[MelodyL]

Hello. I have breakfast with a good friend of mine, on the weekends. This morning she told me of her dropped bladder problems and that she leaks (she changes pads all the time, the leaking is getting worse. She uses a pessary (she inserts it herself about every 6 weeks).

She's tired of all this leaking (she says she can feel herself leak). Her urologist told her she could have a vaginal mesh procedure and they would also do a hysterectomy and take out her ovaries and she said 'Whoa, what's wrong with my ovaries?" and he said: "You are almost 80, what the hell do you need your ovaries for?" She doesn't want any of this. She heard that the vaginal mesh thing has lots of lawsuits and she's afraid.

I told her I would come here and pick your brains and see if there is an alternative option for woman who use a pessary, use poise pads, still leak, their doctors want to insert a vaginal mesh and also do a hysto.

I'm reading all your postings and getting the willies. OMG, what you women have gone through.

Does she have to live with the leaking for the rest of her life? Should she get the vaginal mesh done? Her doctor said this would LIFT her bladder. It seems it hangs down. Never heard of this pessary thing. Is there AN ALTERNATIVE to this vaginal mesh thing?

Thanks to anyone who can reply. Much appreciated.

Melody
Oh, FWY, she's almost 80, looks younger than 60, works full time, is very small and slender and take high blood pressure meds. Has bad knees but hey, she's 79 and still works.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by MelodyL

Hello. I have breakfast with a good friend of mine, on the weekends. This morning she told me of her dropped bladder problems and that she leaks (she changes pads all the time, the leaking is getting worse. She uses a pessary (she inserts it herself about every 6 weeks).

She's tired of all this leaking (she says she can feel herself leak). Her urologist told her she could have a vaginal mesh procedure and they would also do a hysterectomy and take out her ovaries and she said 'Whoa, what's wrong with my ovaries?" and he said: "You are almost 80, what the hell do you need your ovaries for?" She doesn't want any of this. She heard that the vaginal mesh thing has lots of lawsuits and she's afraid.

I told her I would come here and pick your brains and see if there is an alternative option for woman who use a pessary, use poise pads, still leak, their doctors want to insert a vaginal mesh and also do a hysto.

I'm reading all your postings and getting the willies. OMG, what you women have gone through.

Does she have to live with the leaking for the rest of her life? Should she get the vaginal mesh done? Her doctor said this would LIFT her bladder. It seems it hangs down. Never heard of this pessary thing. Is there AN ALTERNATIVE to this vaginal mesh thing?

Thanks to anyone who can reply. Much appreciated.

Melody
Oh, FWY, she's almost 80, looks younger than 60, works full time, is very small and slender and take high blood pressure meds. Has bad knees but hey, she's 79 and still works.

I hope someone replies!!

Thanks, melody

[ger715]

Melody,
Because of the use of narcotic meds, I had (and still have) severe constipation. I had no idea that a woman who had a complete hysterectomy could push her bladder to where it could be seen almost like the top of a baby's head. I was told being without the uterus; enabled my bladder not only to drop; but almost push out.

Needless to say;unfortunately, I went to a regular urologist (women should always go to a Urogynyurologist; did not know this at the time). A Pessary was first used (a piece to insert vaginally to push the bladder back up); did not like doing this nor was it very comfortable. (I never had issues with leakage at any time; just the dropped bladder.)

I finally did agree to have a sling put in to raise my bladder. This was about 7 years ago. There is a procedure when having a Cystocele that should be done at the same time to be sure the small bowel from the rectum does not come down. The Urologist I went to did not do this; he told me years ago they would tact this area down so the small bowel does not drop down, but was found this to be unnecessary. "Well, I don't know what book or where he heard this; but Not So". "This procedure needs to be done at same time".

Within a month or two, my bowel started to drop and the next year I had to have a Rectocele to fix this problem. I was very upset because now I needed to have surgery again. Had I gone to a Urogynycologist this would have been done during the Cystocele. (The Urologist also closed my surgery with mesh as well as having used the mesh sling.)

I did seek out a Urogyny who did my Rectocele surgery the following year. He said closing should be done with your own tissue and not use mesh to close. So needlessly, I had two areas with mesh; one that didn't need to be since my own tissue could be used to close. My Urogyny closed my Rectocele with my tissue and not mesh.

There is a lot of cons about using mesh. I have not had issues with the mesh sling holding up my bladder (but closing with mesh was unnecessary to add to the mesh issue).

I do not understand why this doctor wants to remove her ovaries at this age. What is the advantage? I assume your friend is seeing a gynycologist; but again needs to see a Urogyny who incontinence/bladder issues is one of their main focus. Since my bladder dropped so far;, a sling was probably necessary. But in many cases, the bladder can be tacked.

I hope this may have been of some help. I do not have leakage/incontenence issues. Although as I am getting older; I do need to get to the washroom when Mother Nature is calling and not delay.


Gerry

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by ger715

Melody,
Because of the use of narcotic meds, I had (and still have) severe constipation. I had no idea that a woman who had a complete hysterectomy could push her bladder to where it could be seen almost like the top of a baby's head. I was told being without the uterus; enabled my bladder not only to drop; but almost push out.

Needless to say;unfortunately, I went to a regular urologist (women should always go to a Urogynyurologist; did not know this at the time). A Pessary was first used (a piece to insert vaginally to push the bladder back up); did not like doing this nor was it very comfortable. (I never had issues with leakage at any time; just the dropped bladder.)

I finally did agree to have a sling put in to raise my bladder. This was about 7 years ago. There is a procedure when having a Cystocele that should be done at the same time to be sure the small bowel from the rectum does not come down. The Urologist I went to did not do this; he told me years ago they would tact this area down so the small bowel does not drop down, but was found this to be unnecessary. "Well, I don't know what book or where he heard this; but Not So". "This procedure needs to be done at same time".

Within a month or two, my bowel started to drop and the next year I had to have a Rectocele to fix this problem. I was very upset because now I needed to have surgery again. Had I gone to a Urogynycologist this would have been done during the Cystocele. (The Urologist also closed my surgery with mesh as well as having used the mesh sling.)

I did seek out a Urogyny who did my Rectocele surgery the following year. He said closing should be done with your own tissue and not use mesh to close. So needlessly, I had two areas with mesh; one that didn't need to be since my own tissue could be used to close. My Urogyny closed my Rectocele with my tissue and not mesh.

There is a lot of cons about using mesh. I have not had issues with the mesh sling holding up my bladder (but closing with mesh was unnecessary to add to the mesh issue).

I do not understand why this doctor wants to remove her ovaries at this age. What is the advantage? I assume your friend is seeing a gynycologist; but again needs to see a Urogyny who incontinence/bladder issues is one of their main focus. Since my bladder dropped so far;, a sling was probably necessary. But in many cases, the bladder can be tacked.

I hope this may have been of some help. I do not have leakage/incontenence issues. Although as I am getting older; I do need to get to the washroom when Mother Nature is calling and not delay.


Gerry

Oh Gerry, thank you so very very much

Melody

[MelodyL]

Hi, just wanted to update you. I told my friend about the urogynycologist and that's the kind of doctor she should be seeing (not knowing if she was or wasn't). Then I told her the info you provided.

She wrote me that she is seeing a specialist and he's a surgeon. She didn't mention the word urogynycologist and I'm not saying anything more. This is her fight and I gave her the info she asked for.

She doesn't want to have any surgery. She has said this over and over. Can't blame her. She doesn't want any mesh put into her. Can't blame her.

So if she still wants to be using incontinence pads for the rest of her life, well that's up to her.

I do thank you so very much for all your great info.

It's been passed along

You take care

Melody