Gyne prolapses

Sorry, I can't be of much help, but hope someone else comes along to chat. You must be in such dreadful discomfort.

You poor thing, being in so much pain. That’s rotten at your age. I know how you feel about one thing after another though. I have arthritis in my spine and neck. My arms and hips really hurt, I still get hot flushes at night, I have constant dry lips and itchy ears that drive me to distraction, Morton Neuromas on both feet and yesterday I tripped over my shoe laces and today I can hardly move!!! But I’m 70 and a cancer survivor so not all bad!

I have had a prolapse for about 7 years and the ring pessary that was fitted did help until about 12 months ago, but now it won’t stay in place so I am waiting until I can speak to my GP to request a referral to see if surgery will help. I have the heavy feeling down below and have to sit down more than I would like but I don’t have the pain you describe so I am fortunate in that respect.

I have found that support knickers help a lot, the type that give strong support. In the past I also found that Oestrogen cream applied into the vagina helped a lot too. I think it was called Estriol and I got it on prescription from my GP, I had to stop it after I had breast cancer which was oestrogen receptive. These two things might help you. I hope you get your appointment soon, you are too young to have to put up with this much discomfort.

I have also very recently been diagnosed with a prolapse. It seemed to be quite sudden and really surprised (shocked) me as I am fairly slim, fit and agile. Like cjones98 it feels very uncomfortable sitting down, and there's a peculiar slightly heavy feeling when moving around. I also have a strange feeling of numbness down below. After going through various levels of "triage" at our local surgery, involving receptionists and nurses, I eventually saw a locum doctor who basically told me there wasn't much I could do at this stage expect to do more pelvic floor exercises (prior to last year I have done Pilates regularly). She told me that 50% of women get prolapses in later life, even if they are really fit. Her reasoning was that it was all to do with having had vaginal births. Bit late to tell me that now! Do any gransnetters have any advice or suggestions to help stop it getting worse?

Definitely do pelvic floor exercises every day, avoid heavy lifting, avoid getting constipated but probably the most important way of stopping it getting worse is being on HRT because decline in oestrogen levels is the main cause.

Thanks for that. I was on HRT for about 12 years having been dealing with a horrific menopause for quite a long time until then. Going onto HRT was magic. Couldn't recommend it more! But have now been off it for about 6 years so maybe oestrogen, or rather lack of it, is a large part of the problem. I will try to get back to my GP and see if she can suggest something.

Why my messages are coming up in pink I don't know ...!

Messages in pink - we all get our own messags in pink.
It was introduced a few years ago - I like it, shows where we're up to in a discussion.
I agree with others about the vaginal cream or pessaries. You need a prescription though. I've been on Vagifem for years. Now 85 this month.

ps from what I understand they HRT help to sustain the muscles that support all those heavy organs (womb bladder etc).

I don’t know if pelvic floor exercises could help?

My DD in NZ had an operation for the same reason and it helped a bit. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. It must make everyday life very uncomfortable for you.

Sending hugs

Sorry, I didn’t see the pelvic floor exercises bit early in the post.

I think you will end up having a prolapse repair, it will make all the difference, disappointing the GP wasn't prepared to refer you, but their usual reaction on first appointment is to tell you to go away, and see if you come back, if you do they take you more seriously, it's a form of rationing!

Cases of CV-19 are going down all the time in hospital, stress how much it is affecting your life, and hopefully you can get on the waiting list.

susie511

Thanks for that. I was on HRT for about 12 years having been dealing with a horrific menopause for quite a long time until then. Going onto HRT was magic. Couldn't recommend it more! But have now been off it for about 6 years so maybe oestrogen, or rather lack of it, is a large part of the problem. I will try to get back to my GP and see if she can suggest something.

I wish I had been more assertive about asking for HRT. I was on it for about 8 years in my early sixties and suffered very badly when I was taken off it for reasons which I believe were later found to be not valid. A nurse at the surgery I was registered with a few years ago told me to push to be put back on it, she said she intended to stay on it indefinitely. I wouldn’t be put on it now as I had breast cancer two years ago and the tumour, although small, was oestrogen receptive. I still get hot flushes at the age of 77 especially since I was put on an oestrogen blocker. If you can get HRT go for it, it’s worth asking.