Bladder & Bowel Service

Hi Nicola,

Thanks for posting about this service its good to know you can self-refer too.  Not sure if this is the same department but I had my two monthly call from my Specialist Radiotherapy Nurse yesterday and she is referring me to a Pelvic Floor physiotherapist at the hospital which I was happy about.  I am doing my pelvic floor exercises but will be good to get some expert advice.

Carole x

That’s great that you have a referral Carol, it doesn’t seem to be something that’s promoted very well here after our particular treatment but can work wonders from what I’ve read. 

Nicola 

What are the pelvic floor exercises??

Hi Suz I am currently under a pelvic floor physiotherapist who I have seen three times now and we get together every six weeks or so. The exercises she set for me were mainly the pelvic floor exercises that are very similar to the ones you do after childbirth. Very much the lay on your back with your feet placed on the floor knees up and breathing deeply into the stomach and slowly release and after a few times when breathing in you start to lift your pelvic area including the anus and then concentrate on the release. I do this about five or six times only as it’s important not to overdo it. You can do this sitting up. I have now progressed to being able to get back to normal intimacy with my husband with no bleeding and soreness. The physiotherapist examined me to check everything was okay which gave me the confidence but did at the beginning have tightness of muscles just at the entrance which can be helped by massage. I know it’s a bit graphic but if it helps someone that can only be a good thing. The learning to let go down there is the key. I can also control the bowels better and when I need to go I go to the toilet and see how long I can hold it before I sit down. The exercises are very similar to pelvic stretches seen on you tube but it seems the breathing is very important for hold and release control and the brain connection to the pelvis. My treatment literally stuck my labia together which I had to tear open whilst healing and I know it doesn’t happen to everyone so those reading this please don’t think it will necessarily happen to you.

Hi Jaycee12 thanks for your informative reply to Suz.  Its given me an insight into what will happen at my physio appointments and I feel lucky I have been referred. I didnt know anything about the breathing being important and its good to have someone check you are doing the exercises correctly.  Hopefully will help me with my bowels and intimacy. 

Sounds like its been a massive help for you.

My nurse said she and the Oncologist are trying to set up a Late Effects Clinic to see people for 3 years after treatment but taking a while for funding to be agreed. That would be brilliant I think if successful. 

Carole x

Brilliant! Thank you!!!

Thanks so much Nicola, very good to know - I will definitely keep this in mind!

Really helpful info Jaycee12  I need to start thinking of getting into the routine of pelvic floor exercises...will have a look on-line!

Many thanks xx

Nicola, thank you so much for that information, I hadn't heard of this at all and will certainly look into it.

Irene xx

Hi Jaycee12, 

.....i'm a bit late to the party!,

but i was interested to read your last comment about the treatment sticking your labia together. I am 'convinced' this has happened to me. Although To be honest, I wonder if i'm just over anxious. I've seen my male oncologist (not gt!) & a female gp, & neither think anything is amiss. I feel it is the lower third of the labia has stuck together & now healed, & i can no longer see the vaginal opening.....i don't know whether this is a result i.e.shrinkage, from the radio or actual fusion!

I don't know what to do about it, if anything now, but the fact that it happened to you, reassures me I'm not going completely mad!

Regards

Linda

Hi Linda, was you given the dilators after you finished your treatment? Using these was a slow process and I was unable to insert the largest. The therapist said the problem was the entry and not the vaginal cavity. I had a build up of scar and muscle that were very hard and needed breaking down. This is where the massage came in. During the early post treatment I experienced a lot of sticky pus around the labia which was not infected but just part of the healing cells. It wasn’t pleasant and now luckily it has had no I’ll effect apart from I think some of the inner labia is missing but who knows I may have been like that before and only became obsessed with genitalia when going through treatment. It might be worth contacting your local hospital to see if you can self refer as some hospitals physiotherapy departments offer pelvic specialists which do this. Good luck