Prolapsed Bladder

Hi A., I don't have this problem but my mother does. She had 5 children. She has had to have the surgery more than once. The first time they did it she didn't have the hysterctomy and ended up with more problems with the bladder down the road. Her doctor did give her something that she could place in her vagina and it would kind of hold her bladder in place, but she said it didn't work very well (I don't know much about it - didn't really want to hear about that area of my mom!). But about 11 years ago she had the surgery for the 2nd time and had the hystorectomy also and that worked for about 10 years. Then a year ago she had to have the surgery again. The doctor said that they have better ways of doing it now than when she had it 11 years ago, the material they use to make a sling for the bladder is better now. But she also is on her feet all day, she works on the line at Ford and it's a very physically stressful job.

My Grandmother also had the same problem many years ago. She had the bladder surgery and hystorectomy and never had another problem and she's 75 now.

Good luck, talk to your doctors. Get a 2nd opion and once you get this all fixed you'll feel much better.

I had the surgery for prolapsed bladder 2 years ago along with a hysterectomy at the same time. The doctor did leave my left ovary for hormonal reasons. I had very good luck with recovery. I was up and moving slowly the same afternoon. I had a small incision in my belly button from the hysterectomy and two very small incisions in my outer vaginal area. So small I did not even know they were there. The doctor told me recovery time was about 6 weeks to get back to normal routine, but I was able to do just about everything except lifting in the first 3 days after I came home the next morning. I was a little sore and only on my feet for short periods at a time, but I felt the overall surgery was worth it. I have not had any problems with either surgery and don't have to worry about my bladder falling out. One benefit I found was that sex was more enjoyable for the both of us since the surgery for my bladder.

My bladder sagged and I had a hysterectomy and my bladder tied up as well and feel much better for it. Have it done and you will feel better as well.

Mom I feel the most important thing you can do is be there to help your children grow to adults-if this means you must do things (surgery/hysterectomy) to save your life from the possibility of CANCER-what are you waiting for? Your children need you,and you do have four wonderful legacies-help them become someone special without the worries of what might have been if you did not take care of yourself. There are medications after surgery to help you and if that is not the way to go-then be strong and remember what is the most important-YOU BEING HERE WITH YOUR FAMILY!!!! By the way after my surgery I could not take anything and I know one can survive-light clothes and a good diet help lots and they repaired my bladder at that time also. All my love to you and take care of yourself! SFM

Hi A.! I hear ya! I am 28 and had a hysterectomy at 26 b/c of endometriosis. I couldn't have any more kids anyway b/c I had had melanoma and they said the pregnancy hormones made it grow more aggressively. So, I also have big time hip issues. And feel like I'm 80 years old!!! But, I can tell you I loooove not having a period! And menopause side effects are non existent:)! I do have occasional hot flashes. But nothing major. I don't have an answer to your prolapsed bladder. But just wanted you to know you're not alone and I feel your pain! Good luck girl! And I'll be praying for you:)!

I had this problem after the birth of my 2nd daughter and I was only 22 when they told me. They said I would lose my bladder control but I never did. EVERYTHING else inside is dropped too and it causes Chronic constipation and I spent years with bladder infections. But I have learned how to manage.

I take large amounts of vitamin c which helps with my frequency symptoms and I make sure I go as often as I need to. I had to learn how to live on less sleep at night because I do have to get up and go a lot.

I went on to have 2 more children and I'm 42 now. I've lived with this for 20 years without any major problems.

Now, saying that, things have changed these days. When they first told me this they said I'd be bed bound most of 6 weeks if I chose to have the surgery. But now I've read it's a much more simple procedure with about a 2 week recovery time. If I ever lose my bladder control I'd consider getting it done.

Suzi

My mother had this after baby number five, not sure how many years after. She opted for the hysterectomy, and after she lost many unwanted pounds, she became hypoglycemic, and severely depressed, but SF can't afford to pay for the dr and hormone replacement. But, she didn't have precancerous cells either. I would get a second opinion about the cells before deciding on the hysterectomy for that reason. I know that my adopted mother had a hysterectomy in her 50s, and she had the bladder drop anyway, and has to use a device to keep her insides in the right place, similiar to a diaphragm. You may get away with a support like that, and then add kegels, and you could avoid surgery and the lack of hormones that goes with a hysterectomy, especially since you are so young. If you do the hysterectomy, I would keep your ovaries for the hormones unless and until they are deemed a danger. I would go with what is the most advised according to the cells, and then go from there. My 2cents. :)

I've had the surgery. Best decision I ever made ! I wish I had done it years before I finally did !

P.S.
I went home from the hospital the next day. Most can have it done on an outpatient basis, but my asthma kicked up after the anesthesia, so I spent the night. I was outside taking short strolls the same day I came home. No lifting or straining for about 6 weeks, but other than that, my life went back to normal almost immediately.
My scars are so tiny, that now,almost 6 years later, I can't even see them.

