prolapsed bladder, advice wanted please

I had a vaginal wall prolapse about 10 years ago and after consultation, exercises and great discomfort I decided on a hysterectomy. Honestly, it was a vast improvement.
More recently my bladder ( and other organs) have dropped a bit so I use hormone cream.
I was offered a pessary but they couldn't find one to fit!

When my 4 babies were born, I wasn't warned about prolapses in later life!
My DD had C sections so perhaps, hopefully, she won't have this trouble.

I look at the photos of gt grandmother who gave birth 12 times and wonder how she kept it all in!

PS. More advice: don't offer to lift anything heavy ever again!

After 10 years of successfully treating my prolapse with a ring pessary I now have a problem retaining the pessary. A Gellhorn pesssary was tried but found to be very uncomfortable and also difficult to stay in place. I can gently push the prolapse back in place but obviously this is not an ideal solution.
My consultant Gynaecologist/urologist (who has treated me for the past 10 years) now feels surgery is my best option, he recommends a Colpocleisis operation for an "elderly very active 84 year old". this being the less invasive prolapse op. I have every confidence in him but would love to hear the experiences of anyone who has had this operation.

Yes, Whiff a pessary may be on the cards..I shall be re-assessed early July to see if the exercises have made improvements. It's encouraging to hear of your friend's experience.
I have had a look at the Kegel8, MarinaL but haven't made my mind up about it...I wonder if it does a better job than me? Hard to know if you are doing the exercises properly. It's not like developing your biceps!
Thanks, MissAdventure, I will look. The only advice I've really been given is not to do heavy lifting or get constipated and strain. There are other things you wonder about like hauling a heavy vacuum cleaner around (I'm using my light one at the mo) or digging big holes in the garden in my heavy clay soil. The nurse saw no reason to stop gardening except for no longer hauling heavy sacks of stuff around.
I've cancelled my June holiday sadly, now to find one that's less stressful luggage hauling-wise.

EkwaNimitee my friend has 2 prolapses one in her womb but the worst one is on her vagina and it's close to her bladder. After wanting years to see a consultant. He did lot of tests she paid privately . Once he had the results he fitted her with a pessary ring last week and she can not believe the difference it's made. It has pushed the bulge in her vagina back and feels better than she has done for years. I don't know if this information is of any help to you. She will be 64 in a couple of months.

It's an Australian site, but seeing as it's from "down under" it seems apt.
Lots of helpful advice there.

This may be helpful for self care steps you can take.

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bladder-prolapse

I have the same problem as you and a similar age. The vagifem will help with the exercises as it lubricates. Have a look online at Kegel8, it's a machine with a probe which you use internally and it does the exercises for you while you lie in bed or read. It's not cheap though. There are other lubricants you can use if you can't have the oestrogen. Your GP wasn't very helpful, they are supposed to check your records before prescribing anything! My GP also said to avoid getting constipated as that wouldn't help. Sorry about your holiday and Good Luck with the exercises, they do work if you persevere.

Thank you.
I am disappointed Marydoll but I shall also be relieved to be not going…it’s not worth the anxiety or the possible damage it might cause.
You’re all encouraging me to keep being pro-active so I will be!

I haven’t experienced this myself but my mother has had the same problem for a number of years, she was initially given exercises to strengthen her pelvic floor which helped then after a few years things worsened & she had a ring fitted by the nurse at the Continence clinic. As the years have gone by things have got progressively worse and she now has a grade 3 prolapse which has caused her a lot of problems and discomfort. Now, at 87 she is considered too old for surgery and she says she wouldn’t want to go through the op anyway as she is quite frail so just has to live with it. If the same thing were to happen to me & the exercises didn't improve thingsI would push for an operation to do a repair as I’ve seen the negative impact it has had on her life. She had a very difficult birth with her first baby, a back to back presentation and also had to have a hysterectomy in her 40’s. I’m sure a-lot of her problems stem from this. I know it’s difficult with appointments now but I would try and get something done about it if you feel it’s getting worse or at least push for an appointment with a consultant to discuss your options. We don’t always realise the damage lifting heavy things (or GC) can do until it’s too late. Wishing you luck.

Ps I was 71 when I had the surgery, I have a bit of asthma, but got through the op with no problems.

I think you are doing the right thing to cancel your holiday. My bladder seemed to get lower and lower! So I asked my GP for a referral to a lady gynaecologist/urologist (I am v shy!)
They, in turn, referred me to a lady surgeon.
For many reasons, I would never take HRT.
I was certainly too far gone to improve things with pelvic exercises.
Good luck with everything.

