Another update

Submitted by takecare on May 31, 2012 - 7:43am
Body: 

Took the big step of cancelling my long standing (seven months wait time) appointment with the 'best' colorectal specialist who my urogyn referred me to ...
I decided not to go as the word 'surgeon' is part of the specialty and as such I have no desire for any surgery - and I don't want to feel that I 'should' think about it.
I am also considering cancelling my urogyn but it's just a regular yearly checkup so not sure about that one... he recommended I not have surgery even though I have rectocele/cystocele/prolapse and was more concerned with the nerve function relating to tailbone pain and rectal and bladder dysfuntion.

Anyway in the past couple of months I have been travelling a lot, lifting suitcases, doing all sorts of physical activity, having to wait to find loo's, etc.
And I came through so well, in fact I think I was better than when I am at home being more 'protective' of my prolapses.

I would say all the additional movement, twisting, turning, lifting, climbing stairs, etc., seemed to help everything stay more where it should be ... rather than my usual sedentary office/studio seated position and then regular walks.

I ate more than usual, lots of vegetables and salads, even delicious desserts, but I walked for miles and miles and the bladder/bowel behaved itself well enough - not great, but good enough and better than at home.

It has given me such a boost of confidence - I hope it will encourage others too - that when we are out and about and busy and active and stress free - perhaps with the focus less on the inner workings, it all seems to sync a little better.

Or perhaps I was just having such a good time it was mind over matter ...

Best wishes and good health to you all ...

Forum:

Surviving60

May 31, 2012 - 8:14am

So wonderful to have an update from you. Just proves that when WW posture really takes hold, you can go on about your life and do pretty much anything. The time spent consciously working on it, pays off later when you can get on with things and get back to that time when prolapse didn't rule your world. Lesson learned: Make this a habit, then get off the couch and get on with life! - Surviving

takecare

May 31, 2012 - 8:22am

Thank you Surviving.
I must say though - I was so determined to have a great time away I was diligent about posture the entire time - not too many problems - mild pain sitting but all the walking made the sitting less painful.
I would say the toilet issues were still there all the time but it's the amount of mental time we give to it ... I only remembered I had prolapse when it reminded me ... and if I did the right thing it wasn't too often.
I also see in my photos my posture is beautiful - and my husband, as I said once before, loves the way I walk with my chest up, striding out - somehow it makes me even more attractive to him :) perhaps it's the confident elusive strong woman I am...
I did have a couple of moments of panic where we had a long tour to go on and I knew I needed to go at some point ... (bm that is) and the toilets in Paris are very few and far between ... so we were having a lot of cafe stops so I could use their loo ...
Strange how I could write a book on toilets in other countries ... but I made it a little joke with myself and didn't take it too seriously.

And I have to admit, I have come home to a mountain of work and study and have spent too long sitting - and guess what?
My tailbone is hurting again, and my bowel habits are slowing down...

Okay, back at it!

Thanks x

louiseds

May 31, 2012 - 6:53pm

Hi Takecare

Listen carefully to what your body is telling you. I think you have made some very interesting observations
about you body while travelling, and about the change when you came home. Three suggestions.

1 Go on more holidays.

2 Become more active in your daily life.

3 Change your seating at work, or stand more if you can.

You are in the middle of a process of eliminating culprits. Don't waste the data you have gathered. Do some more experiments.

I actually agree with you that it is lifting your level of physical activity, and putting all your muscles to work, which will turn out to be the main factor. We are designed to be active. To ignore that is asking for trouble. All our Public Health educators tell us this. Why don't we listen, and find the level of activity which our bodies respond well to?

L

ikam

June 2, 2012 - 6:44am

Yes, I have found it myself that when I am more active I feel much better :)
Also, I was surprised that I responded pretty well to a different food at the restaurant (I was worried that I would upset my balance)...

I am sure, that if I stayed at home, ling down, and resting I would feel much worse...