reka108

I am not feeling very well at the moment...

My rectocele is definitely worse than ever before. And I have the constant feeling of fullness that is very difficult to bear - though I suppose one can get used to it. I do not have constipation, even though it feels like. My diet is fairly good, have been a vegetarian for 20 years, eating organic food most of the time, etc. But I will definitely rethink it.

I also think that I have exaggerated the posture a bit: lifting up my tailbone rather than just letting it be in the natural angle. This placed undue pressure on the area. Now I try to be more relaxed about the posture and see what happens.

Reading the posts on this site definitely seems that most people have problems with their rectoceles. I just wonder whether the posture is less effective with this problem than with uterine and bladder prolapse. It would make sense as with the posture the bladder and the uterus lie nicely on the pubic bone while the rectum will still be out of place and press on the vagina if the fascia is damaged.

Not that I have any other options (PT, Kegels, e-stim, homeopathy, acupuncture all tried) so the posture will HAVE to work. And I try to restore my hope that one day I will be able to have a normal, happy, fairly comfortable life with this condition.

Many thanks again for all of you for the encouragement,
Reka xxx

PS. On a happier note: yesterday I watched in bewilderment how my three-year-old son went to all fours to sneeze - mum must have made a huge impact on him, LOL...

I think Susan is right Reka!

I didn't see things improve dramatically except with my uterus, but realised that there had been a very slow improvement of my rectocele over several months. I really think the whole issue of hormones post partum was the thing, possibly the relaxin slowly draining out of the system?

Now when I look back a year I see a HUGE improvement from now to then in tightness of the area and how everything is so much pulled up now compared to then.

I really too was in a place where I thought about this CONSTANTLY! Now I think of it when I am here, and the reason I am still here is because I like this place so much for the support and sisterhood and I always have so much to learn. Otherwise I don't think of it much at all during the day, even when I am doing yard work etc.

I also remember the place you are in well. It feels quite clausterophobic I remember, but you will get through and out the other side.

My daughter also went through a stage of bending at the waist to cough, funny how they watch us so closely.

Hugs!

Michelle.

The logic we are using here suggests that all the pelvic organs are subject to loss of support when the spine and pelvis move from natural extension to chronic flexion accompanied by pathologic breathing patterns. For reasons I describe in the book, we become especially vulnerable to spinal flexion post-partum.

The sigmoid colon – sometimes called the pelvic colon – comes off the rectum and traverses the pelvis forward and toward the right to become the descending colon. The intestines are packed very tightly in the belly, but there is a natural shape to the large bowel and we carry (or should carry) the bulk of this mass out in front. In the old days of medicine they used to talk about stomach and intestinal prolapse as very real problems. I doubt any of us with significant pelvic organ prolapse have perfectly situated intestinal organs.

Therefore, it stands to reason that the lowest point in the intestine would take the longest to reposition once we begin the postural and breath work. When I stretch into the posture it is very easy for me to think of pulling up my rectum by the strength and shape of my spine, the pull literally originating at the crown of my head.

The rectum has also been “blown out” by years of chair toilets. Discontinuing this practice, instituting a very healthy diet, and perhaps even internal massage may help ease the rectum back and heal the fascial layers. I know it takes a lot of patience, but we have discovered here that it is absolutely possible.

I understand your frustration because I continued to struggle with the rectocele after starting the posture. The posture seemed to immediately help my other prolapses but not the rectocele. I was on a special diet while nursing so couldn't play with my diet a lot so I was waiting until I stopped but then I got pregnant again! So now I am done nursing but have to deal with the how pregnancy affects my prolapse. I have awful pregnancy sickness so trying to change me diet is the last thing on my mind right now. I try to eat whatever I can. So again I wait and deal with this bothersome pressure. Since you just had a baby I think should give yourself some time because I think slowly things will get better. As for the rectocele, it seems like diet change has made the biggest difference for people so if you are willing you could try Christine's suggestions, even get her diet book. One thing that has helped me deal with being uncomfortable is the v2 supporter. I highly recommend it in the meantime.

for clarifying that. That makes a lot of sense. I wish that I lived closer to you to be able to get your book faster...

Thanks everyone for you kind words. I don't know what I would do without you. Seriously.

I have decided to keep my chin up (uhm, that is down, in posture) and make the necessary changes in my life. As my husband put it: I am stronger than to be beaten by this condition. I will get well no matter how long it takes.

This afternoon I took out the kids for a long walk, played a lot with them, called up my friends and generally took my mind off the pressure in my backside. And I am already feeling better.

Thanks again,
Reka xxx