Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic

INTERVIEW  WITH SHERRIE PALM

by Billie A Williams

• TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SHERRIE THE PERSON WHEN SHE ISN’T WRITING. WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR “SPARE” TIME?
  
• I live a very diverse, active, life. When I was partner in a semi-truck body shop, I was too busy to spend much time on anything beyond family and household paths; that business closed in 2007. In 2008 I was able to return to an activity that I had checked out  in my late teens, involvement with Special Olympics. I connected with the head of the Mukwonago, Wisconsin Special Olympics group and hung out with the kids and parents during bowling season with the intention of eventually coaching a sport. I got my opportunity in early winter of 2008; that’s when I started as assistant coach on one of the basketball teams. In all honesty (and I’m sure all Special Olympics coaches would agree), I get tons more from Special Olympics than I give. Those kids bring a huge smile to my heart each and every time I see them!

• WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER THERE WAS A LACK OF AWARENESS ABOUT PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE?
•  I was first diagnosed with prolapse in December of 2007; I began to dig for information between that diagnosis and my first appointment with a urogynecologist in January of 2008. I was so shocked to find out that I had a condition that I’d never heard of; I began to research immediately. I am a huge believer in self help, particularly with health issues. I could not find any books on the subject at that time, although I was able to access information on the internet.

• HAD YOU ASPIRED TO WRITE A BOOK BEFORE THIS?
•  No, although I’ve always been able to write well and used that ability for different aspects of the business that I was a partner in for 24 years, I never felt “inspired” about anything enough to consider writing about it. I feel such an urgent  need  to spread the word to other women about this common but little known health issue that is what I would consider that my “passion” rather than writing in and of itself.

• I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO ADDRESS ANOTHER HEALTH ISSUE IN THE FUTURE?  ANY IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT BE?
•  I hadn’t considered writing another book until a couple of family friends asked that I write about a genetic health condition that has occurred in their family. If I write again, it will most likely be related to that health issue.

• WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS SEEMINGLY UNDER DIAGNOSED AND DISCUSSED WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE?
  
• I plan on giving educational seminars for women to try and take pelvic organ prolapse and its symptoms and issues out of the closet. Women truly need to know about this condition; some of its symptoms can be a bit embarrassing so typically women just don’t talk about it. The more information I can make available to women, the more likely they are to start talking about it. POP has been around since ancient times, it still amazes me that it is such an unknown health issue.

• IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR ABOUT YOU, YOUR BOOK, OR PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL OUR READERS?
  
• I was told years ago by a now deceased great uncle that I come from a long line of strong women. Each of us finds our path at different times in our evolution and in different ways. It is important to always try to share the insights we gain in life with others, knowledge is the base for strength. Every time we learn something new, if we share it with others, even if it only has the capacity to help one other person, that sharing has been purposeful.

• WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET YOUR BOOK? IS THERE A DISCOUNT FOR BULK ORDERS (say, for example a physician would like to use your book to inform their women clients about  POP – and to address questions they might have?)
  
• My book is currently available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or through my publisher, Eloquent Books @ http://www.eloquentbooks.com/PelvicOrganProlapse.html. For those book vendors or health providers who would like to purchase the book in bulk for resale, a distributor discount is available through my publisher. The information for ordering though Eloquent Books at AEG Publishing Group is listed on the “Orders” page of my website, http://www.SherriePalm.com.

• HOW CAN THEY REACH YOU WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONDITION?
•  I can be contacted by sending an email to sjpalmPOP@wi.rr.com, a twitter comment to http://www.twitter.com/POPauthor , or direct note through the “Contact” page of my website @ http://www.SherriePalm.com.  I strongly urge women with specific medical questions to contact their personal physicians about their POP concerns; the information I can offer is strictly general information. Every woman’s body is unique, each case of POP is unique, each of us brings a very different set up concerns to the table. I am very happy to educate women about POP “basics”; I sincerely hope that women who believe they have POP will bring it to the attention of their physicians and get the proper medical intervention.

• ARE YOU OPEN TO TRAVEL TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE OR DO TELEPHONE OR CHAT ROOM TALKS TO GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOU SPEAK? HOW SHOULD THESE PEOPLE CONTACT YOU?
• Absolutely! The more opportunities I have to speak with women about POP, the sooner it will become common knowledge for them. I intend to travel wherever scheduling allows an opportunity to address women about POP. I am also available for telephone discussions with media, support groups, or women’s organizations and will do my best to coordinate with those that want to have open chat time on-line. I can be contacted by emailing me @ sjpalmPOP@wi.rr.com or through  the “Contact” page of my website. Again that website address is
• http://www.SherriePalm.com.

• IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US?
• The bottom line for me is that it would benefit ALL women to become aware of the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. I had one of its symptoms 14 years prior to my POP surgery; if I’d have  known about the condition, I might have been able to do something to control the severity of it. I am so happy that I did finally find out “what was wrong down there”, and that the surgery was able to return me to my “prior to prolapse” state of health. When we feel good, we lead  much more productive lives!

No one can help us as much as we can help ourselves