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Women's health

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Original poster

Weak pelvic floor

21 replies

floppybit · 10/08/2022 22:20

I wouldn't say I'm incontinent but I'm a bit leaky downstairs. Sorry if this is grim, but at the end of the day I often notice that my knickers are damp and smell of wee. I really don't want this getting worse as I get older. I'm mid 40s with 2 dc. I've tried doing pelvic floor exercises using the NHS app but it's made no difference. Can anyone recommend any kind of kegel eggs or something I haven't thought of that might help?!

OP posts:
Acreativeusername · 10/08/2022 22:21

Oh bless you…. I’m not far of so shamelessly following

Triotriotrio · 10/08/2022 22:23

Look on YouTube for Gusset grippers. She is a funny Scottish physio who has an 85% success rate with treating incontinence.

I wish I'd found her earlier, but I had a caginal mesh put in which fixed my incontinence. Before that I uses a pelvic tens machine which you insert whilst you do the exercises. It did help a bit, but my pelvic floor was screwed.

Triotriotrio · 10/08/2022 22:24

She has a webpage too: www.gussetgrippers.co.uk/experience

Rollerbird · 10/08/2022 22:27

I would go to the gp and ask for a referral to an NHS pelvic health physiotherapist.
I did this 2 years ago (age 53)
I had problems from about 30
It took a while to get the appointment but I saw her regularly for about 6 months.
They teach you how to do the exercises properly, if they don't work there are further options they can refer you to. There are a lot of things that they can work at with you.

MarmiteCoriander · 10/08/2022 22:27

I would ask GP for a pelvic physio referral. I will be looking up gusset grippers in the interim though 😀

Original poster
floppybit · 10/08/2022 22:30

@Triotriotrio thanks for the recommendation, I will take a look at that

OP posts:
CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 10/08/2022 22:33

My friend swears by this...
www.kegel8.co.uk

She was struggling when running and laughing etc, always been sporty but still struggled to engage those muscles with exercises. She uses it while doing chores round the house and she says it has made a world of difference. I think I'll get it at some point as I would also like to improve mine but I'm OK, only affects me in certain situations.

Astrabees · 10/08/2022 22:35

I was cured of this problem by the nhs womens physio at or local hospital. Riding a bouncy horse or attempting star jumps at the gym were big problems for me, and getting a cough. I was shown exactly how to do the exercises and it took a very long time - 3 months for significant progress and 6 for total relief. You have to carry on to maintain it but so worth it. Mine said that even in your 90s the exercises work if you do them as directed.

Rollerbird · 10/08/2022 22:37

I bought the kegel8 but my physio said in my situation it was counter productive as I was having issues with quickly relaxing my muscles after squeezing them, and this made it worse. So I would check with the physio. They can also input special programs on it for you if it is suitable.

RidingMyBike · 10/08/2022 22:37

I did a Pilates based course called holistic core restore. It taught me how to do the exercises properly and integrate with other exercise. Has made such a difference!

OverTheRubicon · 10/08/2022 22:39

Go to your GP and get properly checked - it might be just some kegels, but for example you could benefit from a physio to give proper guidance on how to do them, you could have an underlying prolapse, if you're at or near menopause you could benefit from topical oestrogen.

Original poster
floppybit · 11/08/2022 08:55

Wow, loads of great advice, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
floppybit · 11/08/2022 08:56

I hadn't even considered going to the doctor because the problem is only mild and I thought they would think I'm wasting their time, but maybe now I will

OP posts:
Astrabees · 11/08/2022 10:05

In our area you can self refer to the womens' health phisio if you want to. I think a sense of humour is a requirement for the ;job, the one I saw was a hoot, and I looked forward to the visits!

Hiheyho · 11/08/2022 20:21

Have you done these sessions, please? My gynocologist recommended me this treatment today

Astrabees · 12/08/2022 12:06

Was it me or OP you were asking? I did do the sessions, did everything the phisio asked me to and after about 3 months I was 90% better. After 6 months I was 100% . For me this meant I could cough, not worry about leaping about in exercise classes any more and ride a horse (lots of jiggling about and unexpected movements riding a horse) without having to worry.

mummyof2xxxxxxx · 29/09/2022 16:26

i would highly recommend a Mummy MOT at www.thehealthsuite.co.uk. it changed my life

Mrstiggywinkle44 · 09/10/2022 17:23

Search for FPOPS UK on Facebook loads of advice on there

Tornandbroken · 21/06/2023 21:11

@elizabethdraper did you try the emsella chair?? What was your experience of it ? Would you recommend?

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