topic Re: Pessary help. in Wellness

Pessary help.

TennisCaptain — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 18:55:47 GMT

I just got fitted for my second pessary in 3 weeks. I feel it makes my incontinence worse. I don't want any surgery. Everything I read about them, says they're great. I do know how to insert them and have no trouble doing it. But, it just doesn't work. Does anyone else find this also. Or am I the only one on Earth that a pessary doesn't help?

Re: Pessary help.

lolakimono — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:04:40 GMT

I can't answer your question, but I did find this site that might be helpful.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949074/

Re: Pessary help.

TennisCaptain — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:08:13 GMT

Thanks lolakimono. I've read every thing the internet had to offer. That's why I came here. There is nothing about it not working.

Re: Pessary help.

funwun — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:31:33 GMT

I spoke to my Mom about your situation, since she has had a pessary for many years and it works well for her. She asked if you still feel a drop because this may be a sizing issue...pessarys come in different sizes. In her opinion, it could also be a fitting problem...she suggested you return to your doctor and have him/ her reinsert it properly. She visits her doctor regularly (every few months) to have it removed, cleaned and reinserted. Good luck...hope this helps you.

Re: Pessary help.

TennisCaptain — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:35:16 GMT

Funwun, I've been fitted twice. My Doctor tried to go to the next size up, but ouch, that didn't work. But thanks for asking your Mom for me.

Re: Pessary help.

HerRoyaLioness — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 19:43:06 GMT

There are some women a pessary does not work well for and for some it will not work at all and that is usually a size/fitting issue.

Depending on your prolapse and other factors, a pessary may not be an option. Unfortunately I don't think there are too many other options besides surgery (make sure it is done by a uro-gynecologist who is experienced in these types of surgeries, don't be afraid of the "mesh" scare - talk to the dr) or wearing an undergarment for incontinence.

Anyway, I wish you well and please do let your dr know the issues you are having with it.

Re: Pessary help.

TennisCaptain — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 02:19:47 GMT

Thanks Lannie, I did talk to my doctor about the surgery. He also told me the "mesh' is not the same. I just don't think I want to do that. I am doing exercises that I hope will help. I'm just so disappointed that the pessay didn't work. And now I'm out $300 and have two useless pessaries. But I had to try. I also heard the surgery doesn't always work. My Mother in law had it without success. I'm a very active person, I play tennis, weight lift, hike, a personal trainer. I read such wonderful things about the pessary, Well, maybe the kegel exercises will work.

Re: Pessary help.

Silverandgold — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 02:38:12 GMT

I have a pessary for 2 yrs and it works for me. I should have gotten it sooner, but I was scared off by what I read. I also did not want surgery so the uro-gynecologist suggested I try the pessary. Finally, I decided to give it a try. Mine is for a prolapsed uterus (which is quite severe). I have the ring with support, which I can take out whenever I want to myself. I generally take it out at least once a wk to clean it, but I put it right back as it helps hold everything in place . My problem really wasn't incontinence though. I was not having those issues, mine was merely the dropped uterus. That is why I didn't want surgery, as often times, you are left with incontinence issues, or the surgery needs to be re-done again in a short time, etc. Sorry you are having problems, but perhaps it isn't the right kind or the right fit. (there are many variations). I was lucky, it took less than 5 minutes for the fit & I didn't really have problems (which quite honestly I was expecting). Good luck.

Re: Pessary help.

noseycat — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 04:20:25 GMT

My gynecologist tried either 2 or 3 pessarys on me and they were all very uncomfortable and I could not wear any of them. I just went ahead and had the hysterectomy and that ended all of my prolapse problems. I just wish I had done it sooner.

Re: Pessary help.

fllady — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 05:32:08 GMT

Hi,I just had surgery on 6th of February.Spent one night in hospital.Did not have any pain,best thing I have ever done.

Re: Pessary help.

Love orchids — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 06:12:42 GMT

O/P I so share in your frustration. I badly want the pessary to work in order to avoid surgery.

My problem is the same as silverandgold, uterine prolapse, but like you I have probably tried every pessary in the inventory and they won't stay in for but a few minutes - and I have been fitted with various sizes. The only one that stays in for me is the one with the knob and that even came out once when I had a BM. But the problem with that one for me was the knob seemed to irritate the v@gina. Like you I have no problem inserting and removing them myself, however they want you to keep them in and not constantly remove them, probably because they damage or irritate the tissues too much. About six mos. ago I started having some incontinence if I didn't get to the bathroom as soon as I felt the urge. Do you have stress or urge incontinence, or both?

I consulted with the urogyn a few weeks ago and surgery does not sound promising for me at this time. I have asthma and cough frequently (which was a major contributor to my prolapse) so my concern was blowing all the surgical repair apart post surgery when I cough. The urogyn said that would be a concern. Plus like someone said above, and the urogyn confirmed, 20-25% of the repairs don't "take" the first time or further repair in needed after 1 year. So I am between a rock and a hard place. When I lose my patience with this, I plan to go back to the NP that does the pessary fitting and try again. I am hoping they will come out with some new and improved pessary. I have strong pelvic floor muscles and I do kegels, but my prolapse still progressed to the advanced stage.