EkwaNimitee, I am so sorry that you have to cancel your holiday, you must be so disappointed. I can empathise, as it has happened to me a few times, due to my unpredictable health issues.

I hope you get things sorted, but you should really try and contact contact your GP again and explain your worries. It's not easy, is it? ?

I have had an unhelpful e-consult with the doctor. She didn't commit herself on whether I should continue with my holiday or not, it's up to me but apparently they will provide a certificate for the insurance company. I'm going to cancel it. While I can apparently get assistance at British mainline stations, this holiday tours Scandinavia and the tour company notes say I need to cope with my own luggage. It won't do me any good I'm sure, the bladder seems to have slipped further down in spite of the exercises. Can these exercises not actually help if the bladder has slipped too far?
Also, I read the manufacturer's leaflet, "Do not use Vagifem if....you have ever had...deep vein thrombosis( DVT)' , yes I have though some 20 years ago. Plus the Warnings include if you have a history of migraines..my adult life was made miserable by them and I still get mild ones. Also some 10 years ago, I had a very large polyp removed from the uterus which the gynaecologist said may have been aggravated by oestrogen and could grow again. It was fortunately non malignant.
There was no space to detail these conditions on the e-consult form, I could only mention I'd had conditions that seemed to indicate I shouldn't be using the Vagifem. The doctor didn't bother to ask what conditions I'd had and just told me it was very safe. You don't get that impression reading the leaflet!
I can't decide whether to get back to them or to just not use the tablets. I just don't want to risk a clot whether a DVT or a stroke, my grandparents died of the latter.
Sorry to go on, just upset because it seems to have worsened and the doc's a bit gung-ho about the HRT.
I'm in my late seventies by the way, it seems a bit much to be starting HRT now in spite of the flabby vagina.

I have had a rectocele for about 9 years, it started after I lifted a three year old grandchild who was very big for his age and I had also done a lot of heavy work in the garden so you are wise to avoid heavy lifting. A ring pessary was ok for me until three years ago when I had breast cancer and had to stop the oestrogen pessaries and had to take oestrogen blockers. The effect of these two things has been that vaginal atrophy has started, the ring pessary won’t stay in place and I have to manage without one, I find control underwear helpful.. So an oestrogen supplement is very important. I am going to ask the doctor if I can take the chance and resume the oestrogen pessaries. A few years ago I did push for surgery but the consultant I saw deterred me and I wish I had been more assertive. I suspect I am too old for surgery now but my sister-in-law who is two years younger than me and is in a different health authority has been told to just ask the consultant if she wants surgery. You are at the beginning of the journey and may be able to reverse things if you do regular pelvic floor exercises. I believe there are exercises you should avoid so some research in that area would help.

I had a prolapsed womb and bladder and initially had a pessary fitted. It did work for a while, then eventually I had a hysterectomy and bladder repair about fifteen years ago. My problem was caused by three difficult births, which in those days, you were told to just put up with.

I couldn't have a general anaesthetic, so had a spinal block and sedation. At one point I could hear the theatre staff telling risque jokes. There was silence, when told them to behave themselves!

I have never looked backed, since my op. It made a huge difference to my life, as I also had heavy bleeding and was still teaching at the time.

Thank you all. I suspect the pessary awaits me sooner or later, that doesn't bother me. Reassuring to know the operation worked joannapiano, I don't think I'm bad enough for that right now and I certainly don't want to get that way by risking hauling cases about. I'm going to see what help might be available, I'm travelling with a group but will be travelling solo to the airport.

This is such a problem , learn your Pelvic Floor exercises and get used to tightening your ‘ undercarriage’ every time you put any pressure there . I would highly recommend asking for assistance on your travels , please don’t try to brave it out and lift the cases, you will do more damage !

I had a prolapsed bladder and part bowel 3 years ago. I went for the operation option and it was all stitched back into place. Wasn’t allowed to lift anything heavy for 3 months but haven’t had any problems since.
My sister in law had a prolapsed uterus and bladder at the same time and had a pessary fitted which is changed every 3 months. She has heart problems so didn’t go for the surgery option.
She says it works ok.
We both have 3 children and think that took a toll on our bodies!

I concur with all those suggestions

I'm sorry to hear about your prolapse, EkwaNimitee. I don't have experience myself, but our dear Mum had his problem later in life. I remember taking her to the Gyne clinic to have a ring fitted, it seemed to support things back into place. Perhaps this would help you?
About your luggage, I would certainly recommend a four wheeled trolley suitcase, so much easier to manoeuvre than the two wheeled versions. Also, please enquire about assistance at the stations, I'm sure help can be arranged to lift your case on to the trains.
Wishing you well for your recovery and your holiday. ??