Doctors! Re: The MIL with the Swinging Uterus

[Aunt_Flow]

@Kalhoun

I think she’s just scared. She once went for three days with a broken leg before she went to the doctor. She also says there is no pain associated with it (though I think that may be changing now that I suspect the entire contents of her abdominal cavity is working its way out). Up until now, I think she looked at it as a slight inconvenience.

I spoke to her yesterday and the UTI has her feeling really sick still. We are concerned, but there’s nothing we can do. The doctor told her over and over what needs to be done. She’s supposed to get the results of the urine test today, so maybe the doctor will try to talk some sense into her. Which sparks a question in my mind: Doctors, do you continue to harp on a patient who ignores your advice or do you just tell them once or twice and then let it go?

IANAD but I would suspect it depends on how life saving said advice would be. Like if they advise you to stop smoking at age 25 they’d probably say it every now and then but not too often. But if they advise you to stop smoking when you’re 65 and have beginning stage emphysema they might be a bit more persistant about it.

[Jackmannii]

I don’t have any good suggestions apart from a Major Family and Doctor Intervention.

But for those of you who were foolish enough to Google uterine prolapse, you could probably displace those images by Googling rectal prolapse. Not that I advise this.

[OneCentStamp]

@Terrorcotta

I’ve always wondered why they can’t just make prolapsed uterine crutches. You know, something to hold it in and up when you want to move around. Sort of a crotch crutch.

They sort of do. It’s called a pessary.

[jabiru]

@Una Persson

You can find pictures on Google, if anyone cares to see. It’s horrifying, to the point where I think a person would have to be desperately poor or (apologies) IMO seriously mentally not to have it fixed.

There are a lot of reasons women are unable to/don’t want to have surgery for uterine prolapse. Being unable to take at least six weeks away from work is one of them.

[OliverTwistofLime]

A complete uterine prolapse is not difficult to repair surgically…however the patient\s general health must be taken in consideration…Is the pt. in question Medicaid? no insurance? The answers to these questions become a factor.

Yes a ring pessary or a balloon pessary might work but they can fall out, must be claned and replaced and vaginal infections are common.

Does she have stress incontinence…= pees when she coughs bends over or increases the intra abdominal pressure by any means?

[Kalhoun]

@OliverTwistofLime

A complete uterine prolapse is not difficult to repair surgically…however the patient\s general health must be taken in consideration…Is the pt. in question Medicaid? no insurance? The answers to these questions become a factor.

Yes a ring pessary or a balloon pessary might work but they can fall out, must be claned and replaced and vaginal infections are common.

Does she have stress incontinence…= pees when she coughs bends over or increases the intra abdominal pressure by any means?

She’s 83 years old and has good medical coverage; Medicare and supplemental. I think she’s in pretty good health, considering her age. But she’s not much for doctors and hospitals, so I can almost guarantee she won’t go unless the situation becomes intolerable. At this point, she’s taking antibiotics. If they stop working, she may change her mind.

Not sure about the peeing thing. I haven’t heard anyone mention that.

And I think the maintenance required for a pessary ring may also be a factor. She’s well aware that you don’t just put it in and forget it. Her daughter’s MIL has one, and she’s frequently back at the doctor having it adjusted or getting treated for an infection. Kind of a deterrent for the doctor-phobic set.