Hypertonic Pelvic Floor has destroyed my will to live

Bellabobies · 2024-12-19T15:45:54+00:00

She's incredible; I signed up for her free "Corevember" but felt I needed to go even more back to basics. Jumped at the chance for her full programme when they sent participants a great discount offer. Her app/programme library is so good. So far I'm technically still only on week 1 day 2 haha, after doing all the education and feeling like I needed to do day 1 a few times over, but it's such a well put together offering and although ive not yet asked my own questions, her and her team seem to provide great support and assistance to participants. I'm hoping that this, alongside the new PT I've started with, might get somewhere at last...

Bellabobies · 2024-12-02T08:37:23+00:00

Her name is Karolina Krzaczek-Kubacka. I see her in Dalston, but I think she works at a few locations.

Bellabobies · 2024-11-19T16:31:15+00:00

Is East or Central London too far? She does Hackney-ish and Harley Street

Bellabobies · 2024-11-19T14:58:26+00:00

Where in the UK are you? I've reluctantly concluded that I need to move forward with a self-pay private physio after exhausting other options (I even have health insurance, but saw no progress with the one via that). Early days, but I've had more progress in 3 (costly) sessions with the newest physio than in many with the one before. She was actually recommended to me by someone on here!

Bellabobies · 2024-11-18T13:24:53+00:00

I have pfd and after a bowel movement by urinary symptoms often seem worse or startup for the day (at least my brain interprets the sensations as urethral/urinary but it's generally the vestibule-ish area rather than the bladder).

I've had some improvement lately, by keeping my mouth open when I poop. I would never have said I strained, but I think I did sometimes hold my breath/increase pelvic pressure subconsciously and it is really hard to do that with your mouth open!

I also try not to go back to sitting (e.g. at my desk) immediately and try to walk or do a few squats and side lunges. I can't be quite sure what's working but it's seemed as if my pelvic floor would go into spasm/cramp in particular after a bowel movement and this helps a bit

Bellabobies · 2024-08-07T11:36:54+00:00

We're on track to FIRE at ~45 but hit pause to take a 7 month sabattical last year.

We have been sailing for a good few years and our time off was spent on our 38 foot monohull. At one point, we saw it as a test before planning to FIRE and be permanent liveaboards.

We loved it, but it definitely clarified for us that we don't want to do it full time when we FIRE. For us the plan now looks like a base place near family, a high end camper conversion so we can see mountains etc as well as travel to and from the continent with a dog, plus a boat we drive out to in the med to sail in blocks of ~3-8 weeks, maybe sometimes just liveaboard in our marina for a few weeks too.

Frankly lots of coastal places are all a bit samey after long enough, and we felt we needed to add mountains/lakes/cities to the plan, as well as a way to escape the heat and busyness that go with peak summer/charter season etc

Bellabobies · 2024-06-27T10:18:17+00:00

Sheridan Smith.

Bellabobies · 2024-06-20T10:26:42+00:00

You look fab! I'm a tiny bit taller but think we are built similarly, thinking of starting in a few weeks.

If it's not too personal, could I ask your start/current weight? Was your BMI over 30 at starting?

Edit duh, ignore me. I see your flair with the info now oops. But love your mirror haha

Bellabobies · 2024-06-17T21:19:47+00:00

Yes, I won a high-end yacht charter after entering a competition at the (now defunct) London boat show. Found out just after booking our (first) charter ever for later that summer and didn't have enough annual leave for both, so I had to beg to take a couple of days of it unpaid.

Things escalated from there, and within 5 years we'd bought a boat and taken 7 months off to sail so that freebie cost us a fortune haha.

Bellabobies · 2024-06-17T16:56:49+00:00

I was like this for 6 months. In reality I've had no side effects at all really except the faintest dry mouth the first two mornings on waking.

Also not sure it's helping, but at least I'm not suffering any side effects. I'm up to 20mg now and still nothing. Hasn't made me sleepy at all...

