Mairéad’s Story

Prior to Procedure

Because of a progressing prolapse, I was warned not to lift weight over 10 pounds by my GP. However, I’ve always been an active grandmother and that was a difficult rule to keep. Regular visits to the pessary clinic kept my prolapse comfortable for over 10 years, but gradually I needed larger and larger pessaries to hold up my vaginal vault until I joked I was using a life buoy. A lifelong swimmer I had always been happy to shower and change naked with other women. When my ‘life buoy’ pessary stopped holding up my prolapse and it started peeping out between my legs, I sought the privacy of a changing booth. I imagined it the size of a small mandarin orange and if I stood for too long, I felt I was going to lay an egg. When my urogynaecologist offered me a Colpocleisis, I was amazed as I thought it was an old out of fashion surgical procedure. I read the literature she gave me and also discussed the procedure with my reassuring GP. Quality of life appeared more important to me than the sex life of an elderly Granny. I opted for Colpocleisis. 

Post Colpocleisis

I read about possible incontinence, and I was willing to deal with that eventuality because the prolapse was so uncomfortable. My specialist’s surgical team took great care of me, but I had to deal with a catheter for a few days at home as I had trouble voiding. I was also concerned about having soft and regular bowel movements. These problems soon disappeared, and I was happy to find that I was not incontinent. That dreadful dragging feeling between my legs was gone. I wanted to wear a swimsuit again. My husband of nearly 60 years was glad to not hear me moaning about my prolapse if I had been on my feet for too long in the day. I wish I had known about the Colpocleisis option a few years earlier. There is a time for everything in life and I have been lucky to have enjoyed something of everything. I look forward now to enjoying an active old age, but one activity I will avoid, carrying heavy weights.