Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Scottishgirl on March 19, 2018, 04:11:27 AM
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Hi again everyone. I have posted about vaginal atrophy and vagifem, which I use and find helpful. I have a new problem perhaps you can help me with. I had a bad bout of diverticulitis just before Xmas, and since then I think I have prolapsed bladder again, maybe because of pressure from bowel. I have had hysterectomy in 2007 and further rectocele surgery in 2015. I had a look down below because of extreme discomfort and to my horror, everything is gaping open and can see several large things protruding, one I presume is my bladder, goodness knows what the other things are I can see. I am wondering if it's a vaginal vault prolapse, because I have no uterus, and other things above my bladder are coming down as well. I have had terrible backache, and now wondering if this is why. Can anyone offer any insight to this. ? Thanks. Love this forum.
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Hi Scottishgirl. I think that vaginal vault prolapse is what concerns most women when they have a hysterectomy. My consultant told me that 40% of women will experience further prolapses after hyster but this can be reduced by the use of HRT to keep tissues stronger.
I'm so sorry that you are going through this especially as you have had further surgery too. It is common for the vaginal walls to collapse leading to rectocele and cystocele.
I've found this information about vaginal vault prolapse which might be useful. http://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/11681Psacrospinous.pdf Please continue to do your pelvic floor exercises every day but I would suggest that you do get yourself an appointment with the GP. Lower back pain is a symptom of vaginal vault prolapse so this could be why you are so uncomfortable. Are you on HRT?
Taz x
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Thank you Taz. At the moment I'm using vagifem, which is helping with vaginal atrophy symptoms. I see a female GP that specialises in this kind of thing on Thursday, and I'll probably get her to refer me to a gynaecologist . I think this is much worse since the diverticulitis as my bowel was very inflamed and swollen. I was in hospital for a week. Maybe the pressure made it worse. Hard to tell. I also worry about sinister things going on with my bladder( I'm an anxious person) . I had a pelvic ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound leading up to my diagnosis of diverticulitis, which was diagnosed by cat scan. And everything was fine, apart from the bowel . I am up to date with colonoscopies etc, so hopefully the female GP can tell me what's going on. She's really good. I also never had the back pain before the diverticulitis, so it could be the prolapse and bowel problems. Very confusing. And worrying.
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Great informative post taz2 x good luck scottishgirl x
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It's understandable that you are concerned but it does seem that prolapse could very easily be the cause of your symptoms so try not to worry too much. Have you had a look at the hysterectomy association UK site? If you search for vaginal vault prolapse in their forum you will get anything that's been posted on there.
Although Vagifem is an excellent product full HRT is more helpful to keep the pelvic floor stronger. A proper programme of pelvic floor exercises set by a pelvic specialist nurse would be useful for you too.
As for symptoms it's important to rest with your legs up to to give pelvic floor ligaments a rest and also not lift things like overloaded shopping bags although you probably know this already having had a hysterectomy. I remember the discomfort from my own prolapse.
Let us know how you get on.
Taz :bighug:
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Thank you Taz. You have been really helpful. I will look at that forum. And I do a lot of walking so I will make sure I elevate my feet when I am seated, funnily enough, I have been doing that, as if my body is instinctively telling me that's what it needs. I will let you know how I get on after appointment.
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Do you find things feel more comfy when you first get out of bed? I used to feel almost normal until things slid down again
Taz x
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Yes most definitely. Much more comfortable in the morning when I get up. Gravity certainly makes things worse!
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I always felt like I could do with a sling in my knickers :o
Taz :)
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Yes I know that feeling! I feel,like I need to push it all back up. ( doesn't work, actually tried it ) 😂
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Hi there Scottish girl
Ive mentioned this before as I have prolapse and having had a hysterectomy and repair helped for a while and then not wanting another op with all the mesh issues I saw on here a lady who had used an inflataball from Stress no more - they have a number of pessaries but this is brilliant and holds up the prolapse , stopped the endless need to pee and any wind issues - I use a small one - started with largest and worked down so suggest you try smallest and work up ; if they are too big they fall out . I don't notice it in at all and remove it every night . Been using it for 2 years - replace every 6 months - makes you feel young again , pm me if u need more info .
