Incontinence worsening

Hi Chelan

sorry to hear that you are experiencing worsening incontinence. It is not clear from your previous posts how you are going with WW posture. You have posted quite a bit about exercise but you haven't mentioned what postural adjustments you have made.

Tell us more about this.

Louise

Yes, Chelan, that's basically it. I personally find it quite hard to sit in a normal chair the way it is supposed to be sat in. It is so tempting to sit back. Of course, I do sometimes, but there is something that stops me. Ninety degrees is pretty hard to measure when you think about the spine being buried deep inside you, coming out from the sacrum horizontal and curving upwards in to the lumbar curve, then forward again at mid-back, then back again at the neck.

You will feel it when you are sitting OK. You will feel it when you are not sitting OK. I just try not to let my pelvis tip backwards. I try and keep wound up the same way as I am when I am standing. The only difference is that my femurs come out the front, instead of down the bottom. Try and keep everything the same as you would while standing.

I find sitting close to what I am doing works best, so my upper arms fall from my shoulders, rather than having to hold them out the front, eg on a steering wheel. Reaching forward can make me slouch, and it can make my neck and shoulders tense. Most chairs have a seat that slopes backwards and a back that slopes back. Sitting on the edge of the chair is sometimes the only way I can sit properly. My office desk is a stool. Think about pianists. Can they play well if they are leaning back against the back of the chair? No, they are continually active in the torso, and sit slightly forward. Sitting forward can be unhelpful though. You can get very stiff in the front. I also try and slpend some time every day cross leggedm, and with my legs straight out in front, so my hammies don't get seized up.

The more you use WW posture the easier it gets. It is the one vital factor that underpins pelvic organ support. If you want it to work for you, you have to adopt it as *the* way you use your body all the time. This won't happen instantly, but just work towards it, bit by bit. And make sure you allow yourself some vegging out time on the sofa too.

Louise

Hi Chelan

I didn't mean to ignore your question about incontinence. I think you will find that once you get the posture down pat the incontinence will largely fix itself. Just curious, can you do Kegels and get some pelvic floor movement out of them? If you can't, then a good women's health physio will be able to get that started. Kegels can be useful in helping the body to fine tune your sphincters. They also help you to be mindful of what is happening in your pelvic area. Don't overdo them. Just do a few when you think of it, a few times a day, just to remind them that they have a job to do. Once you are using WW posture all the time they will be stretching and relaxing all the time as you go about your daily activities, so you probably won't have to do them any more.

The improvements go on for years. You might not notice it at first, but are likely to turn around in six months time and realise that the incontinence has gone.

Louise

I came across this website:
www.corewellness.co.uk
it is the pelvicore technique with Kari Bo a free DVD that will be sent to your home; I watched the DVD last night and it is excellent, the set of exercises will restore balance and put you in control. These exercises are not just for incontence it is to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and organ prolapse.

For women that live in the UK the dvd will be sent to your home as for USA not sure.

Knowledge is power, check it out.

Hi Chelan:
Are you free of prolapse? I think you only have incontinence.
i have terrible prolapse (possibly a too physically active working career) but do NOT leak and appear to have a very strong control over a very large bladder(capacity Measured by urogyn). The abdominal movement is prohibiting my life.

This is interesting

hi diamond and others

i have just checked out the corewellness site - thank you for bringing it to our attention. Before I order the free DVD, I thought it may be helpful if one of the moderators watch it. Something that slightly alarmed me was the 'flatter tummy' promise. I thought with WW posture that our belly is gracefully forward over the pelvic floor and therefore rounded, not flat?!

Like so many of the forum members, we want to get it right when it comes to exercise. I started yoga classes, but after three sessions realized that several moves were counter to Christine's workout; also the yoga teacher gave confusing instructions on breathing. (Christine is very clear, once you've read the book or listened to the DVD a few times).

Any comments?

Hi Diamond

What makes this DVD good?

What is different about it compared to other pelvic floor exercise instructions?

How is it similar to Wholewoman philosophy?

How does it differ from Wholewoman philosopy?

There is no privacy statement on the site, and all the fields in the application form are compulsory, so applying for the free DVD may mean just giving your personal details to the world. I was not willing to do that. Call me paranoid if you like.

But I am interested in your answers, as you have seen the DVD.

Louise

Hi Louise

As you know I also have prolapse, cystocele and rectocele and also the cervix is lower than it should be. Initially I started the kegel exercise from the hospital physiotherapy and I did do them very well, but I felt I got backache for some reason. When I was examined by the physio of just recently she told me I have strong pelvic muscles, not surprised at that as I am active, climb stairs, walk and generally keep my body moving although I ensure take at least an hours rest whenever I can in the afternoons. Because the pelvic floor muscles need to be strengthened to hold the prolapse the physio lady referred me to the Corewellness site for the free DVD all you need to provide norm details such as your name; age; your email address and home address so they can post it, it can take upto 28 days days but my DVD arrived less than 2 weeks from order, you dont pay a penny. Like you I was a little sceptical, thought hmm is this any better. So I watched the DVD and the pelvicore technique with Kari Bo. The following day I did the exercises watching the DVD - these exercises specifically target the pelvic floor muscles and it is about posture too, similar to what Christine is teaching, although I have not seen Christine's DVD. These exercises are for women that have urinary and prolapse issues to train the pelvic floor, abdominal and back muscles to restore balance and help gain control of the body. I did the exercises and they are designed to target the pelvic floor muscles, some are standing up and some are done on the floor. It is similar to the wholewoman phylosophy as it does not once mention surgical fix, it is an exercise programme to help with prolapse just like the wholewoman is aiming to do.

Personally I want to keep an open mind about alternative ways for prolapse and I found the pelvicore technique does that, it is up to each and every one of us to take responsibility and make decisions how we may want to help our bodies; I am not dismissing anything not even Christine's approach.

I have signed petition for more specialized doctors - waiting 6 months is not a good thing..I have wore panty liners for 4.5 years now as my problem is the rejection of foreing mesh inserted in treatment of an 8 cm uterine/vaginal prolapse... A loving world would have taken me off my job and given my a pessary and a personal heath care worker, schooled in diet and exercise and posture and helped to train me in successful management of this condition.
Why do you think you have leakage? If it is from the vagina(you wear somtimes a tampon)- is this not unusual- a colo rectal surgeon told me the medical professional only worry about discharges when the cause is unknown... does your nurse-practioner give you possible causes for this discharge?