hit a wall

Submitted by orange on July 9, 2014 - 5:42am
Body: 

Hi all

About 2 months ago I was feeling my best since I had my son. I was doing my workouts very regularly, eating well and had returned to my pre-preg body weight. My prolapse was assessed as stage 1 by 3 different docs, the best read in 12 months. (Originally stage 3 front&back wall & uterine).

I was so happy I was feeling like I could conquer my condition or live comfortably with where I was at. I set my sites on looking for that extra 10% improvement and intended to get it.

I think I got too confident and somehow instead of power on I relaxed a little. I was lifting my son and carrying him around-which I usually avoided-because I felt like I was missing out but my son started to call my husband 'mum' and I thought no way! I'm going to carry him around like all other mums I see do.

I started to relax into the couch and eat ice cream and then winter hit and I got a little low on motivation. Then I got a urine infection. That along with my period was hell. Still treating the urine infection.

I think it was from my sponge pessary which I rely on every day. So I couldn't wear it for a while and I couldn't do my DVDs each day as I was too sore and now my whole vagina feels saggy baggy jelly like again and I'm down. I put my finger in the other day and could barely find an openning it was all full again of things it shouldn't be.

I hate that you work so hard and as soon as I start to celebrate it I hit this wall and it is mostly my fault. :(

I've been really consistent since Aug last year and Christine's work gave me my life back and my identity back. I'm so upset I've let it slip! And feeling unwell is hard too.

What you put in you get out. It's a set back. The only thing to do is pick it up again and try harder.

Thanks for reading

x

Forum:

Surviving60

July 9, 2014 - 4:30pm

Hi orange - setbacks are just a part of this process. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't learn to appreciate how we can come back from them. But something is missing from your post. I don't see the "p" word anywhere, and I don't have a warm fuzzy sense that what you are doing is full-on Whole Woman work.

It doesn't make any difference if you don't always have time to do a DVD. Most of us don't. But if you are truly in Whole Woman posture, you are always doing the work, so there is never any excuse nor any need to be slacking off. It's how you carry yourself all day long. So don't beat yourself up for missing a workout; rather, vow to stay in the best WW posture possible for all your waking hours.

If your normal state has been to wear a sponge pessary, including workouts, then I'm not surprised that you feel differently since you have removed it. I'm not clear on what you think this pessary does. It doesn't improve your prolapse, it just masks your symptoms and distances your mind and body from this entire process.

As Christine has pointed out numerous times, carrying a baby close to your body is one of the best things for new moms and one of the best things for prolapse! In excellent posture, the extra weight actually helps keep the vagina closed and flattened against intraabdominal pressure. It's the lifting itself that can be tricky, but if you hinge from the hips, not the waist, you can maintain lumbar curvature and organ support.

Do you understand the elements of posture? Can you give us an example of how you maintain it through the day? - Surviving

Aussie Soul Sister

July 9, 2014 - 5:41pm

Hi Dear Orange,
Just a note to offer encouragement
- often we don't realize the benefits of what we are doing until we stop!
My main motivation to learn and do the DVDs was to fix my hip instability,
but the posture alone helped so much.
I have had to take things very slowly and listen to my body - it will tell you!
If you can do some WW walking it will help immensely - it doesn't have to be a long walk or fast - just go at your own pace. I just walk up and down my street daily if I can.
I notice a sense of peace and better circulation ( my hands are not going to sleep nearly as much and less numb fingers and tingling), along with making sure I have enough water.

If you don't already, try emptying your bladder on all fours daily to make sure any residual urine is emptied as that can contribute to infections - WW posture will help the bladder to sit with the opening in the right place to empty fully.
I now find setbacks are a reminder as difficult as they can be to get back on track and find a way to heal.
I do hope you are feeling better soon -
let us know how you are going,
Best wishes,
Aussie Soul Sister

orange

July 10, 2014 - 8:26pm

Thank you for responding its a great comfort to me.

Yes you are right. At times I catch myself out of Posture and I recognize it And change back. It's not 100% all the time. I find I'm better on the days I start the day with a dvd because it gets me in gear. One thing I have 100% changed is not holding my belly in and breathing better. This has been the biggest adjustment. It's challenging in the midst of a work day at my computor and on the phone etc I catch myself leaning forward at times. Also I wear high heels some days to work which isn't ideal.
I love to walk but it's hardest right now as I struggle to fit it in. I remember in summer walking after I put the baby to bed but now is dark at 5pm and is not safe and its very wet.
I'm picking myself back up now and back on to being more concious and more aware so I should get back to better results soon.
I know what the sponge does and that's why I use it. It gives me some distance from the problem mentally and emotionally and I value that. It's been a real help.
I'm back on the Wagon and I've had great results before so it's a matter of getting back there.
Its just isolating sometimes and I felt down recently...

Surviving60

July 11, 2014 - 5:51am

I know this might sound strange, but I sense that you are trying to put the whole thing out of your mind, instead of embracing and even loving your symptoms because of all the things they can teach you. If the sponge makes you forget about your prolapse, then it's also making you forget about posture. It was the constant feedback from my symptoms that helped me to remember posture and to learn what is good and what is bad as I go throughout my day. How can you even see your progress or know when you're having a good day, if you have something wedged up there holding things out of the way, but not really addressing the problem? Try to lighten up about all of this, learn to visualize your organs being held forward by the shape of your spine and the forces of gravity. How we visualize all this is quite important. Try to limit sponge use and work directly with your symptoms as much as possible. Learn to love and appreciate your body and what the WW work teaches you about it. Please try! - Surviving

orange

July 24, 2014 - 6:58am

Thank you Surviving

There is truth to what you have said and I've focused harder on posture lately and the more you focus the more you can improve.

I went through a stage of being obsessed and doing it all 100% and I did really well. I wasn't yet back at work and my son was much less mobile. I had more freedom to concentrate on the teachings. I wasn't using the sponge and my symptoms were severe on worst days and manageable on others. But I was home full time and I could rest if needed.

I'm challenged by my toddler a lot, he's 18 months and is heavier to handle and my posture is frequently compromised. Its all the incidental things like bending over to hold his hand walking or catching him before he falls, getting him into his cot etc the list goes on. I also used to have help with housework and I don't now so laundry/dishes is challenging.

My body has definitely changed with the work - my belly is forward and I stand tall. And I'm stronger overall. Its really helped me and I enjoy the benefits.

I can still feel better or worse with sponge, it doesn't mask all the symptoms. A lot depends on that time of the month.

I do visualize frequently and sometimes gently try to engage an isolated part of the pelvic region just to see how powerful the connection is - definitely not a contraction or kegal but I try to 'light up' the nerves in one muscle or tissue area to remember its intelligence.

I don't know that I could hold down my part-time job if I didn't wear the sponge. I am scared at the thought of not using it. I can't lay down to rest or anything if needed....ill have to put more thought into it.

Thank you

Surviving60

July 24, 2014 - 8:31am

It sounds to me like you are doing fine. You have a good understanding of this work. Don't worry about the sponge; wear it when you feel you need it. It's all about managing your life around prolapse and I can see the sponge is a tool and not a crutch; it isn't interfering. Keep up the good work. - Surviving