what's working

Submitted by teachermom24 on May 23, 2011 - 12:21pm
Body: 

Since being introduced to this site a week ago, I've made some progress as well as decisions. A week ago I was wondering whether or not to keep my appointment with the doctor to deal with my POP. After coming here, I was awakened to another, and better, way than surgery. I hadn't wanted to discuss this with my sister, who is a practicing M.D. (internal medicine) because I thought she was too inclined toward medical and surgical intervention. But she called and asked me about it (since I had mentioned my prior intention to have surgery) and she fully agreed surgery was not the best solution, and that I should cancel the appointment with the doctor since the doctor would likely try to persuade me to have the surgery. So I cancelled the appointment. My sister said she doesn't believe in "elective" surgery; the only surgery one should consider is when you cannot live in the condition you are in.

I've been working on a better posture (helpful) and have increased my pilates workouts which I also believe are helpful--at least they don't aggravate my POP condition and help me otherwise. What I believe has been most harmful and causes the most damage is heavy lifting--and probably my years of very heavy lifting associated with landscaping have made a considerable contribution to this POP business. So I've given up lifting anything beyond 5 lbs. (I've got teenage boys who can lift dirt bags and rocks) and have had a great deal of relief already since last week. I have had no bleeding at all since I gave up lifting and lessening discharge every day until none at all yesterday (and I even played a set of tennis with my 14 year old son).

One other thing that's very helpful is pantyhose. Too bad I can't wear those in the garden.

doubtful

May 24, 2011 - 3:47am

Hi Teachermom24

It's great to hear that you are feeling more in charge of your body and beginning to work out how to adapt your lifestyle to live well with POP. It's also interesting to hear your sister's comments. I feel there are plenty of mainstream medical practitioners who quietly agree that elective surgery is playing Russian roulette with our bodies.

Just a cautionary note about Pilates. I wold avoid all of the Pilates abdominal exercises as the whole Pilates philosophy is based on an idea of core strength that contorts your body away from natural female posture and is likely to worsen your symptoms. I believe there are some enlightened new Pilates teachers who are moving away from this idea, but this dangerous misconception has certainly been at the heart of any abdominal exercises I have ever done in Pilates classes. Perhaps there are some exercise experts here who can advise you on safe/ unsafe Pilates exercises.

I think healing POP is a journey where every woman has to find out what works for her - but I do feel most conventional abdominal exercise is a no-no - I'm pretty sure it contributed to my POP.

Doubtful

teachermom24

May 28, 2011 - 5:31pm

I'm not convinced pilates contributes or aggravates POP. I'm still very new at understanding the whole POP issue but I've been paying close attention to what does and does not help mine. So far, heavy lifting clearly aggravates it. Pilates does not. I think pilates helps overall. The instructions on pilates I have received so far are very much in line with what I have ascertained from this site.

I have a long way to go both in understanding and application. But in less than two weeks, I have seen significant improvement and I am encouraged ...very thankful to have avoided to surgery option.