Pelvic Floor gone all to pot, have you used one of these?

[Demented]

I have decided to face facts, my pelvic floor is not all it should be, it stands up to aerobics fine but recently I have been trying to do a little running and am experiencing slight problems.

I do regular pelvic floor exercises but wondered if anyone has tried one of these ? If so are they worth it.

Am off to look for the cones now!

Go to GP or HV and ask for referal to Physio....s/he will almost certainly help

NannyJo, perhaps the exercise you are doing is making it worse. I think high impact exercise if meant to be quite bad for a weak pelvic floor as it is so jarring. Calenetics or something like that is really toning, but very low impact. Have you tried Tena Lady by the way - much more absorbent than a normal sanitary towel.

That's excellent KatieMac - unfortunately I feel so worried about the hygiene and standards at our hospital that I'm unsure about having it done. I've been on the receiving end of their mistakes twice now and am appalled by their lack of care.

Have also just had TVT op. Too early to tell if it's worked yet as havent been for six week check. Tried exercises beforehand (and you do have to do them for life even after the op). Please please go to the docs - of course she won't laugh at you. How funny is that problem? I ignored my 'problem' for a while by using pads and then one day ran hell for leather for a bus for work and had to go back home to change my suit instead - that spurred me on to the docs I can tell you!

As regards the cones and aquaflex the physio I had said they used to use those but there is no evidence to support that they really work.

Ellaroo, I think you were posting on this thread at same time as me so i had'nt read your msg. I was really doubtful about hospital as well, went armed with plastic gloves and disinfectant wipes, flip flops for the bathrooms etc. It was OK and I was only in for one night anyway.

Also you are absolute right about the exercise. Doc said no more Bodypump it puts too much strain on the muscles and no running or high impact areobics for just the reason you state.

Even now if I do too much (lifting or high impact - trampoline) my stiches (at the front) 'pull'

But everything else is great

dizzydo - that's interesting - i'd been told i'd need to be in hospital for a week. I don't want to be too intrusive with my questions (sorry, I'm just really keen to know as much as possible before commiting to having it done), but why can't you tell if the operation has worked until your six-week check? - sorry if I'm being dense.

ooohhhhh nnnoooo! i'm trying really hard to train for race for life and i've been running loads and noticing a dramatic change in my fitness. I'd be silly to carry on then but it would be a shame cos i'm doing so well.

I was only in overnight - but I was told that it would be in & out.....but I wasn't

Ellaroo. Yep, I was told I would be in for five to seven days too.

Basically after the op they put a catheta in overnight and once they take it out you have to pee normally and they then scan your bladder to see whether it has emptied properly. If thats all ok and you can do another wee a couple of hours later without any probs you can go. If you retain too much urine they put the catheta back in and I think thats when the time starts racking up. Sorry to go into too much detail for the squeamish!!

The reason I'm not sure if its worked is because my problem was "stress incontinence" which meant I only had the problem when exercising, jumping, running, high impact areobics etc. After the op, it is a bit tender and the only exercise they advise is walking. So it's hard to tell for me if probs gone away yet. You're not being dense. How are you supposed to know? Ask away - that's the beauty of Mumsnet.

Dizzydo, oh I was being dense. With my second child I had a C-section to avoid more damage and remember for the six weeks recovering from that when i was careful not to move too suddenly and my problem completely disappeared (stress incontinence too). Good luck at your 6 week check.

Thanks

Dizzydo & Ellaoo - have they givenyou any idea how long the TVT might last?
They told me they only have 10y of knowledge but it might last longer...or less

I was told it could be redone if it failed....were you told the same?

Yes, I was told the same but ten years relief from that problem is OK in my book and provided all is well I would have it done again. (will have forgotten op by then - wasn't that bad anyway).

10 years is what i'd heard too. However, I think my surgeon is more in favour of the old fashioned methods, but I've read that the recovery time is much greater with this and that TVT is getting fantastic results. However, after ten years of daily pelvic floor exercises maybe you would have the strength to not notice any decrease in effectiveness. I don't know about you but I never bothered with the exercises before children and now wonder if i'd done them for a couple of years before hand, perhaps all this could have been avoided.

I remember a midwife friend saying to me before DD1 that she did her daily pelvic floor exercises out of fear!! I now know she was right. Yes I was very half hearted about the whole thing but wish now I hadn't been. I think problems can be avoided if you do the exercises as a way of life, so those of you who have only just given birth get going with them and you might avoid an op. Think you are absolutely right Ellaroo after ten years of daily exercises you probably would be OK anyway.

I did PFE for most of my twenties and religously during my pg - 'cos my Nana is incont. It's a family problem (probably combined with my ME)

I can't do PFE anymore..... but love wearing sexy knicks again...the pads were so awful

KatieMac, I've heard that if it runs in the family it can be something to do with having poor connective tissue (my mum has the same problem, and this is what I've been told anyway). In the Sunday Times last week in the alternative health bit there was a question about this and something called Galeopsis made by Bioforce was recommended as being good for strengthening this if I am recalling it rightly. I have of course ordered this by the bucket (well 50ml, but will buy in bulk if it helps).

Let me know how it goes...if it's anygood I'll buy some

Referring to the original post, I know someone who had a vaginal prolapse after childbirth and was told she needed surgery. She used the Neurotrac Pelvic tens thingy religiously for four months and managed to avoid the surgery - so, it obviously works! In fact, although my PF isn't too bad, I know it could be better, and I'm going to get one myself.

Arrrgh, noooo, I couldn't give up BodyPump!!! Now frightened to go to the Doc in case an op is recommended, I don't think it's bad enough for that. Also I really don't want to have to give up all the exercise I love, running is the only time it happens and I could live without running!

RosiePosie, good to hear that the tens was a success for your friend. I think I might order one and see how I go with it.

Hi there, I'm a bit of lurker on these pages. I'm a 'doting granny' who wants to learn as much as poss, things are so different nowadays.

But have been very interested in this thread as I 'chickened out' of having a TVT op last year due to reading about some disasters with damaged bladders etc on various forums. So still wearing the pads
Maybe I should re-think? Was told it could be day surgery or possibly overnight stay.
Did you brave ones who have had it done, check out your surgeon much beforehand?

Cresent - that was exactly my worry, to end up with a worse bladder would be awful. I've just started using something called The Pelvic Toner available from Natural Woman though - it basically works on the principle that normal pelvic floor exercises won't do much good because to increase any other muscle you work against resistance (i.e. water, weights etc) to build it up so it is a pelvic floor trainer that uses resistance - you basically have to use your muscles to try and repeatedly close a spring-loaded device. It had fantastic success reports on a couple of sites (ones that were selling it though, so I'm always a bit sceptical about the reems of positive feedback) and I am systematically trying to go through every product on the market before going down the operation route, as I am a complete scaredy cat. I have tried electro-stim and cones and they didn't seem to help much, but I suppose different things work for different people.

Hi Ellaroo,

Think I bought one of those Pelvic Toners ages ago and in my usual fashion, used it for a few weeks and then gave up! Have also tried cones but found even the first stage difficult to hold. Haven't tried the stimulator ones yet as they are that bit more expensive and I'm not sure if they work or if I'd stick with it

I'm finding it difficult to understand the difference between stress, urge and frequecy incontinence . My problem is that I leak a little just after weeing, usually when I stand up.....what would that be classed as??????? And what would help....any ideas???

Stress...I think

Stress = I do something & I wee
Urgency = gotta go gotta go - opps I wee'd
Frequency = frequent flyer points on your loo card