Dear A.,
There IS hope. Kegel excercises DO help, you are most likely not doing them correctly as was I . I had this and all of that and was told nothing could be done until we too were done with having children, and then I was told I was TOO young, and this that and the other. Sooo I just "lived" with the symptoms of this and they did nothing but get worse and now I am 40. I heard about some new non evasive procedure that dealt with the reflexology of the muscles that connect to this area of the body, and that coupled with physyical therapy that is now made available for this very common but not NORMAL women's issue. The massage therapy was awesome, but didn't really notice a ton of difference in the effects, loved it, it felt great on your feet/ankles, lol, but that is about it . Ha Ha. However....... The therapy consists of doing the kegels , BUT the female therapist assists you in doing them in the correct way. I did them right away after every child or so I thought and come to find out that, me , and most other women, just don't really DO them correctly??? Now HOW I asked could I have NOT known HOW ? Silly right? ... I don't know, but I wasn't getting any better , so I gave up ....Soo for 9 years now , yes almost 10 years I was wearing a huge poise pad everyday/ four times a day and the prospect for surgery didn't carry any better hope other than a partial support for at best 5-10 years and then it would have to be redone! Hyst. is just not an option ...too evasive and the risk is just to great in my opinion for other issues. So sure you don't pee on yourself but then you are a mess physically otherwise down the line... so just not my deal. MY hubby got fixed, and I take nutritional supplements, live our life chiropractically, I have began an excercise program through the physical therapy section at the hospital, and have lost 14 pounds and new lease on my life. I am down to just the smaller size pads now with no leakage unless I sneeze and have just drank liqid prior. HUGE difference from where I was for 10 years A.! AND that is JUST since October 7th of this year!!! So one month. Yes ONE month. I went through 10 years of demeaning experience to DAILY annoyance of wearing a huge, smelly pad and leakage at all times during even normal activity... SOOO a doctor who says kegels don't work is a flat LIAR, sorry. They DO, if you are doing them correctly!

SEARCH the internet!....on the holistic places too, because they seek for ways to avoid surgery. Remember hospitals for the most part get kick backs for surgery procedures, so I bet they do want to do TWO types all in one swoop. Woww! Bless your heart...
Anyways.... the OTHER cool thing is... they also gave me this little take home unit to insert in that effected area :O), and it helps to give you a little "feedback" "biofeedback unit" like beep if you are squeezing hard enough to effect that area and DO anygood in strengthening the pelvic floor.They also offered another unit that would insert and use electronic waves of stimulation that stimulate that area to do the work for your muscles and you adjust the levels that you are comfortable with. They said actually they wanted me to do the other first, and Me too to be honest :O). IF they found that I couldn't get any feedback on my own, then the other was my next option. BUT if you can get any kind of squeeze there is hope! AND I couldn't even brush my teeth without leaking urine, and immediately standing near any running water, or just getting in and out of the car, I couldn't run, walk , sit, stand without leakage, and most often it was severe..... SOOO if you are not that far gone :O), then I tell you there is HOPE.
I can even run for small spurts of time. and take heart, MY physical therapist said that she even has had HUGE muscle men and healthy women whose ability to "work out" this muscle that controls this... and they can't even do some of the excercises that she helped me get strong enough to do. IE> Lay flat on the floor. Pull yourself up onto your elbows in a type of "push up" if you will, but keep your legs straigt and lift your entire body up , toes pointed into the floor, and just lift up off the floor from your forearms/elbows on the floor, upper body NOT arching your back :O)
Or try this : .... lay flat on your back and lift both your legs without ...yes WITHOUT ANY ARCH in your back :O) Not even a little. Sounds easy, but most people don't have the lower abdominals, or the pelvic floor muscles to achieve this, but I do now :O) .....

Thanks for letting me share what I have just gone through and that there is hope WITHOUT surgery. AND there is always several other DR.'s opinions out there as well, even if you have been with the same one all your LIFE! Trust me , YOU are worth those other opinions, and so are your beautiful children and loving husband.

The kegle exercises are a good idea anyway so those muscles are stronger but as the doctor said, won't fix the condition. If you aren't totally convinced surgery is your only option, you could get a second opinion from another doctor. I would go ahead and have the surgery. Look at it as a fresh start for yourself. If you're like most Mom's, we tend to neglect our own self-care (I do). Maybe a few small changes would make you feel better. Try changing something in your diet for the better: drink skim milk to cut down on caleries, same amount of calcium, less fat, cheaper; get moving-dance with the kids in the living room, walk the steps a few extra times a day; get a new haircut or hairstyle; take a shower or bath without interruption from the kids; rent a movie you want to watch from Redbox; treat yourself (can be a small thing like a cup of coffee from Quiktrip or whatever you like). Just do some nice things for yourself. I hope this makes you feel better. Take care of yourself! M.

I haven't had the prolapsed bladder issue, but I did have a hysterectomy at age 28. I was trying to have a second child at the time and the doctor noticed some tumors on the ovaries that stopped all attempts to get pregnant.

In my case he removed both ovaries and this required hormones for the next 25 years, but I certainly didn't miss the monthly periods and cramps. Not needing birth control devices was also a plus. I never did regret having the surgery and you also get the plus of missing "change of life" hot flashes and things like that. I have never had a hot flash in my life. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment if I were you. Having pre-cancer cells isn't a good thing, and your doctor may be able to leave an ovary for the hormone needs.

You are not falling apart either. You're a smart woman that needs to take care of a health issue and then, get on with life.