First Post Op Physio

Hi all

So I had my first physiotherapy appointment yesterday, 8.5 weeks post SSF, Anterior and Posterior repair.  My consultant recommended this particular physio to me and I must say she was excellent, much better than any physio I've seen in the past!  I am writing this post as it may help some of you who are still in recovery.

I'm 8.5 weeks post now and had a few concerns  which she helped me with yesterday

First concern - The Lump!  The lump is NOT my cervix, it is the back wall which faces my bladder and its barely a lump now, its just where the stitch was and how it has healed, she said perfectly normal.  I can't 'feel' it anymore when walking/sitting etc and could only 'see it'  - this is all fine so a real relief

Second Concern - Bladder.  I didnt have problems with my bladder pre surgery but now I will go for a wee and I think I have finished, stand up and then leak.....very annoying.  She reasssured me that this is totally normally and could be down to a kink that has been ironed out since the surgery or just weakness of the pelvic floor which we are going to work on.  I've got a 'bladder diary' to fill out-  oh joy!

Third Concern - The VAGINA....and laxacity... One of my problems pre surgery was not being able to feel sex as I was 'too large' and was worried tht this hadn't been fixed.  When she examined me I could feel her fingers, but its not the '17 year old vagina' i was expecting and there is definitely still some laxacity.  She told me that  they assess pelvic floor strength on a scale of 0-5  - From what I had told her she presumed that pre -surgery I would have been a '1' but now i'm at '3' and she will work with me to get me to '5'.  This she said will also 'tighten' things up....I hope!

4th Concern - Exercise.  She assured me that I could start light exercise now, but be careful not put pressure on my pelvic floor.  She is going to write a plan for my personal trainer - which will include interabdominable exercise, cardio and body weights.  I asked her about 'core exercises' and she told me to be careful not to do anything that causes your abs to 'dome' - which is most of them!  No sit ups. leg raises etc... She is going to show me some exercises next week!  No Tennis until the 3 month mark as its 'high impact'

I hope that the above helps some of you - but those at the start/middle of recovery please take it easy and don't beat yourself up - every week is different, its bloody tough!!!  Stay strong, there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

K x 

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