I'm in the same predicament. I have a stage three cystocele (fallen bladder). I'm thinking about hysterectomy and repair, but want to be able to do heavy lifting again.

My grandmother had the same trouble. She asked the doctor for a pessary (that's the device you insert into the vagina to hold everything up. There is much information online describing them. All I know is from my grandmother. She insisted on a pessary before doing surgery and was able to have everything "go back in place" or at least maintain without surgery.

Hi

please re-consider any invasive surgery. I was so unbelievably relieved I didn't do so after reading the shocking stories in "misinformed consent" by lise cloutier-steele.

Another very important book to read is "saving the whole woman" by christine kent who has a great website called first aid for prolapse (i think).

There is a very good chance of horrendous side effects form these surgeries and also of subsequent prolapses as for example, the removal of one organ removes scaffolds for the others, in the case of removal of hte uterus.

Think about yoga, acupuncture,herbs and biofeedback with good well trained people and inform yourself with those great books if you can

good luck

anne