Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Tc on March 29, 2019, 10:16:40 PM
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Hiya ladies. I had an appointment for womens physio at my local hospital and I thought it might be helpful to share my experience.
When I got to the appointment I was a bit shocked as they said the first appointment is a "class". I very nearly didnt go in but im glad I did.
Myself and about 10 other ladies with various bladder issues including bladder prolapse and rectocile sat in a circle. the head of womens physio took the class. I will call her "sarah" she was 20 years in the job. straight talking and I'm glad to say not in the least bit patronising.
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What came out of the session was each and every woman there has been suffering in silence and had to fight to get this far. Several had been told by their docs that "it happens with age" to which Sarah said "that's utter rubbish, it makes me so mad".
She asked us all how it affects our lives and
the relief at being able to talk about it was palpable Every woman in that circle is having their life profoundly affected by it. As I know so many ladies on here are . The sense of shame and embarrassment and the feeling that nothing could be done was sad.
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Almost all had been talked down to by unsympathetic doctors.Some of the things the ladies had been told were truly shocking.
I told her of my struggle to get vagifem prescribed and she said "some doctors need a kick up the bum"
She said it's not just something you have to live with. We can do something about it and that's what were here for.
She said pelvic floor exercises are not always the answer depending on your issue but there are lots of things that can be done including retraining the bladder amongst others. But she said it will be tailored to the individual needs in our one to one sessions.
She was so passionate about it. She said I dont promise miracles but I do promise we will work with each and every one of you until we see an improvement.
We had a bit of a laugh. Shared some stories but the loud and clear message was. It's not your " new normal" it is important and it can be improved.
The class was a one off and its individual therapy from now on and guess who I've booked mine with? I've got to wait 2 weeks as shes the head but she seemed knowledgeable about VA so I think its worth it.
I know a few ladies on here who have had physio but Just thought I'd share and if anyone would like to hear how I get on I will update.
Incidentally. She said under new guidelines in my borough all women who might need a bladder/prolapse repair are now being referred first for physio.
I was referred by my gynae. But I believe GPs can also refer.
Best wishes all. TCx
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It was about 8 weeks sparkle x
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Women's health physios are
brilliant.
I gave a talk to 20 the other week about VA.
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That's great maryjane. You are doing so much for women like us and for future generations too. I will be mentioning your book to her,spread the word maybe she already has it or knows of it.x
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Thanks Tc my GP has recommended this to me too but I have been putting it off. You have given me the nudge to go and fill out the referral form. Please keep us posted
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Go for it herdwick. We realy have nothing to lose.👍👍👍
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TC ......thank you so much .....i will make a stand with my doctor next week and then will hopefully be on a road to some relief from this quite debilitating condition xx
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TC......a bit forward of me and I won't be offended if you decline to answer but what are your symptoms......i have been searching through various threads on here in the hope someone will be presenting the same as me 😳......that's my health anxiety kicking in xx
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Sounds like you've got a good one there Tc, I didn't need surgery for my prolapse, the physio worked along with local oestrogen and I'm sure it will make a huge difference for you too.
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Thanks Deirdre.great to hear you had good results. Very encouraging.
Mrs Bennett. I dont mind sharing at all.
I've always had stress incontinence and frequent cystitis since fairlt young but it's got worse since meno the urge incontinence is new.
I assume you mean bladder rather than all VA symptoms although I'm happy to share that too.
I constantly feel like I have cystitis. (Infection has been ruled out) Need to keep going every two minutes but very little output each time even though I've drunk loads of water. It's a daily battle to stop it turning into agony. If I dont drink enough water even for a couple of hours then i end up in agony. Low tummy pain. Chills. And can feel my urethra burning. But I now have to drink so much water to stop it happening that it makes me feel sick and bloated and it doesnt always work anymore anyway.
At other times I don't get to the loo in time even in my small flat and. I fully wet myself even if my bladder isnt that full. In fact I dont think I know what a full bladder is anymore. I used to be able to stop the flow when sitting on loo (something we were told to practice years ago which the womens physio said the other day we shouldn't be doing. ) but since meno. When I tried I cant stop the flow. I feel as though my urethra is trying to stay "open" all the time if that makes sense and I cant clench it closed.
Hope that helps. Does it ring any bells with you?.
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Thanks Deirdre.great to hear you had good results. Very encouraging.
Mrs Bennett. I dont mind sharing at all.
I've always had stress incontinence and frequent cystitis since fairlt young but it's got worse since meno the urge incontinence is new.
I assume you mean bladder rather than all VA symptoms although I'm happy to share that too.
I constantly feel like I have cystitis. (Infection has been ruled out) Need to keep going every two minutes but very little output each time even though I've drunk loads of water. It's a daily battle to stop it turning into agony. If I dont drink enough water even for a couple of hours then i end up in agony. Low tummy pain. Chills. And can feel my urethra burning. But I now have to drink so much water to stop it happening that it makes me feel sick and bloated and it doesnt always work anymore anyway.
