To think this could be a tight pelvic floor?

[pickledwillies]

For context - I'm 32, never had children.

Had ongoing issues with a UTI for the past 6 weeks. Antibiotics seemed to have cleared most of it, but GP prescribed longer-term ones as it kept coming back.

However, I've noticed that I still feel "weird" after going to the bathroom. A kind of tingliness after I come out. Not during urination itself. It's very strange. Everything feels kind of "opened up". I wondered whether it's an allergy to the toilet paper or something! I've been Googling and also found pelvic floor dysfunction - maybe it's that?

Has anyone else had a tight pelvic floor'pelvic floor dysfunction (unrelated to having children) that presented with a weird, non-specific "tingly" or "opened up" feeling after urination? I also find I have to go to the bathroom quite quickly after going once, but it's not "urgency" as such.

It's not at all how I experienced tight pelvic floor, no. But it doesn't mean you don't have it. Is your pelvic floor often tense for no reason? That's the obvious clue!

Actually reread your post and the 'opened up' feeling sounds like the exact opposite of tight PF.

@PipsHip Ah, thanks! Hmm, maybe it's loose/weak. Who knows. Just struggling to get any answers!

If it's causing you health problems (it's unclear from your post of it's a problem for you, or it's just that you find it weird!) then ask to see a women's health physio/ pelvic health physio. In some areas you can self refer. They are the experts on all things pelvic floor. They can easily tell you if it's weak or strong, loose or tight, and what to do about it.

If you just find it weird and want to know more, there are private women's health physios out there too.

@PipsHip Thanks! I guess it's a bit of both. It feels weird, a bit "wrong" and therefore a bit disconcerting. It's not massively debilitating or anything, but I always get a bit anxious about these things...

Good shout on the women's health physio - may just do that.

I had similar issues. Struggled to wee and always felt like I wasn't finished. All urine tests were normal. My main issue was a struggle to initiate a stream and then feeling that I could not stop peeing and I could go 4 times in the space of 15 minutes.

I would get constant pelvic pain and cramps, bowel issues and extreme bloating. Pain in pelvis was worse when sitting. Could literally feel my stomach expand.

Dr diagnosed IBS and I took medication for that which didn't completely get rid of the pain.

Then a couple of weeks ago I hurt my back quite badly. The GP wanted to do an examination up my bum and discovered that my leviator ani muscle was tight. I had my first physio appointment yesterday for my back and she gave me some exercises for my pelvic floor as well. Leviator ani is a form of pelvic dysfunction.

Those symptoms are worth getting checked before they progress, especially if you have any numbness around your vagina or anus.

@Thelnebriati Will do! Were you thinking of anything in particular? It's not numbness really, just discomfort.

Its probably something really simple and treatable like very low Vitamin D levels, but that can get surprisingly bad and affect your lower back. I'm post treatment and still having trouble walking! I'm also seeing the spinal physiotherapist as I have other problems as well.
Ask your GP for a blood test for Vit D (you need a prescription, the OTC stuff wont help if its that) and tell them about all the symptoms.

I think @Thelnebriati is right, it is worth checking it out. The other thing I was thinking of is possibly a mild cystocele prolapse (unlikely but does fit symptoms) and if it is that then seeing a physio at this stage would likely mean you can control it with PF exercises tailored to you, and avoid any nasty symptoms in future. Probably not that, but worth getting in early if it is.

@pickledwillies how u feeling now?