until my grandson doesn't need lifting anymore and my elderly cats are no more.
Tc 10 years ago I attended physio classes and was taught how to do kegels. Recently I was told it was best to do them whilst lying flat so I've started doing that. Having said this though my pelvic tone is next to non existant even though I've been doing them religiously. I was told that possibly I have nerve damage from childbirth so maybe the prolapse has been there for a very long time and lack of oestrogen has allowed it to get worse.

[choc57]

I'm afraid I've tried ring pessaries but they won't work for me. I was so looking forward to my appointment coming through and felt a pessary was the answer to my problems. The first 3 fell out and my fourth one stayed in place but was very painful as it put pressure on my coccyx. The only one I could have would mean an end to my sex life and I'm not ready for that just yet. I really envy you that you've found success with a ring. I think it was a cube I was offered which apparently I might be able to remove for sex but I've heard they create a lot of suction and I'd be frightened of removing it

[Tc]

That's good to hear McKay. My mum gave up cos it kept falling out but she wasnt offered a size  alternative.

Choc. I'm a bit confused as I thought removing uterus would create a bigger issue for prolapse than if it was in place. But maybe not if everything is pulled back into place with the prolapse surgery.

With kegals I was told to first do lying down as gravity is on your side, then sitting, then as you get stronger standing.

If you last saw physio 10 years ago choc  I think you could ask to see one again. They grade your prolapse and your pelvic function.

Surgery does seem to be a last resort nowadays  my mum(postTAH)  had one unsuccessful and second time the mesh which seemed to be successful for her but its controversial isnt it?

I found a very interesting site about prolapse I will see if I can link it tommorow

Mine appeared very quickly after having ovaries removed and then my gynae said
"if  it progresses we can operate so no worries"  So flippant, the same gynae who removed a healthy ovary to negate the need for future surgery.  Ever feel you've been sold a dud? Xxx

[choc57]

Yes I tried 4 different sizes each one slightly bigger than the last so I can't understand why I went from the 3rd one coming out to the 4th one staying put but causing so much pain. Maybe because I've got a uterine and bladder prolapse it's more difficult to hold in place and pessaries are pushed out. I only saw the surgeon 2 weeks ago when I was offered surgery. She told me that they don't use mesh here which was a relief and said that I should consider surgery as a last resort as it might not work and would probably need to be redone. She said she would do a hysterectomy and stitch back my bladder. It wasn't until I got home that I wondered why she hadn't suggested stitching back my uterus instead of removal because like you say there's nothing then to hold up my vaginal walls and more chance that other organs can descend. I wish I'd thought and asked her x

[Taz2]

I don't think it's possible to haul the uterus back up but you are right in that by removing it other prolapses can occur. The worrying one is vaginal vault prolapse which a certain percentage of women experience following hysterectomy although some surgeons do attach the top of the vagina to the spine I think? Mine is apparently still holding up ok but my bowel has never been the same since the operation and I've just undergone a "defecating proctogram MRI" to see how the bowel is lying. That was an interesting experience!

Since the hysterectomy, though, the relief from the feeling of pressure and everything dropping out has been wonderful. The anterior (bladder) repair is apparently holding up well too although I have been getting some incontinence issues. The uro gynae team believe my pelvic floor may be too tight now. It's a mystery!!

Taz x

[Tc]

Taz. Good to hear things are holding in place.
That defecating proctovram  sounds grim. :   when will you get your results?

Xx