Carol's  Story

Finding my Prolapse

My prolapse story starts at the birth of my first child, (I believe). I was in labor for 4 days and 5 nights. I had a vaginal birth at the end of it all and an episeotmy. I was close to having a c section toward the end just due to prolong labor. After all that labor and pain, I did not want to have a section... I told my doc if he was going to do that he should have done it two days into labor. I refused and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.. 7 lbs and 11oz. Not too big, not too small.

About 6 mos after that delivery, I would go to put a tampon in and somewhere way up there, there was this thing. Kind of blocking the way of the tampon, a little different in there. Not knowing anything, I chalked it up to birth. I had no symptoms, and no pain, just always this thing in the way, pretty far up.

Six years later, I got pregnant with my second. All was fine and about in my 2nd month pregnant, I was at work, waitressing. I felt this thing down there. Like a tampon, but it was not a tampon, I was pregnant, no need for that! I was scared, I went through the busy part of dinner, and then I spoke to my bosses girlfriend who happened to be a nurse. She said it sounded like my cervix and asked my if I knew what a prolapse was. I said no! All I knew was my cervix was not suppose to be there! I made an apt at my ob/gyn the next day. They brought me right in. I was scared and just wondered about how this will affect the baby and carring it. My ob had did an exam, standing and lying down. He said that I had a prolapse, and was very clam about it. He tried to push it back up and then when I stood, it would come right back down. (I still dont know why he did that, like it was really going to solve the problem!) He then started to explain things to me. He said the baby would be just fine, and not to worry about that part. I was relieved. He explained that the uterus is like a hammock with a hole in it. The baby is forcing everything down in the hole right now. I was then really scared. I thought the more weight that was in there the worse it would be. Yet this was not true. He drew pictures of the uterus and the baby being little and falling into that hole in the hammock , then he said once that baby got some weight to it., it would like even out in that hammock and not be able to fit down the hole. He was right... I pictured it like a hammock with a hole... put a marble on the hammock it will go to the hole , and fall down. Put a basket ball on the hammock, and it will stay up and in, cant fit down the hole... This is how it was from my 3rd month on to the birth... better than ever and tucked up there nice and far... Best I had it in years.

The delivery of this baby was fairly easy... I was in labor for 6 hours... much better than 4 days! When I was dilating my cervix was coming down with the baby... at about 6 cms. My doc pulled the cervix up and over the babys head... WHOW that hurt! But it saved me many hours more of labor.. and that cervix had to get out of the way... Two hours after he did that my second beautiful ,healthy baby girl was born... I had another epis with this one too... she was also 7lbs, and 14 oz.! Again not too big, not too small. I healed fine and had a wonderful experience this time because my labor was not so exhausting, I was impressed I did not even miss a night of sleep!

Now the story of the prolapse is here... full swing a # 3 prolapse. I delt with it, decided to do nothing about it... and did just that for 4 years.... At every one of my ob/gyn phys. my doc would say when I am sick of dealing with it we could talk about options.. Thinking that this meant a hystro. I decided again and again live with the pressure, the pain, and the heavy feeling every day! By now I was back waitressing and on my feet all day too.... Yuk!

                         Researching and Meeting My Uro/gyn
I had had enough after those 4 years... and decided to start the search on repair, this was the summer of 98. Let me tell you, as some of you know, there was nothing out there! I started on the net.. found nothing, then went to my ob... he told me about a hyst. I told him no, I did not want one.. I wasn't sure that I did not want anymore children... I was divorced after my second child, and got remarried to a wonderful man! He has no children (other than ours) and we were sure we wanted to have another one. I told the doc removing my uterus was out! he then referred me to a pelvic floor recontructive surgeon in Albany,, about an hour from my house... I live in upstate NY. I went into see him with a million questions and I am not kidding... I had a lot of tests like uyrodynamamics and some FSH (hormone levels).... I  Was graded as a number four UP , an intestine prolapse... and weakened vaginal wall.

