Questions and need help

Submitted by larougefille on January 30, 2017 - 9:40pm
Body: 

So I was on here a long time ago because I was afraid of prolapse. I adopted the posture and still try to use it but most of my symptoms went away or were just anxiety projections. However, I do have some questions I need clarified.

I'm 24 with no pregnancies. No injury to the area, but I have had IBS and anxiety. I do not strain with BMs, though I have in the past. No other connective tissue weakness. I did used to have bad posture.

Right now I'm experiencing some perenium tension that could just be caused by IBS and stress. I'm assuming the posture will help with that anyway.

My question is: for self-exam, what is normal in terms of how it's supossed to feel up there? When I do a self-exam and cough/strain, I get a slight bulge-out of the front wall- is some movement considered normal just with how mobile the organs are? Of course when I'm bloated I feel like things get squished down a bit. I've seen a gyno a year ago and had them exam me standing and they said I had no issues.

I normally do not have problems peeing except for a bit of shy bladder. I also had a tiny bladder so I pee more than most but it's usually not a crazy amount. What's going on here?

Forum:

Surviving60

January 31, 2017 - 4:23am

I'm not sure there's much of anything going on here, except anxiety. I'm not making light of your concerns, and I know you've written many posts in the past which I have not reviewed. But yes, the organs move around all the time, and the key here is to train your body in the posture and don't let it get away from you just because you aren't feeling symptomatic. That would be a huge mistake. There is more at stake here than just prolapse. I can't tell you what's "normal" on a self-exam; it's a very subjective thing and I'm not the expert when it comes to poking around inside, it's just not something I do very much myself (I might suggest the same approach to you!). - Surviving

larougefille

January 31, 2017 - 10:23pm

Right, I have to agree that my anxiety gets the best of me and for some reason it's obsessed with prolapse (or body dysfunction in general). If I did have anything, I guess it would be a slight laxity in the front wall when bearing down. Regardless, it's my anxiety that's the true problem, one that I'm working on.

I'm probably stressed about it because I've been constipated/bloated and unable to have a BM. For some reason my perenium is spasing and not allowing anything to exit. I found splinting helpful in the end, unsure if that means I have a back wall problem or no... it seems more like it help the perenium release for some reason. I'm going to talk to my doc about that, because these symptoms seem to have come on suddenly.

In the two years since I first discovered whole women I've incorporated the posture into most aspects of my life (though I admit, I'm not militant about it). It's helped my back problems for sure. I work in a physical therapy office, and I see many older people carrying their heads before their bodies with no lumbar curve- most have back and joint issues that are very painful. In our society where getting sick and twisted is the norm, I hope to try and save myself some of the grief through whole woman.

Surviving60

February 1, 2017 - 5:08am

I think that you are on the right track. If splinting helps, that might point to a mild rectocele, and it's most common to have front and back wall issues at the same time. Getting things back into line with posture, observing WW toileting principles, should alleviate the need to splint, but don't be concerned if you have to do it now.

If you will feel better discussing this with a doctor, if you are concerned there is something acute going on, by all means do that. But be aware that doctors (surprisingly enough) and physical therapists too, have a flawed view of female pelvic anatomy and aren't likely to support a postural approach to whatever it going on there. But I think you are far enough into this work to see the truth of it, which really becomes self-evident if given the chance. Keep up the good work! - Surviving

larougefille

February 1, 2017 - 10:13am

If it is mild, it's the mildest form there can be, no real descent at all when coughing, etc. Front wall also feels more flat than "sausage-y" and the bladder doesn't seem to come down with the pressure, more like the wall itself. I think the splinting helps bc my pelvic floor is in spasm and it helps to build up enough pressure to bypass the tight muscles. I was able to go this morning without splinting. This episode probably didn't help anything that was already lax, so I'm hoping being in posture will heal up anything irritated.

The reason I'm going to the doc is this whole thing started only four days ago. That to me says maybe not just structurally related, thought maybe I'm being naive as many women seemed to have developed prolapse issues overnight. I just think it would be odd for me to have a grade .5 cys/rec and be so symptomatic. Regardless, I'm vowing to stop poking around so much and trust in the posture work.

Surviving60

February 2, 2017 - 4:18am

I would venture to say that most of us discover our prolapse suddenly, when in fact, it's been in the works for quite awhile. That's how it was for me; once I understood what was going on, I was able to identify other signs that I had ignored because i just didn't make the connection. Oftentimes a particular event really does push us over the line from asymptomatic to symptomatic, like an afternoon of heavy-lifting yardwork, or a serious "core" workout at the gym. Whatever you did or did not notice, it's been coming for awhile, I can almost guarantee it. - Surviving

larougefille

February 2, 2017 - 12:43pm

I agree that whatever is happening has probably been in the works. However this seems more like a GI issue. Had a long convo with my primary about what is "normal" for the structures down there, gave me confidence that if I did have any issues they were negligible. Am able to go without splinting or straining- I really think that was a tension issue about being unable to relax the muscles as I had been having a couple of very stressful weeks. Anxiety also doesn't help any of those pelvic processes.

I still like the posture and think in the long run it will be very beneficial so of course I will continue with that. I'll also be seeking out therapudic bodywork to reduce overall stress and muscle relaxation. Thanks for your feedback.

larougefille

February 2, 2017 - 6:57pm

Would you recommend this posture for someone with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome? My best friend has it and also vaginismus... unfortunately she's already had surgery to try and loosen the muscles. Would she be at higher risk for POP and would the posture help her?

Surviving60

February 3, 2017 - 5:15am

This posture is really for everyone. It is not something invented or contrived, but rather, it is the natural spinal shape that we all developed as soon as we learned to stand, walk and run. It is not just for prolapse but for overall health of the spine, hips, the whole body/mind. That being said....this isn't a medical forum and I don't know enough about EDS to discuss in that context, and especially if she has surgery on the vaginal muscles......that's something else again! However, I don't think it can hurt her to try it. -- Surviving