Has anyone needed Vagina PT or Vagina valium?

Good day Matron. He prescribed 40. Do you know anything about the physical therapy part? Am not comfy with someone massaging my pelvic wall vaginally! 😞😡😖😷😧

I can't say I blame you to be honest. It's not something that's done very often in the UK so I don't know much about it at all just what I've read. From what I recall the therapist massages the thighs to begin with then inserts a speculum to allow them to insert a finger to find the trigger points but it's not something I'd recommend soon after prolapse surgery because there will be sutures possibly not dissolved. Have you been recommended to have this diana?

Yes my Doctor insisted. But its just weird! ! Not sure I'm going to do it!! Smh. Just awkward😧😷😖😡😞

If I'm honest I don't think I would either, just because like you I think it's weird and I don't want someone poking around. It's bad enough having an internal examination. I wonder if it's popular in the USA? I've never heard a doctor recommending it to a patient here in the UK but no doubt there'll be ladies going to see private therapists in places like London.

Thanks. Again

Physio in the US

Sorry. PT means physical therapy.

Thank you Stephanie you have helped immensely. My doc did tell me a speculym will be used. I appreciate your time. I will keep you updated 💖

I have read that most therapists prefer to use a speculum and I have spoken to a friend who is a research urogynaecology nurse (in the UK) and she described the procedure to me and again mentioned the speculum. Apparently to to check inside the vagina and look at the cervix. It's also a safeguard to ensure there's no reason as to why the procedure shouldn't be performed for example if there was an abnormality or any sign of prolapse for instance.

I wouldnt want a speculum used right after surgery either.  It's possible that it is different in the US or that they used a speculum once and I don't remember it.  I had PT pre-op so I wasn't as speculum shy.

For me, most of the PT was gentle massage both internally and on my abdomen.  Trigger point massage like Stephanie said.  We also spent a fair amount of time working on breathing exercises.

my PT was very gentle and professional.  It wasn't embarrassing or uncomfortable and it helped a great deal.

The speculum is removed before the procedure takes place, it's only used as an aid to help in an examination. It's recommended apparently because some women have a prolapse for instance and aren't aware they have. There are other disorders of the vagina or pelvic floor area that need to be ruled out as well. I know to a lot of us who have had or have a prolapse that may sound strange but I know it happens quite often. As I said to diana I had very little knowledge of this procedure and that's why I sought advice from a friend.

Yes please elaborate. I am aware all docs and therapist are different. My doctor did mention his Put figures use a speculym for proper fiber placement. Either way I'm scared. Thank you love 👍

Thank you Matron. I appreciate everyone input no one is wrong here BC every doctor and therapist is different. My doctor did Not give me a binder, I knwe about it from a friend and bought myself one! Honestly I have no idea his women recover without one!! My doc did inform me that the Put will be using a speculym did proper finger placement, I just dont know if it stays . I truly appreciate every person trying to help me figure things out. What a God send you all are👼💋👼💋 Its very scary process!

Hello diana. The speculum would be used to check internally and I've been told that it may have to be used if the vagina is "tight" for instance to allow access

OK, I will elaborate diana.

I saw a PT because my pelvic floor was in spasm.  This was pre-op.  I had a rectocele that needed surgery but my doctor wanted me to do PT first.

On my first visit it was mostly evaluation.  I undressed from the waist down and had a sheet over my lap.  I really don't remember a speculum.  What I do remember is that she used a glove and lube and was checking my pelvic floor.  She seemed to be evaluating for herself how tight it was and also was pressing and asking me to tell her a pain score.  She checked several things internally and also on my abdomen.  She gave me breathing exercises and we practiced them.

In future visits, she did trigger point massage internally and on my abdomen.  Always the gloved hand internally and always gentle and polite and professional.  In general I was laying on a bed with knees up and she was sitting next to me on the exam table.  It was much more comfortable than a pelvic exam with stirrups as I was in a comfortable position.  Also, she generally was looking at my face, not my bits, except to enter.  

She did not use the biofeedback to evaluate strength of my pelvic floor at my initial visit.  She didn't seem to think it worked well to evaluate pelvic floor strength while it was in spasm.  She said it was like telling someone whose hand is clenched in a fist to squeeze tighter.  It doesn't really tell you what their hand can do.

I have read that in general therapists like to relax the pelvic floor and then once it is out of spasm work on kegels.  You aren't supposed to do kegels while you are trying to get out of spasm bc it makes it worse.  My pelvic floor was really bad so we never got to that point.  I was told that for me, I should just not do kegels.  Ever.  We never did use the biofeedback or the electrodes that would be placed internally so I can't comment on what that is like.  I think, though, that if your pelvic floor is in spasm your early PT will be more like mine.  After it is out of spasm and doing well, then you can work on strengthening if needed.

 

Just butting in here Dorry, hope you don't mind, but I found this very interesting. Thanks for sharing but can I ask, when you've had internal examinations have your legs been in stirrups? It's just here in the UK it's not the norm.

for a pelvic exam or pap smear, yes they have always used stirrups.   I have always heard them called stirrups but really its the little foot holders that come out of the exam table.  You scoot your butt to the bottom of the table and the feet go in the little foot holders, with your knees up.  

I looked it up online to see if I am nuts to call them stirrups, but the webmd article about pelvic exams also calls them stirrups so it isn't just me.  Do you use something different in the UK?  Or is it just a terminology difference?

I used not to care about using them.  Now it really aggravates my back, so having the pelvic floor PT be in a comfortable position was very nice.

Yes they are stirrups and in hospital we say that we are putting a lady in the lithotomy position. In the UK most doctors just expect us to lie down, feet flat on the table and open our legs 😂

ah, got it.  Nope, never had a pelvic exam by a doctor done that way.  Always stirrups.

You ate correct Matron. Thank you so much for your time. My Therapist Always uses one. Not cool, not fun! Had first session today. Creepy and awkward but it helps!!! I would recommend it, but I Hate it!!!