I'm falling apart-***WARNING*** 'female' issues

[Crazyredhead]

***WARNING*** This post contains issues about womans parts and may not be suitable for all readers. Sorry guys, this means you.

First I am going on my 5th hernia repair. When I first started running, my gallbladder died. I layed off of it for a couple of months. Now, I've started running again and I now found out that I'm incontinent and have a prolapsed uterus with a cystocele. Basically, my pelvic floor muscles are so weak that my bladder and uterus is coming down and out the vaginal wall. I am seeing a physical therapist to work on strenthening them but if it doesnt' work a hysterectomy may be in order. My doctor said that if I get pregnant (hell no!!!) again that it would be considered high risk cause the problem could get worse and/or it could kill me.

Now I knew I had a weak bladder but I never imagined that my body was weak in that way. She said that it was due to having five 10 lbs babies. The muscles and nerves were stretched and damaged in the process.

Now I am not against the hysterectomy it is just the thought that I would need one. I have my family and I don't want no more kids. She just blew me out of the water with that one.

So now I have to do massive kegals, day and night, in bed and while watching tv. She said that the muscles down there are good, they just fatigue easily.

It explained a lot though. I was wondering why when ever anyone turned on the water, anywhere, I had to go like a racehorse and most of the time I wouldn't make it. And I couldn't run at all without peeing all over myself. She said that I have to retrain my bladder. I used to be able to go 8 hours without going, now I am lucky if I can last 2 hours.

I'm only 36, I'm scared to turn 50.
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[Barefootgirl]

Yikes. Sounds very unpleasant. This may also be TMI for the squeamish, but you can get a thing called a pelvic floor exerciser to help with your Kegel exercises. You basically put it inside you and hold onto it with your pelvic muscles. Your physical therapist might be able to help you find one.

I'm sure this isn't much consolation for you at the moment, but at least you can do something about your problem. Can you imagine all those poor women in the past who pushed out babies every year or so (and indeed, still do today) - what must their bits have been like?

[Banrion]

A full hysterectomy seems a bit drastic. My hairdresser who is also one of my best friends mother had the same problem, but much worse. She found it when she went to the bathroom one day and actually noticed she could see her uterus drooping out. When the PT and strengthening didn't work, they tried something that the Dr. described as a "bladder hammock". It is some sort of synthetic fabric that they implant to your abdominal muscles to support your bladder and uterus. That helped her out for about 5 years, then she started having other female troubles and had to get the hysterectomy anyway.

[Melxb]

Kegel exercises are the best thing you can do on your own. On a purely personal level, I'm sort of against hysterectomies in general, because so many of them are unnecessary.

I'm in my late 20's, no children, but am in a monogomous, sexually active relationship. I started doing Kegel exercises a few years ago on the advice of my gyno as "preventive exercises" and my female parts feel so healthy and strong. I love doing them and, yes, I've found that I have to urinate less than I did before because my muscles slowly got stronger.

I really, really hope you find a safe resolution. Physical therapy is a great way to start, but I'd get a 2nd or 3rd or 4th opinion before getting a hysterectomy. It just seems so drastic.