At other times I don't get to the loo in time even in my small flat and. I fully wet myself even if my bladder isnt that full. In fact I dont think I know what a full bladder is anymore. I used to be able to stop the flow when sitting on loo (something we were told to practice years ago which the womens physio said the other day we shouldn't be doing. ) but since meno. When I tried I cant stop the flow. I feel as though my urethra is trying to stay "open" all the time if that makes sense and I cant clench it closed.
Hope that helps. Does it ring any bells with you?.
definitely does for me Tc thank you
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Oooo yes bells ringing for me too.....stopped the drinking of gallons of water in this past week as I'm sure that is agrivateing things more.....i have got that constant staying open feeling......and niggly in the pubis area if that makes sense??
Just feel aware of all my bits constantly so very annoying......when this first started back in December the nurse i saw said to do pulling up pelvic exercise now thinking i have the too tight muscles so doing that has now made it worse too 🙄....hope you feel more comfortable soon and thank you again for your post 😘😘
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The womens physio will be able to tell if it's too tight pelvic muscles. Hope you get your referral. You too herdwick.
Xx
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Your symptoms sound so distressing I am so sorry, it sounds horrible. I hope you get some improvement. Birdy has mentioned a few times about women's physio and reading your post has decided me to ask my gp for a referral. I am glad you have got to see someone who knows what they are talking about and takes it seriously. That it itself helps a bit I think.
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Lets hope we can all get some relief from this......it's in everybody's interest to get us sorted ......i will post again at the end of next week to let you know what the doctor says
Thank you again TC xx
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Sadly it seems these symptoms are very common Suzy. Hope you get a referral.
And yes Mrs Bennett please let us know
Xx
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Interesting read, I was referred to pelvic floor muscle person, I was taught what to do, and over the months it did help, I was leaking a bit every time I went out, no other symptoms. That was last year, but now it's not helping, feeling quite frustrated, I had a full hysterectomy nearly 10 years ago, just hoping it's not a prolapse as I don't have any of the symptoms, one says maybe use the vagifem more than 3 times a week, but that was before I read the latest news that Hurdity put on, so wondering taking it more would help.im 65. So I suppose everything goes pear shaped when you get older.
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Not necessarily rower. As the physio said it isnt just a part of ageing. If you have new symptoms or worsening ones why not ask referred to gynae.especially if it's been a while since you saw one.
Did you find vagifem helped your bladder but stopped working in which case I have read ladies on here say that after being on it a long time they feel doing another 2 week loading dose helps.
I've just started and I've done the 2 week loading dose but I've carried on nightly and will end the loading dose after 3 weeks. I did this off my own back as I just felt i wasn t ready to go to every other day yet which is what I have prescription for..
Xxx
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Yes stella "the new normal". In so sick of that phrase. My bereavement counsellor said it to me. My gynae said it after my oopherectomy and I've heard it far too many times. My "new nornal" stinks and I dont want to accept it so it was a relief to hear the physio say it.
Glad you got on top of your symptoms early with vagifem. It just goes to show how important timely intervention is which many docs dont seem to recognise.
X
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Tc, my gp put me on for two full weeks, I was taking vagifem 3 times a week, during that time I was doing pelvic floor exercise, and was attending every 8weeks for follow up, I had 3 session, and it helped, but the beginning of this year it doesn't seem to be working as well, I still do the exercise everyday as was told I have to do it for life, she said my muscles felt strong, so not sure why I'm leaking not massively but enough to put me down.
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How long have you been on the vagifem rower?
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Tc I think I've been on vagifem for about 8/9 years, I had the hysterectomy in 2009, so I think it must of been a year or so later.
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Rower. Maybe a reload might help then I've seen ladies say they do a reload after a long time on it. Ask your doc about it if you can.
Xx
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Tc thanks, I'm seeing her next week, so will mention it to her
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Nothing to report yet as my appointment isnt til end of month but I would just ask if you have all checked out our very own and very much respected Maryjane's podcast about VA. She talks about womens physio as well as everything related to VA.
The link is on her thread.
I highly recommend a listen.
Xxxx
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Hi Tc I have my appointment with the Women's Health Physio on June 12th. Have some forms they want me to fill out beforehand one of which is over 4 days on liquid intake, measuring in a jug how much I pee and whether I wet myself including a drop or enough to wet clothes and another form is for how often I leak and whether it interferes with my daily life. Did you also have forms to fill out beforehand?
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Hiya herdwick. Great news you got your appointment.
My first one to one appt is on Tuesday and the letter says to arrive 20 minutes early to fill out some forms which I guess will be the ones you've got
I havent got the pee in a jug instructions though. Sounds like fun!! :)
Xx
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Hi Tc I have my appointment with the Women's Health Physio on June 12th. Have some forms they want me to fill out beforehand one of which is over 4 days on liquid intake, measuring in a jug how much I pee and whether I wet myself including a drop or enough to wet clothes and another form is for how often I leak and whether it interferes with my daily life.
