The textbook definition of caregiving is the act of providing unpaid assistance and support to family members or acquaintances navigating physical, emotional, or lifestyle needs. At the most basic level, caregiving is simply helping those we care about. It comes from the heart, without need for an acknowledgement or thank you. November is National Caregivers Month, and it seems so appropriate to pass along a thank you to the millions of people who do the good stuff, and shine a light on aspects of caregiving that many people take for granted. Women with pelvic organ prolapse are some of those caregivers.
Read moreSuccessful Pelvic Organ Prolapse Mesh Procedures: How to Choose the Right Physician
I have yet to meet an individual who was not nervous heading into surgery. We all hope our health concerns will be addressed and resolved when having surgical repair; we all hope procedures will be complication free. Every surgical procedure has risk factors, thus the importance of looking for the best clinician for our surgical needs and the best type of surgery to optimize results.
Read moreThe Art of Acceptance; A Pivotal Step in Pelvic Organ Prolapse Healing
We are different; we are the same. While every woman must travel her own unique POP journey, and the range of emotions we go through individually are as distinct and individual as the color of our eyes; at some point in time most POP sisters experience pretty much the same ride through a variety of feelings. The most difficult emotion to achieve regarding pelvic organ prolapse is acceptance.
Read moreLet Me Be Your Voice: STIGMA*STRIDE 2015
We are on the cusp of an incredible journey, generating a massive shift in women’s health. EVERYONE attending STIGMA*STRIDE on this day is marking their spot in women’s health history.
“Nothing is so powerful as an idea whose time has come.”
Dr. Diaa Rizk, Arabian Gulf University
Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander, APOPS Founder Sherrie Palm, and Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor
Stigma has shrouded pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in silence for over 4000 years. 40 yrs ago, magazines and newspapers would not print the words breast cancer. We now recognize and freely talk about the 235,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. We created a comfort zone with awareness. 20 years ago, few spoke about erectile dysfunction out loud. Pfizer opened that closet door, and men now comfortably talk about the little blue pill. We created a comfort zone with awareness. During the AIDS silence between 1970 and 1980, this stigmatized, contagious condition spread to 5 continents because no one would talk about it out loud. The fear factor leveled off, because we created a comfort zone with awareness. Unfortunately, despite the fact that pelvic organ prolapse has been on medical record for over 4000 years, few talk about it out loud because symptoms like vaginal tissue bulge, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pain with intimacy are considered embarrassing. That has to change.
Read moreSTOMP OUT THE STIGMA OF PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE: EVERY VOICE MATTERS!
“The real story about pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence is not that embarrassing conditions and symptoms exist; the story is about impact to women’s lives and that after 4000 years on medical record, health concerns remain stuffed in the closet.”
~Sherrie Palm
My journey to increase awareness of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) began with my diagnosis in December 2007. Like most women, I'd had never heard of pelvic organ prolapse, and had no idea that:
- One third to one half the female population suffers in silence with POP.
- Childbirth and menopause are the most common POP causes, and aggressive athletic activities, chronic constipation, chronic coughing, genetics, hysterectomy, neuromuscular diseases, and heavy lifting are POP causes as well.
- Women of ALL ages experience POP.
POP Mesh Surgery: Tips for the Best Outcome
I have yet to meet an individual who was not nervous heading into surgery. We all hope our health concerns will be addressed and resolved when having surgical repair; we all hope procedures will be complication free. Every surgical procedure has risk factors, thus the importance of looking for the right practitioner for our unique treatment needs and the most appropriate type of surgery to achieve the best results. A common topic in APOPS support forum is the safety of mesh procedures for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair.
Read more