pelvic muscles

Submitted by plain jane 38 on May 24, 2005 - 8:06pm
Body: 

When you say to gently contract your pelvic floor in the natural healing stand, do you mean as in when you cut off the flow of urine or is it more of a lifting motion of the pelvic region? I have been doing the latter. I sure hope this is right cause I won't be able to walk and hold a kegle!
I went to the dr. in Feb. 04 for a routine visit. Everything was o.k.
During the spring, I started to notice some discomfort. I thought it was because I was lifting heavy pots of plants and that I was not drinking enough water in the hot weather. Finally, I went back to the dr. and was told everything had fallen down. The dr. acted like it was my fault and that it was something that had happened very suddenly. Of course, he advised removing it all. Needless to say, I was scared. I was also determined I was not going to be put to sleep again. I found your site several months ago and I am so glad! I do have hope now that I can live with this and maybe improve it somewhat.
I am 66 yrs old, have had 4 children, 4 episiotomies{of course} and have had my tubes tied and surgical removal of one ovary.
I like to read the posts from the other "mature" ladies, they are very encouraging to me. I know I am not alone.
Thanks to all of you and especially Christine for starting this site.
Jane

BaNa48

May 25, 2005 - 4:25am

Jane, I'm 61, and noticed in Feb.of this year that things had dropped. The gynocologist recommended surgery. So I figured "the guy is a professional medical person" and he should know what he's talking about, right? So I said that the temporary solution didn't interest me (pessary). I was sent to his teammate for another examine and he said a complete hysterectomy was necessary because he couldn't push things back where they belong. I agreed again and went for the usual testing. I took the one that measures your urine, and set up the appt. for the surgery. I then had bad feelings, (don't know why)and started investigating uterine prolapse online. Went to library got lots of books, flopped on the bed and read, read and read some more. Hysterectomy Hoax was also a good one. One book would refer another, and by now I think I've read 12 books on this subject and pretty convinced I have made the right decision!
I've had 3 children and nothing else. I am also a hard worker, and had to do a lot because my husband has always had a bad back. This definitely was a contributing factor. I had pelvic floor therapy and do several exercises, most of which are in the book or video. Hope this info helps you. I rely on the sea sponges and they seem to be working most of the time. My surgery date would have been May 9th Take care, Nancy

Christine

May 25, 2005 - 7:18am

Hi Jane,

I

plain jane 38

May 25, 2005 - 5:54pm

Thank you Christine and Nancy for responding to my post. It really does make me feel as if someone is listening and cares.
Nancy, I have been using the sponges for about 2 months. I am an after school worker in my neighborhood. I help keep prek-5th graders safe and happy for 3 hrs a day. It does require that I stand on my feet the whole time. For some reason, it is easier to work in the yard all day than to stand in one place for 3 hrs. Maybe it is the responsibility that makes the difference. The sponges have been a big help. I did have trouble at first with them staying in place and being uncomfortable. KY jelly helped a lot! They sure do beat the diaphragm. I don't know how much improvement I will see, but for now things have not gotten worse.I do have Christine's book and video. So far I have read the book and watched the video, but have not started the exercises. We just got out of school and I have had a lot of yard work to get done. I love every minute of it! I also have to start on the house, didn't get much done during school. That work I don't love.
Christine, from the description you gave me, I believe I have been doing the posture correctly. Been working on it for about 2 or 3 months and like I said, things have not gotten any worse. Thank God. Thank you also Christine.
My heart really goes out to all the young mothers who come to this site. If this had to happen I am so glad my children were grown before it did. I can't imagine how hard it must be for them. We all have to stick together whatever our age.
Jane

BaNa48

May 25, 2005 - 6:37pm

Hi again Jane, I am so glad it didn't happen when my kids were small also! I also want to share that in the 2 months I've been exercising I really think things are getting better. Today I used the mirror and couldn't see anything until I looked a little further. Gosh, it's like amazing. I am glad you are enjoying the sponges. They are great. I feel a lot better than I did 2 months ago. And I can't wait for the next two months. I do a lot of yard work and today was no exception. I even vacuumed the whole house and did laundry for my Mom. I got a lot done today and it still didn't come down. I have been doing a "bicycle exercise" Do you know that one? When we were very little, we'd hold our butts up in the air and pedal, like riding a bike! This is one that I dreamed up. I'm trying to get the gravity thing to work again with it! Yes I think it is harder on you and your back to stand in one place a long time. Much better to walk around. And cement is not good to stand on. Keep working on it. Nancy

mel

May 25, 2005 - 7:10pm

hi nancy, i am a young mother of 2 great kids (girl and boy!) i am not so glad to have discovered that i have prolapse but after reading all these posts i definately feel like i will see better days!!! i am so happy that you see much improvement. i anxiously await the video and book. i am positive i can improve my prolapse. thanks for sharing, mel

Christine

May 26, 2005 - 7:01am

Dear Jane,

I read your post before I went to bed last night and felt happy that the girls have a sweet grandmother figure to watch over them, and sad that there could be such an institution that won't let the grandmother sit down!!!

I smiled a smile of recognition that you will begin the exercises as soon as the yard work is done, the house work is done, the sewing is done...on and on and on...

What I love about this posture is that I can be "exercising" throughout the day, no matter what else I'm working on.

Yes, I am counting on women pulling together around this issue. If your mother said to you, "Yes, I've had prolapse for fifty years and have managed it quite well!", wouldn't it be an entirely different experience? My goal is to chart the entire natural history of prolapse and to start a worldwide campaign toward prevention.

I'm so glad you are here with us, Jane

Christine

plain jane 38

May 26, 2005 - 7:38pm

Dear Christine, You are right. I would rather do anything other than exercise. It seems too much like work! I would much rather "play" in the yard. I did do some of the exercises last night and I am going to do better. I want to help you show others that this program will work and help myself also. I have a friend who had a hysterctomy about 20 yrs ago. She is having surgery June 13th again. Her bladder is down and so is her vagina. I read in your book about these two operations and I know I don't ever want to have to go through that. I did tell her to go to your web site and she did, but said she did not want to wear a sponge or live with her problems the way they are. She is 62 yrs old and I worry for her about this surgery. I hope others will at least try your suggestions before they have the first surgery. What can it hurt to try?
Jane

Christine

May 27, 2005 - 6:01am

So true...you'll see as time goes on, Jane, that there's a big difference between a woman's prolapse complaints who has all her organs and those of a post-hysterectomy woman. Almost all of the horrible pictures you see on pelvic surgeons' websites, (no doubt meant to frighten us into surgery), are of the prolapsed bladder and vagina POST-HYST. Difficult to walk around with a balloon between the legs.

I believe that scenario is virtually impossible for us, once we learn to hold the organs forward as we stand and walk.