New and making sense of my symptoms

Submitted by Pinetree on March 11, 2016 - 9:17am
Body: 

Hi,
I just posted yesterday for the first time and am thankful for the welcome and support I've
Already received. I realize there is a lot of info on the forums that have been helpful to read. I'm a bit pressed for time lately though, so thought I'd just ask instead of trying to sift through the info right now.

Can anyone make sense of my symptoms?
They started about 2 weeks ago with pressure "above" my vagina. That subsided after my period ended and I stopped jogging. Then for a few days it was mostly bladder pressure. After a few more days, that bladder pressure is gone. But now, at the end of the day, I get a rectal pressure. It feels like I'm constipated and the stool is right there, sitting heavy in my behind. Quite uncomfortable!

I am regular (one bm every morning), that's how I've always been. When I do go in the morning, it comes out easily. No splinting like others have to do as I've read. It's just this unwanted pressure. Sometimes my behind feels sore when I'm sitting in the car, as though I had suffered a fall on my bum.
My symptoms aren't always there although I was out and about driving yesterday with little one and woke up still with pressure this morning. Usually it doesn't appear until evening. Sometimes my actual anus feels funny too. That feeling is hard to describe...maybe tingly?

Is it possible that as a 6 month postpartum mom that the possible bladder issue is healing but now it's somehow moved to rectum (perhaps gravity)? My doc prescribed estrogen cream which I've been using for 9 days. I was breastfeeding so my levels were low. I have stopped breastfeeding about 2 weeks ago though.

I'm trying to remain hopeful that I'm healing fast enough (no more bladder heaviness!) but am not welcoming this rectal pressure.

Also, would there be an optimal position to sleep in?
And Kegels: before knowing better, I was doing them. Perhaps this caused the rectocele. Uh oh.

Thoughts?

Thanks kindly

Forum:

Aging gracefully

March 11, 2016 - 11:39am

Hi Pinetree,
You will find from reading the many accounts on the forum from the other postpartum moms on here that everything you are experiencing is not unusual for postpartum prolapse issues. Many of our new moms have experienced varying degrees of what you describe. Please do some reading around, because their posts will really help to relieve the anxiety about this.

The best thing you can do for yourself at this point is to really start reading about Christine's work and how the posture will help alleviate these symptoms. It may seem simplistic, but it really works, for women of all ages.

You can lie down in any position that is comfortable to you, because that's when the intrabdominal pressure is off your pelvic organs. It is when we are up and about that that pressure is working to either help pull your organs into your lower belly where they belong when in posture, or as you have noticed the pressure works negatively when not in posture. That's why it is so important to learn all the aspects of the posture and all the tricks and tips to get you through your days more comfortably.

By the way, I'd ditch the estrogen cream, that stuff is not good for anyone.

Surviving60

March 12, 2016 - 5:18am

The medical establishment does a dismal job with women's pelvic health, but it is particularly hard for a new mom still under a doctor's care to distance herself from all of that. So I hope you'll pursue the knowledge that this site and Christine's works have to offer. You've stopped breastfeeding, so your hormones will be returning to normal, and there is no reason to expose yourself to these extra hormones now! Let your body do its own thing. - Surviving

emmline

March 12, 2016 - 6:40am

I'm a year or so into menopause, and my kids are in their 20s, so we're not same stage of life. However, my symptoms didn't develop until the past year, and I do relate to some of the sensations you describe.

I think that in a state of vaginal dryness, which can occur post-partum/breastfeeding, as well as in menopause, our entire pelvic organ gestalt seems to be a lot touchier, rather than just taking care of itself and minding its own business, like we were used to.

Depending on what's going on down there, I may be more-than-usual aware of bladder pressure/urethral twingling/vaginal irritation/rectal pressure. In fact, taking that last item, even if I'm not on the verge of needing to evacuate, just having some filling up going on in that area can have sensation repercussions that branch out so they affect the whole region.

Chances are, when you are back to the normal monthlies, your pelvic environment will feel more well behaved. In my case, it's faithful application of honey 2x/day to keep the zone microbiotically happy, relatively impeccable eating habits to keep the poo soft and the bad bacteria unfed, and careful posture.