It does mention in sales spiel not suitable for hysterectomy but mine works 100%
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That's a great website Winterose I'm very interested in the inflatoball also I've emailed them to ask how I'd know what size to buy,I also got a five quid discount code so that reduces it to £42,anything that saves surgery is worth a try to me many thanks.x
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Just received a reply from them ladies and they have advised go to see gp for accurate sizing before ordering,just thought I'd let you know xx
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My gp tried me with a ring , measured me and said I needed largest size , ring just fell out so I assumed I was huge down below and ordered largest inflataball which worked for a couple of hours and then slid out , worked my way down - it was expensive but anything better than having op - run my own business so another reason for not going to hospital - so bear in mind the gp may not get sizing right . When I got the smallest one I was a little sceptical but it just takes one pump and it fits so well I am unaware of it throughout day - good luck. There are other pessarys but this is so easy and I like the fact it pops out every night . :)
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That's good to know winterose thank you.x
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That's good advice Winterose. Which type of prolapse have you got?
Taz x
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Have you seen the ad for Innova on tv it seems to have a very good success rate so I've decided to invest in it,it's costly but you can do it over 5 monthly payments so I'm taking a gamble on it if it's rubbish I'll return it.think it'll be here in a week so I'll keep you ladies posted.itll also be useful for other family members so I'm not bawking at the cost.xx
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No I haven't seen that - what is it?
Taz x
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Found it! Innovo.
Taz x
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You should be able to get pelvic toners on the NHS by the way. https://www.pelvictoner.co.uk/the-pelvic-toner/nhs-approved/available-on-prescription. Do you have a prolapse Daisydot? If so it is advisable to consult a medical professional before using Innovo especially if you have had pelvic surgery. Others on here have used toners so may be worth searching to see which ones they are using?
Taz x
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Hi taz .I didn't think it mattered wether I had a prolapse or not as I know regardless I have to work on my pelvic floor muscles and this seems a good way to do it.I also didn't know I could get pelvic toner on the nhs although I doubt they'll provide that to us useless over 60 s now,that's their opinion anyway when it comes to hrt or help in my case.thank you for mentioning these things anyway.I have not had pelvic surgery for prolapse.many thanks taz2.x
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Sorry I only wondered if you were trying to improve prolapse symptoms as you mentioned the inflataball which I thought was for prolapse? It's great you haven't got one! ;D
If you are suffering with any pelvic floor related problems then a toner would be available to you on the NHS no matter what your age but if you just want to maintain strength then you probably would have to buy one. I have had different pelvic floor exercise programmes set for me by the pelvic floor speciality nurse and these work just as well as a toner but I can see that without specialist input then a toner may be the answer.
Let us know how you get on.
Taz x
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Hi taz no need to apologise your advice was very welcome.I don't honestly know if I have a prolapse but suspect I do as I know it's very common after hysterectomy and none of these geniuses I see ever bother to examine me and to be honest I'm usually so ticked off I wouldnt want them to lol.its been 20 years since my surgery so it wouldn't surprise me as I always have backache so I thought after reading all this stuff on here it would be a good idea to try at least do something positive to help myself as I will never have surgery again for anything if I can avoid it.That toner looks like a medieval torture instrument to me honestly lol I'm the worlds biggest coward.many thanks again taz xx
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Taz2 - I have rectocele and cystocele , hysterectomy was 12 years ago and signs of prolapse appeared
6 years later at end of day when tired and then got steadily worse , if d known about pessarys then my prolapse might have been kept manageable
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I'd never ever looked downstairs until I got va and the bleeding was bad it turned out I had two big raw sores just at entrance either side of vagina that were bleeding and of course when I peed the pain was horrific ,gp said blood in urine was cancer scare so referred me to urologist for cystoscope without examining me and I just knew something wasn't right hence the use of mirror. I was so glad I did this and refused the cystoscope because I wouldn't get to speak to the urologist till after nurse did it and twice I argued and cancelled appointment and twice they said the same thing.I then went to practice nurse and begged for estriol cream after doing my own research like most of us do,she prescribed it but still never examined me then when I tried to get it again docs refused it because I wouldn't have the invasive cystoscope done,very very petty.Im now at a stage now where I'm assuming I have a prolapse as I can see something fleshy and my urethra when I look ( I can't leave that bloody mirror alone now lol)at 60 years of age I basically new nothing about my anatomy as we just didn't go there as youngsters and like you say winterose if we knew certain things early enough then we could prevent later problems,it's no wonder I have no faith in any gp I've come across in my life I've never met an ounce of kindness or compassion from one I'm sad to say.xx
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Sorry that you've had bad experiences of GPs Daisydot. I've had three cystoscopies just to check that bladder was healthy and they were fine. If you do get asked to have another one there's really nothing to worry about and I found it reassuring to know that my emptying mechanism was 'excellent' ;D.
Winterose - it's a shame that we're not given more help and advice when first developing pelvic floor problems. My own GP practice have been very good with referrals and I had a lot of sessions at the urinary/pelvic floor health clinic but things still slid southwards sadly.
Taz x
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Well I have to say it was this brilliant forum that led me to the inflataball :)