I guess that subject line leaps off the page, doesn’t it?! No dancing around this subject, eh?! No body parts are spared ST conjecture, it seems.
Soooooo, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? It turns out that I …um… prolapsed my uterus during a half-marathon yesterday. NO JOKE. It helped to be a veterinarian so I could immediately tell just exactly WHAT anatomical rearrangements had occured in the previous 13.1 miles… it was readily apparent. eeewwww!
Called the ob-gyn on call, and he seemed rather quick to say “oh you will need a hysterectomy”. (not my regular gyn dr)
…so a search in trusty ST for *uterine prolapse *comes up empty, leaving me to post anew:
How common is this in women runners? And will I be able to keep running? I think there are “devices” to help, and non-hysterectomy surgeries. Took some Aleve, and things are a little better “down there” today, and I have appt in a.m.
I’m 47, with two kids. Seems like this is an old-lady thing. Perhaps using “uterine prolapse” and “triathlons” in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Maybe I need to take the hint and take up some other sport??? Jeez I just bought a tri bike! And winning some races too!
I am sooooo frustrated right now. Yet another medical nuisance to deal with. (I’m the one who’s posted here about seizures/epilepsy, and about a hernia I had to get fixed, and about a heart palpitation thingy)
Sorry to have grossed out anyone. I was hoping to race Buffalo Springs next weekend and am signed up for IMW. Would have to delay surgery until after Sept 9.
Sorry I don’t have info to help you, sounds terrible and I hope it works out ok for you. I am a PT, in the area of pediatrics, no experience in the area of women’s health but that is an area of very specialized PT which may be able to help you… A friend’s mother had uterine prolapse and PT was able to help. I think it may depend on the severity of the prolapse. Best of luck to you.
A quick pubmed search of uterine prolapse and running reveals…not too much:
Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in nulliparous women at the United States Military Academy.Larsen WI, Yavorek TA.
Department of Surgery, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, NY 10996, USA. wilma.larsen@us.army.mil
The objective of this study was to evaluate both baseline pelvic support and incontinence in relation to physical activity in nulliparous college women. Participants were examined using the pelvic organ prolapse and quantification system (POP-Q) and completed a questionnaire. Women with stage 0 prolapse and any other stage were compared. Potential risk factors and levels of physcial activity were analyzed using the chi-square test. We evaluated 144 women. Fifty percent had stage 0 support and 50% had stage I or II. Nineteen percent of participants reported incontinence. No risk factors for prolapse were identified, however running was associated with incontinence. Forty-six percent of physically active nulliparous college students had stage I pelvic support without identifiable risk factors. Stage I and II prolapse represent normal support.
This article is old:
**1: **JOGN Nurs. 1984 Nov-Dec;13(6):390-5.Links
Intensity of jogging. Relationship with menstrual/reproductive variables.Estok PJ, Rudy EB.
The relationship between intensity of jogging and various menstrual/reproductive factors in women were investigated. Data were collected by questionnaire from 319 women who participated in a running event that included both a 6.2-mile (10 K) run and a 26.2-mile marathon in northeastern Ohio. Findings reaffirmed the notion that scant menstrual flow, skipped menses, and menstrual irregularity are significantly related to the intensity of jogging; age at menarche, infertility, and uterine prolapse were not. Thirty-two percent of the women felt that jogging decreased their menstrual discomfort, and 44% reported better jogging performance right after or between menstrual periods.
PMID: 6569214
This is not uncommon… but go see a specialist ASAP to determine what type of prolapse you have.
I know someone with the same issue. She tried to run through it. Hers was caused from pregnancies… she is only 40, and has had hers for years. It’s not an old-lady thing. It happens. Her ‘symptoms’ are very uncomfortable, and I guess they are personally embarrassing.
Btw, her doc told her that she didn’t need surgery if she didn’t continue the sports which continued the prolapsing - running. Surgery, for some people, opens up a new issue about other organs prolapsing. She she decided that running was out, and she has finally (and cheerfully!) decided that there are so many other sports she can do, including cycling, kayaking, weight-training, and other sports. She is a busy Mom and wife, and once she understood the concept, she just wanted to do the best for her health - as well as staying active.