I think, based on experimentation, that everyone here is right--classic kegels aren't the greatest. I'm still carefully monitoring what forms of exercise leave me feeling best, without causing damage.

As for sleeping--I would love to sleep on my stomach, but it strains my neck. I usually am good with side-sleeping, wrapped around a body pillow, but I often end up on my back anyway, and it doesn't seem to make much difference as to how I feel in the morning. So, I think any comfortable position is ok.

Pinetree

March 12, 2016 - 9:48am

It's funny how things come and go. Yesterday was a bad day for whatever reason with rectal pressure symptoms. Today the pressure isn't there as much, symptoms are better at the moment except for the mild feeling that there is a small marble just inside the anus.
I might start keeping a daily diary with my symptoms and activities, etc.

I continue to monitor my posture and just hope and hope that this will get better as the days pass.

Aging gracefully

March 12, 2016 - 2:50pm

Hi pinetree,
You will find fluctuations with symptoms at any given time, so don't get discouraged about that. That is the thing about studying Christine's work; you will find techniques to help you through the more symptomatic days.

Since you are so new yet, can you tell us what your understanding of posture is?

Pinetree

March 12, 2016 - 7:09pm

Hi Aging Gracefully,
For posture, I have been relaxing my stomach so my belly hangs out (getting used to this!), I'm pulling my chest up and trying to relax the shoulders. I find sometimes my lower back gets sore but it's not too bad. I'm sure it'll also get better as I lose some of the baby belly eventually.

Hopefully I'm doing it right. I was wondering also: is the breath concentrated in the belly, like seeing it rise up and down instead of the chest?

I have yet to order Christines materials but just made a few big purchases lately so will unfortunately have to wait a little while.

Aging gracefully

March 13, 2016 - 7:51am

Hi pinetree,
Going over the forum and especially this site will give a great introduction to Christine's work, but they don't replace the work itself. Many of us have purchased her products one at a time, so for a beginning. The First Aid For Prolapse DVD has all the basics that will get you well on your journey with whole woman. This DVD also shows and describes all the aspects of whole woman posture, how you should hold yourself throughout the day, and the breathing.

You can find all kinds of people talking about posture on here, but it is not the same as Christine explaining it and the importance of why we are doing it in the first place.

Pinetree

March 13, 2016 - 9:14pm

Ok maybe I'll get the First Aid video first instead of buying a whole package for now. I may also look into the yoga ones. Looking forward to building strength in a safe way!

Sunshine and Rain

March 15, 2016 - 3:57pm

Hi Pinetree,

I too am 6 months PP and have the same symptoms (I have the lovely cyst/rect combo). I do find that bladder issues are easy to manage and I have a tougher time with the rectocele stuff. I will explain what works for me in hopes that it helps you - my backside pain/tailbone pain is exacerbated by poor posture and lifting too much at once (i.e. Picking up small children all day). I find I have no pain if I've rested all day and have had help with the kids (an unusual occurrence!). So, I try sitting in excellent WW posture, keeping my weight evenly distributed and off my tailbone. I also avoid any lifting that feels streineous at all (this helps when things are bad, occasional lifting when I'm feeling good usually doesn't hurt). Another thing that contributes to my backside pain is hard stool, even if I am regular- so I try to drink up!

Rectal pressure is annoying I know. This kreeps up on me when I've spent s couple of days being lazy and not mindfully practicing posture and healthy eating. I notice this a lot on days when I've been super busy and have neglected myself. When things are bad the only thing that takes the pain and pressure away for me is the exercises in the first aid for prolapse dvd. Sometimes it only takes the pain away for 5 minutes until I go about my day again, but those 5 minutes are bliss and I am confident that pain-free time will get longer the more I do it.

Another thing that is so so important for us pp mamas is quality rest! My symptoms are non existant in the morning when I've gotten 10 hrs of sleep (yes, 10 hrs!) versus 6/7 hrs when I wake up completely symptomatic. When I first discovered my prolapse I was super diligent with posture, diet, rest and saw drastic improvement after a couple months. Then I got cocky and stopped being so careful, and am back to feeling crummy again- but I know I can get better again! It's a slow road but you will feel better if you keep it up for a few months!!