The way my gyn explained it to me was that sometimes the bladder just needs to be tacked up if it isn't sagging badly, and a sling is not needed. But I don't know if that means that maybe later a sling might be needed. She said the mesh sling is made of nylon. But it seems like in your case kegels/exercises would really help and maybe you wouldn't need surgery. Wow, those pessaries sure are expensive. The ones I have taken home didn't cost me anything as they were covered by my medical plan.

Consult with a urogyn and see what they say. Good luck and keep us posted.

Re: Pessary help.

betteb — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:23:12 GMT

On 3/1/2014 noseycat said:
My gynecologist tried either 2 or 3 pessarys on me and they were all very uncomfortable and I could not wear any of them. I just went ahead and had the hysterectomy and that ended all of my prolapse problems. I just wish I had done it sooner.

Everybody is different, but this seems to me to be the logical answer to the problem

I had a hyst years ago for fibroids so I know what's involved. They took my ovaries as well due to cysts, but if it's done for prolapse, the ovaries could stay so there would be no hormone loss.

I guess I don't know if child bearing is an issue, but I would think that with a prolapse, that would not be recommended anyway

Re: Pessary help.

dsky — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 07:53:13 GMT

I worry about this problem also as I have a large fibroid and feel pressure alot of the time. How did you ladies know you had a prolapse problem. I am hoping that my fibroid shrinks when I reach menopause which should be any time now that I am 53 years old. But as of now it is still large.

Re: Pessary help.

Love orchids — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 08:41:17 GMT

On 3/1/2014 dsky said:
I worry about this problem also as I have a large fibroid and feel pressure alot of the time. How did you ladies know you had a prolapse problem. I am hoping that my fibroid shrinks when I reach menopause which should be any time now that I am 53 years old. But as of now it is still large.

If you have uterine prolapse it slips down the v. and in the later stages it actually protrudes out the opening and in some women that have weak pelvic floor muscles, it actually falls out. My gyn said that the uterus pulls the bladder down as well. If only the bladder is sagging then the symptom is incontinence.

Re: Pessary help.

TennisCaptain — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 09:44:16 GMT

Orchids, my issue is stress incontinence. I love these boards. It's nice to be able to talk to someone who can relate.

Re: Pessary help.

Shelbelle — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 17:17:24 GMT

My Mom had one for about 16 years until she passed away. She never inserted it herself or removed it herself. she went to her gyn once in 6 months for removal and cleaning and reinsertion. Occasionally, she would have some minor bleeding, then he would refit her for a new one. All in all it was a very positive experience for her, saved her from a hysterectomy which she did not want.

Re: Pessary help.

Milfy — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 17:19:20 GMT

Can one have relations with the pessary in? Does it help that?

Re: Pessary help.

Silverandgold — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 17:27:30 GMT

On 3/1/2014 dsky said:
I worry about this problem also as I have a large fibroid and feel pressure alot of the time. How did you ladies know you had a prolapse problem. I am hoping that my fibroid shrinks when I reach menopause which should be any time now that I am 53 years old. But as of now it is still large.

I knew I had a uterine prolapse after my son was born. He is 25 yrs old now, but was a large baby 8 lb 15 oz & I had a vaginal delivery. But at first I did Kegel exercises & they worked well for awhile, but gradually at my gyn checkups, my dr would say the prolapse was getting worse. As you get older & estrogen levels fall, the prolapse tends to worsen. But, it was a condition, not a disease. I went to the uro-gynecologist he recommended & of course, this dr was all about a hysterectomy & major pelvic floor repair surgery - & using mesh which has many issues (another topic for another day). Without the uterus in place, nothing to hold the bladder in place. Anyway, I told him I didn't want surgery as he also said I couldn't lift more than 5 lbs for about 6-8 wks, because then the pelvic floor repair could be undone, I may need more procedures, etc. Also, he wanted to do an abdominal hysterectomy as I am small boned & he said not a candidate for the DaVinci procedure or a vaginal hysterectomy since he'd need the room to work on the pelvic floor muscles. Needless to say, I did a wealth of research (I was 53 at the time), work full time am very active & leading a sedentary lifestyle is not realistic hoping not to 'undo the surgical repair'. I opted for the pessary and it was the best thing I could've done.

Re: Pessary help.

Silverandgold — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 17:35:10 GMT

On 3/2/2014 Milfy said:
Can one have relations with the pessary in? Does it help that?

There are many different pessaries depending on the cause of the problem, your age, your lifestyle etc. I have a pessary for uterine prolapse, but I can take it out & put it back in whenever I want. You have to take it out for sexual relations and should take it out at least once a wk to cleanse with mild soap & water. Some older women have pessaries that a dr must insert & it remains in place til next visit etc. I don't even know I have mine in which is the way it should be.

Re: Pessary help.

Milfy — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 17:51:00 GMT

Thanks for being so candid with me. I appreciate it.