Signora Sheila

Well, I’m back from my longer than planned health break and am doing therapy and rehab for my pelvic floor, which thankfully is working. It looks like I should be able to avoid surgery!

I’ve learned a lot from this experience and I’m grateful for it. First of all (and this is going to sound crazy), I didn’t really even know I had a pelvic floor. (I told you it was crazy!) I mean, I knew there was such a thing as a pelvic floor and that we all have one. And that it’s supposed to hold everything in place down there.

But I didn’t really didn’t know much about it. Which made me feel a little like Mr. Tumnus in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when he said to Lucy, “Oh dear, if only I had worked harder at geograpy when I was a little fawn.” I hear you, Mr. Tumnus – if only I’d worked harder at anatomy when I was a little girl!

What we don’t talk about

I found that women are usually reluctant to talk about prolapse and pelvic floor problems, even though they’re common. I understand that because it seems kind of private and a little embarrassing. But if no one talks about it, we might not know that we can get help or where to go for it.

And that’s not good. First, because pelvic floor issues are uncomfortable to live with. But are usually very treatable, often with minimally invasive treatments. And because without treatment, they’re likely to get worse until surgery becomes the only solution.

Why we should speak of it freely

And that’s why I’m talking about it. I had to stumble around trying to find help. I didn’t know where to go, and I didn’t even know that there were pelvic floor specialists!

Yet, I discovered later that some of my friends had dealt with similar problems. If only they had shared their difficulties, it would have been a big help to me and probably to other women!

And when you think about it, why should we be embarrassed? We’re not embarrassed to mention that we might have a sore throat, or diarrhea or a stomach ache. So why should we avoid talking of pelvic floor issues, almost as if they are somehow our fault?

I have found so much help through my pelvic floor specialist that I’m only to glad to tell my friends about her. I want to make sure they can get help quickly and easily!

Anyway, I now know exactly what the pelvic floor is and how to improve and maintain my pelvic health. The therapy involves exercising the internal muscles and internal electrical stimulation, which isn’t exactly pleasant, but it helps a lot. And the related problems, which were very stressful, have also disappeared. I’ll spare you all the details. 🥺

I feel much better. So much better that I’m actually looking forward to starting my spring cleaning. Except that this year we have to paint first, and I’m not looking forward to that at all!

I have already started decluttering and that always feels so good. Although I do wonder how so much stuff finds its way into my house. Seems like there is always something to get rid of!

My therapist said that a lot of women, especially post menopausal women, just live with pelvic floor issues as if they were normal. But they’re not. We don’t have to live pain or discomfort, or struggle with continency. That’s why it’s important to talk about these things, just as we would with any other health problem.

How about you? Have you ever dealt with pelvic floor issues? Did you go for help? Did you know where to go?

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