After talking with the surgeon for more than an hour, I went full force... I liked him, He agreed with keeping the uterus and explained that taking it out was not  the answer... He has seen women who have a prolapse and have the uterus removed and then other organs begin to fall in... blatter, rectum, ect... He said that these women needed more work in there then just having the uterus removed. I agreed! I also asked him about getting pregnant again and if I should wait until I was sure I was done having children to have this surgery. He replied that he has had some women become pregnate and do fine after a resuspension. Ideally he would like to see me have the baby and then the surgery, but I couldnt bare the pain anymore, and decided to take my chances, as I wasnt ready for the baby just yet .

. I proceeded with yet more questions. and more... and then I asked him many questions on a vaginal surgery vs abdom.. and he told me that the success rate it higher with a abdom surgery.. He said that a lot more work can get done in there and he would not beable to reach as well.. I said I am not choosing this based on what is easier for you.. He laughed and told me that it was my choice... I debated and choice to do nothing until my next visit.. I went home and researched more. and more... From what little info I did get , I found that a abdom. surgery would be longer term sussess rate.. so that is what I choose. My surgery was sched. for a month later. Aug of 98.

                          Surgery Time
Scared oh yes, but I went on with my summer and tried real hard to prepare myself and my children for my upcoming stay in the hospital which was an hour from home. (Had to prepare my poor hubby too!) On Aug 10th in I went... I also decided to have an epidural for the surgery, I wanted to be awake... and I have had so many problems from being put under I did not want it! I had to fight the medical staff, for this.. It would be a 5 hour surgery and they thought I was nuts... But that is the way it went down.. awake on a table for 5 and one half hours... Half way thru I guess I feel asleep and the doc said that I went down there to help him at one point and put my hand right in on the uterus.. ha ha. I did not know... wasn't too funny though, afterward I was pumped up with so many antibiotics it was making me soooo sick. The pain,,, well it was like nothing I had ever experienced before.. It was bad for the first couple of days.. They had me up walking a bit on day 2 and on day 4 I was released!!! Yeppee! It was finally over... I looked forward to this day for so long, I could not wait to heal and feel the results! About two weeks after surgery I was so much better , I could walk upright, and I was not so sore at all. I had to follow all my restrictions for 12 weeks. No lifting over 10 lbs.. (that is not much) and no sex, no work, not much of anything but a lot of healing. I felt so wonderful after that point... I was together again, NO MORE BACK ACHE! for the first time in 4 long years.! I was so glad with my choice to have this done.

                                         My Life Following Surgery
My story is pretty lengthy at this point but I must bring you all to date.. I went on working after my 12 weeks ,and then at my last check up in February I was given the ok , to try to conceive my third child... Much to my surprise, I was pregnant a month or so later.... That was fast.. I had also had some infertility problems in the past , for my second child. I guess no longer. I am now 10 weeks preg. and doing great.. all the parts are holding up like a charm! No problems related to the prolapse. Both my surgeon and my OB see no problems with having a full term, healthy baby. There is a question of a c- section vs. a vaginal delivery.. As some of you know I am researching that right now.. My docs say that a c section is the best choice to hold all that surgery up, that a vaginal would be risking the surgery.. So as for now I am leaning toward a section. Unless I find of few of us out therethat have had a vaginal deliver after surgery, with a great outcome. Well this is the story and I will keep you all posted on the pregnancy and the delivery. And of course how all holds up. Thanks for all your support.

                                       My Update 01/03/01
Well my thrid child is here, a boy and he is a year old!  I did end of having a c section just to make sure that no damage was done to the resuspension. All went really well... he was taken section two weeks early so I could be sure not to go into labor.  He was 6lbs and 6oz..  little in my book :)  But very healthy indeed!  I was so relieved when it was all over and he was fine.  Now to see what my damage was from carring him and delivery...   It was not too many days later and I knew everything stayed in place!  My ob who did the delivery reassured me that the mesh placement was great and no sign of anything falling down. The ob and my uro/gyn had been in contact, and went over my operation report together.  The ob knew the placement of the mesh, and where not to go in there.   It was a complete success!   I hope this can help some of you women out, who want to become pregnate again after prolase repair... it can happen.  If anyone needs any further information or just to "talk" feel free to post me or e mail me at uprise3@hotmail.com  Hugs, Carol