My point:
Find out what’s up ‘inside you’, and make QUALITY decisions. PLEASE PLEASE don’t put yourself in any danger because of single-minded dreams (IMW) which can harm your health with that condition… A prolapse is NOT a death-sentence; it’s simply a ‘thing’ to deal with.
As I recall, a lot of times when parts fall out, they simply put them back in. I agree with Fitnesscoach though, get checked ASAP by a specialist. I have no idea what they do in regards longer term recovery, but I can imagine that endurance training might be out until the parts can find a way to stay in better.
My wife is a nurse, and she comes home quite often with tales of the most amazing parts that just “fall out.” Since she works nights, often the doctors need the nurses to do more hands on stuff in fixing the problem (put the parts back in). Generally my wife seems pretty non chalant about it, like it is not that big of a deal.
Still, I’m certain that it is about the biggest deal in the world to you right now. Good luck, I hope it all works out.
As a vet, I am trained to quickly see the big picture about whatever bad news I have to give clients about their animals. You know, run through the scenarios with the clients. In this situation, with ME as the patient, I am getting overwhelmed by what image is developing. I know I gotta not be freaked out just yet, but still…
But, as stupid as it sounds, I am already thinking about race fees unrefunded;, a Kuota Kalibur I just bought; weight-lifting; work (on my feet a lot which probabaly doesn’t help); timing of surgery if I go that route; can I swim tomorrow nite in my wetsuit without irritation or funky lake water up there… (wink). Then there is the marital (physical) aspects to ponder. (don’t tell my husband that was not on the top of the list…) And, maybe that weird-lookin’ Blackwell Adamo saddle will be just right for me and my new situation.
I’ll get thru this, one step at a time. In the meantime I get to lie around a lot, directing the family life from the couch.
Bring on the Aquathlons, baby! …even tho I can not quite pronounce that word…
~C
Hi there,
I am a certified nurse-midwife. There are very few non-surgical options for prolapse. A pessary (the device you stick “up there” :)) is one of them. Pelvic floor exercises are another. Depending on the degree of prolapse they will work more or less. At 47, I am correct in assuming you don’t have any children planned in the future? Hysterectomy is a surgical option in that case. It would likely to be possible to have a transvaginal hyst. which would leave you without an abdominal incision to heal…shortening recovery time significantly but still leaving you unable to train at the level you are accustomed to. Make sure you are completely comfortable with your provider before you rush into any decisions. I am not sure how you are doing now, but surgery would certainly take you out of IMWI. feel free to PM me with any questions.
hi glo-
no, no more kids planned. Maybe my ovaries are still eeking out some hormones so I think I would like to hang onto them, but can part with the uterus if needed. But if no uterus, will other organs have more room to flop around and head south?
(BTW I had doula -assisted, Bradley childbirth, so am glad to see nurse-midwife point of view…)
I am still clinging foolishly to Buffalo Springs next week, maybe with a pessary (what a weird old-fashioned sounding word!), or walk the run leg? Good grief, how type A is that? Husband is racing it too so I know I am at least going down there.
Pessaries can be a lot of trial and error, as far as “fit” goes…probably easier than a tri bike though So far, most of the people I have fit have been older and certainly not as active as you. You could try Buffalo Springs…you are signed up and at least you will get a good swim/bike workout in…I can empathize…not with the prolapse part (not yet at least), but with the issues coming so close to A races. FWIW, you should be able to hold on to the ovaries Good luck with whatever you decide, sounds like you have a supportive family.
Ginny
P.s. your other organs should not migrate…
My wife is giving me hell for not getting to the doc yet for my issue. I go tuesday.
But, even though she is on my case always, she is terrible. So, I have to be on her case.
But really, I read so many folks who do years of damage for one race!
Resist!!! It gets SO much better to race older when so many folks have done their bodies in!!
Volunteer at the races!!! In a lot of ways, it is more fun than racing!!
Wish I had better suggestions but, there are MANY more things important than racing, I promise.
You can’t “hurt” yourself by not having your prolapse repaired immediately. It may “hurt,” but nothing bad is going to happen to you.