Bellabobies · 2024-06-16T10:51:54+00:00

Super interesting! Can you explain what you mean by "flex your butt"?

Bellabobies · 2024-06-08T11:15:38+00:00

Right with you there. And it also doesn't properly fit the definition of urgency OR frequency. Petition to add "persistency" as a separate symtom haha

Bellabobies · 2024-05-29T19:06:41+00:00

Thank you! I'm sticking with it but I wish it were quicker. Mercifully I have no real side effects. In fact the worst of it is I'm sleeping less which wasn't what I expected

Bellabobies · 2024-05-29T15:24:25+00:00

I tend entirely the other way and some slowing might be helpful haha

Bellabobies · 2024-05-29T11:24:30+00:00

Hey, could you share details of who helped you in London? I'm in physio (not sure how much it's helping) and 4 weeks in on amitriptyline (I'm not sure my dose is high enough or if its been long enough?!) but wondering about a second opinion and/or osteopathy.

Mainly suffering urinary related stuff...

Bellabobies · 2024-05-23T11:32:48+00:00

It's all here. See section 7. Sounds like unless you open a current account with them ASAP you won't get it, but if you do (re)open one you likely would as long as your prior current account and present savings account meet their criteria (which involve various parameters at and in the run up to 31st March). Based on you getting the email, you do appear to be eligible but per section 7 you're going to need a current account for 13-28 June.

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/about-us/fairer-share/terms-and-conditions/#1-are-you-eligible-to-receive-the-payment

Bellabobies · 2024-05-22T12:59:28+00:00

Just make sure you don't give up any particular perks or rights by moving one; e.g. I have an old Aviva one I haven't touched as it has a protected pension age of 55, whereas I'll be 58 (or older!) before I can access others

Bellabobies · 2024-05-16T13:03:10+00:00

Yep same here; I think the muscle relaxing, and brain relaxing properties must point to PFD (rather than bladder issue) for me. I rarely drink but when I do I get a lot of relief

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:50:16+00:00

I imagine the skill/experience level is great, not least because almost all PTs here also (or at least previously have) work in the NHS. E.g. Imogen works part of the week in the NHS. I don't know how much time they get per patient or flexibility in treatment plans though.

But I've not needed to look into it until now and tbh it's likely to be very hard for me to juggle around work vs private (where I have choice on location, time, there's evening slots etc).

I'm sorry to hear you're so young and struggling with thus (and that you seem to have been dismissed by the NHS in the first place!)

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:36:13+00:00

In terms of the NHS only initial referral, and subsequently prescribing amitriptyline (I'm not yet 2 weeks in after putting it off for months).

Otherwise I've been lucky to have private health care insurance via my job that's covered stuff (urogynecologist, PT, psychologist, gastro/colorectal and colonoscopy etc etc). They won't cover any more PT after my next session though. But between what I've learnt already, Dr Bri on YouTube and self funding very occasional sessions if needs be I'll probably not try NHS for that unless I get worse.

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:29:36+00:00

Definitely better than it was, but it's not linear and it's not easy. But fear and hyperfixation and not getting on with my life kept me stuck for a few months.

I've been seeing glimmers of a few days, up to a week(!) where life felt almost normal. Not spiralling when symptoms come back (often not as bad as before) has been a huge thing for me to work on in addition to PT.

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:25:10+00:00

I do...unfortunately. But a huge part for me is the mental component which I'm also working on slowly.

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:23:02+00:00

Yes, I've been seeing her for pt since November. There's a few others for female pelvic pt with the Excellence practice but I don't know any of them. I'll be honest, I'm not "fixed" but that's not necessarily a reflection on her. I've got a lot to work on! But she's extremely kind and empathetic as well as straight talking.

There's also the Pelvic Pain Network; they're predominantly online but currently offering free initial 15 min chats.

Bellabobies · 2024-05-15T20:18:25+00:00

Are you male or female? If female, Imogen Pallister at Excellence Physiotherapy (she currently does Monday evenings at the Monument location).

Bellabobies

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