I had to fill in the forms and measure the urine intake and output. It's good that you have got these to do too. The whole appointment was very relaxed. If it's like mine then you will have a catheter inserted and the bladder is filled with a saline solution. You are asked to let them know, as the bladder fills, at which point you would consider needing to go to the loo and then when it becomes a bit more urgent and when you are desperate. This is all connected up to a computer system which shows the amount of "stretch" in your bladder as it fills. If I remember rightly you are then asked (and I found this the most embarrassing part) to jump up and down on a mat which measures how much leakage you have. You will then be taken to a special toilet to empty your bladder. This measures the speed at which your bladder actually gets rid of the urine to ascertain whether you have any flow problems and whether it fully empties. It sounds a bit embarrassing but it is necessary to find out exactly what your problem is.
I found it really helpful and was given quite a few sessions with bio feedback which taught me the correct exercises to do and by watching on the computer screen as I did them it was easy to see whether I was pulling up the right muscles. It got very competitive as the sessions went on with me trying to beat my previous months score!
Taz x
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Taz. I wonder why I didnt get the urine intake test? Did you do it before your first appt or after?
Xx
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Oops I meant urine output not intake. That would be disgusting :)
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Hi ladies......as my GP won't refer to a womens physio i have made a private appointment...... even have to wait 2 weeks for that 🙄 .....however GP wants me to do a pee diary 😳......ie measuring input and output over one day.....also being referred for a bladder scan....my last urine culture came back as negative so that is good but I still have symptoms 😔......Doctor has now prescribed estring as apposed to Vagifem.....haven't filled it yet though ......really don't know what to do for the best xx
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Mrs B. You've had a lot of information at once. So try to break it down. You have your appointment. And i know it's still a wait but it's in place. And gp has referred for scan so you are further ahead than you were.
As far as the estring I'm sure other ladies will be able to share their experience of it. Why dont you fill the scrip.so you've got it if you decide to use it. And in the meantime maybe a separate post about it might garner more replies.
Sending love to you Mrs B xxxx
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Morning Tc and thank you..... will try to take your advice 😘.....just want to feel normal but I guess that's what we all want 🙄 feel so like a hypochondriac and i have mega health anxiety at the moment.....xx
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Thanks Tc and Taz2 for your informative replies. I have quite a long wait so will only do the 4 day intake and output a few days before June 12th
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Taz. I wonder why I didnt get the urine intake test? Did you do it before your first appt or after?
Xx
Sorry I missed this. Yes it was just before my first appointment. I got instructions with the appointment letter.
Taz x
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Hiya ladies. Thought I'd give an update
I had my appointment today.
She did an exam. She said I havent got a prolapse. The pelvic floor muscles are average, not realy bad but shes given me the exercises to do.squeeze for 5 and release. She said to make sure you give plenty of time to release and relax muscles properly between each one. And do it 40 times a day spread out over the day.
She said to me "you need to take an oral tablet for your thrush". I had no idea I had it. I'd had no symptoms at all. I'm wondering if the vagifem has caused it.
Not much else was done today realy but I'm relieved theres no prolapse. . Next time I'm going to ask why I havent been given the output test. I forgot today!!
She is a bit older than me and she said "menopause is shit isnt it?" Refteshing to hear a medical proffessional say that.
Next appointment in a month.
Xxx
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Thanks for the update Tc. Good that you don't have a prolapse. Hopefully I will find my appointment in June straightforward because I have already had a cystoscopy and the scans with a full and empty bladder which were okay so hopefully have completed some of the steps that they might want to check
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Great news not having a prolapse, one less thing to deal with and good advice re the exercises for prevention. I must keep up with mine, tend to forget once it's all ok.
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An update ladies. I have been a couple more times to womens physio. And went again today. Since my last post the gynae diagnosed grade one bladder and uterrne prolapse. . It cant have just appeared since May when I was told there was no prolapse.so mustve been there then but she said it's more easily felt later in the day.
I asked about all the devices out there to help with pelvic floor and she was a bit dismissive of then. The only thing she recommends is that once .muscles are strong enough using weights might help. But you've got ti get them strong first to be able to hold it in. Mine were a "3" two months ago and now she said they're heading to a 4 (pelvic muscle strength 0-5) so the old excersises must be working. Thought that might encourage those of you who arent doing them to start!!!
. I had done an input output chart. But we ran out of time as I got so caught up in the prolapse thing. From a cursory look she thinks I may have intersial cystitis I think it's called that. Havent looked it up yet. l. She said it looks as though im not emptying properly. But we will discuss more next month when shes had a good look at my chart.
IMy gynae has asked my gp to refer me to a uro gynae
So that's my update thought it might interest those who looked at my original post.
Xxxx