Gah. I'm a terrible blogger. I don't have much free time on my hands...and if I do I'm either catching up on my DVR, cleaning, or Facebooking. The only thing that could break me out of my blogging funk is sharing my life changing experience with pelvic floor therapy.
Yep. Pelvic floor therapy. (This is another TMI post.)
As I'm sure you remember, Brevin's birth left me with a Frankencrotch. I had a tear on the outside (partial 3rd degree) and a lot of internal tearing. When the stitches finally healed I was left with a good amount of painful scar tissue. The majority of pain was internal. My OBGYN immediately suggested I make an appointment with the pelvic floor therapist at the local hospital. He wrote me a referral and I stuffed it in my purse, agreeing to make an appointment (although I hadn't really planned on it). Who the heck does pelvic therapy?! He assured me she would not only help with my post baby pain, but the painful intercourse problems I had been experiencing for years. (Back story: Both of my kiddos were conceived with the help of lidocaine gel, which basically numbed the area to make sex less painful. We could never have sex without it. So romantic! Because of the pain I experienced, we only had sex if we were trying to make a baby, or if I was drunk. Poor Andy.)
Anyway, being the procrastinator that I am, I left the referral at the bottom of my purse for a few weeks. Then I got my period and tampons had suddenly become my biggest enemy. They literally felt like they were made of sandpaper. They irritated my scar tissue and caused so much pain that I couldn't wear them. I was back to wearing pads. This is when I knew I had a problem. I was willing to deal with painful intercourse forever, but pad wearing is where I draw the line.
So I finally got up the nerve to call and schedule my appointments. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and the thought of actually going to these appointments was rather nerve wracking.
The big day finally arrived and it was less painful/awkward than I imagined. My therapist is amazingly kind and we managed to carry on a conversation just fine while she massaged my scar tissue. I wasn't a huge fan of the rectal massage, but thank GOD that was a one time deal. Basically, during each of my 45 minute sessions, she massages and stretches the internal scar tissue. She also helps me with Kegels and has me focus on various relaxation techniques to keep my muscles from tightening. She discovered my vaginal muscles were much tighter than normal and that was most likely the cause of my painful intercourse problems. Not only does she work with the scar tissue, but she teaches me stretches and exercises to do at home to improve the strength in my pelvic floor. I also have homework.
After 6 sessions of therapy it was time to have sex (gasp!) I was freaking terrified. But Andy was one jump away from doing a back flip when he heard this joyous news, so I pretended to be happy.
Anyway. I begrudgingly obeyed my therapist and seduced Andy on a bed full of rose petals. Actually, it was a bed full of laundry while my Brevin was on the floor in his bouncer watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Whatevs. Close enough. Nothing like having sex while DJ Lance is bouncing around in the background. Anyway, imagine my surprise when it didn't hurt. Not one freaking bit! I don't even have the words to describe how incredible it is to go from pain to NOTHING in a matter of a few weeks. My life has been completely changed. I feel normal! We hadn't had sex without lidocaine since early 2008. Super exciting! I can also wear tampons again without any feeling any pain at all.
I feel the need to tell everyone I know that pelvic floor therapy changed my life. I have heard far too many women complain about incontinence and pain after childbirth. Most women just deal with it because they have never heard of pelvic floor therapy. My former OBGYN never once suggested pelvic PT. He told me I'd have to deal with the pain and gave me a prescription for the lidocane gel. I resorted to having a crappy sex life because I didn't know better. I am incredibly thankful to my current OBGYN for the referral and my therapist for her amazing work.
So yeah. Pass the info on to a friend. I have no problem sharing my story in hopes that it will help someone else!
And now I promise I'll stop blogging about my vagina. Seriously this time.
7 years ago
4 comments:
As this may have been a little too much info I am glad you have finally found some relief! And I am sure Andy is more than thrilled as well! And with your new found painless sex experience maybe you will be having more of it just for fun and end up with just one beautiful little baby!! Hope you come back to blogging, I love reading your stories even if they are about your vagina more than half the time!
So glad that you've found a solution and are finally pain free! Gosh, that must be such a relief - I can't imagine what it must have been like to deal with all this time. Good for you for seeing someone about it!
YES! This is amazing news buddy, I'm so glad you can finally have painless sex again. Like seriously, down the road who knows, maybe you'll be saying your pelvic therapist saved your marriage, right?
YAY! Also, I laughed out loud numerous times throughout this post. I miss Betsy stories, you are great at telling them buddy.
I agree! You are a great story teller! Love reading your posts even if they are about your vagina :). So happy to hear the therapy worked and all is painless in the bedroom!
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