You might be able to race with a properly fit pessary, but some people have a hard time “holding” one. As glo said, it’s a lot of trial and error. You can probably race without one too; you may need some tri-shorts that support like a girdle.
You will eventually have a vag hysy with cuff support if you really have significant prolapse, there’s just not goos way around it. You won’t like wearing a pessary long term.
Why would you leave your ovaries in? Age range of menopause = 45-55. Average age is 52. Lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1/70. Once you hit menopause, the only thing your ovaries can do for you is grow cancer. You are going to face menopause issues in a few years anyway; why not virtually eliminate the ovarian cancer risk.
See what you doctor says about what and to what degree you have prolapse. Sometimes the subjective complaint is worse than the exam and that may give you connfidence to delay surgery.
You are at risk for bladder/rectal prolapse into the vagina, but not because of hyst; just because those with uterine prolapse will often also have poor support of surrounding organs.
I’d plan on doing all your races this year and then having the surgery. Running and weight lifting will predispose to reoccurence of prolapse, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do those things as long as you’re willing to accept the consequences.
I hope some of this will be helpful to you. I was gonna pm it, but you can’t receive pm.
My 70.3’s have all been in tri shorts. This was my first stand-alone half marathon so I ran it much harder, and in some light compression shorts (Road Ready brand). Def will wear my mega spandex Pearl Izumi shorts IF I do BSLT.
Had a bike wreck three days after the prolapse. Still tried Buffalo Springs 70.3 three days after the wreck, but pulled out after the bike leg coz those body parts were not cooperating “down there” and I was sore all over from the wreck. Metacarpal bone jacked up for a month from the wreck. Could swim with a wrist wrap thingy. Hurt to grip the handlebars or aerobars. Almost got my partial refund for IMW since my training was so off. Decided to just “do” IMW and not “race it”. Rest of the long runs for IMW training I did a walk/run combo and that helped. So IMW was a fun long training day with eight fellow Tulsans. Oh well!
Then had two foot injuries this fall which meant no Fall half marathon or full marathon like I had hoped to do to see what would happen w/ prolapse. Did an indoor sprint tri this weekend on a lark (on rubber track) but all went okay. Am gonna just have to see what stays where when I increase my miles outside. Will cross whatever bridge when I need to. Got some OB-GYN names lined up who are athletes in case I do the hysterectomy and culpopexy. But I did plunk down my $ for Vineman Half and Longhorn Half. Am doing OKlahoma Freewheel (cross OK on bike in 7 days) for grins. Life goes on.
Well, I was impressed that you had posted that last year. We have a tendency to not talk about that stuff, but it’s an issue for active women as we age. I was told in December that I had really big fibroid tumors and they were causing problems. Went to my local ob/gyn and the only option they gave me was a traditional hysterectomy with a minimum 8 weeks recovery. Obviously not a very appealing option. I’m very fortunate that I have friends in the medical field and I was told that there were a few more options. I had a laparscopic hysterectomy on Jan 10th and was exercising 6 days later. I had to travel from NH to Maryland to get it done, but it was worth it.
Tamela
PM me if you are still interested in any options available. I work for a company that provides a Bio-Material (graft) that is designed to treat prolapse. It really works because we have hundreds to thousand of patients who used this product. they have not returned to their physicians and are having a very normal life.
Wow you know how to get my attention. Used to be automatic “take it out” now there are some options for some people. I just did a google search to see what was out there "Uterine Prolapse surgery "and there was a ton of good stuff to read. I would read up on it then go to the MD very informed and rule out options in your case. The slings, the mesh, removal all have pluses and minuses. Wishing you the best . G
Missed this original post. Unable to PM ya d/t unrecognizable screen name? Anyway, this is my specialty and I manage this all the time, so I would be happy to add my ideas to the mix. Just PM me.
Cheers,
HC
So far, most of the people I have fit have been older and certainly not as active as you. You could try Buffalo Springs…you are signed up and at least you will get a good swim/bike workout in…I can empathize…not with the prolapse part (not yet at least), but with the issues coming so close to A races. FWIW, you should be able to hold on to the ovaries