Have you seen a continence nurse? There are lots of (quite yucky but not as yucky as being housebound and messy) things like serious pads and disposable car seat protector thingies and semi-waterproof knickers that could help you over the next little while as you sort it out.
Are you having trouble emptying completely as well - there may be options to help there too, so that you can go to the loo and know that you will be right for a while afterwards.
Emma, . I highly recommend seeing a women's health physio in your situation. They really know what they're doing, it's amazing how they can whip you into shape! And please give yourself and your body more time, it really hasn't been very long, although I'm sure it feels like forever for you
No disrespect to your current physio but you will get better results, faster, with a specialist. Do you have your 6 week check coming up - you should be able to get a recommendation then, if you can't find someone yourself faster. And you'll be able to ask them about all the options people have raised in this thread so you can get some professional answers.
I wouldn't resign myself to being housebound for the next 3 months - with treatment you should improve enough in that time to feel more comfortable venturing out in less time. If your postnatal bleeding has stopped maybe you should invest in some incontinence pads just so you can get out of the house. Getting out of the 4 walls of your house would do you a power of good. Are you getting outside at all, even into the backyard? It sounds stupid but make sure you are getting some sunlight every day, it's good for your serotonin levels (happy hormones). Pineapple juice is also good apparently (sounds mad, I know! but that's what the midwives at the hospital told me when I was suffering the baby blues).
At only 5 weeks post birth there is no way you should consider yourself physically recovered. I still couldn't sit down comfortably at that point. I felt so fragile, both emotionally and physically, and I cried a lot. As I posted in another thread, after my own forceps birth and second degree tear I was still leaking occasionally until about 3 months post birth...it did get less and less, there was a good improvement at about 6-7 weeks post birth...and when I did the "cough and jump" test at around 4 months with a full bladder I was able to hold on (just! but I could do it).
Whilst my incontinence wasn't as bad as yours I wasn't seeing a specialist physio at all, but I did only have a newborn to deal with so much more opportunity to lie down. I did my exercises lying down as much as possible to start off with because that was the position in which I found it easiest to isolate the muscles...I remember that frustration of not being able to feel anything.
I really hope you are able to take the time to get away to see a physio...try to call in as many favours as possible. Is your mum around or any friends who can at least babysit your oldest child? I don't know what your DH does for a living, but can he take any time off here and there to enable you to get to some appointments (ie first thing in the morning or last appointment of the day). I really admire you for soldiering on, with 2 kids to look after you must have so little time on your hands.
i have made an appointment with a specialist physio that deals in this sort of thing in malvern for early march, it is going to be a fair drive so i don't know how i am going to make it in the car, but anyways i am going...
i have the incontinence pads, its just that without exagerating, if i am standing or walking, i can literally be weeing without knowing, until i feel wet.... so the pads are good, but if that happens it is a disaster.... last night i was brave and went out for tea, i thought i was doing so well, but when i went to the toilet i discovered my pad was soaked and my undies wet, and here i was thinking i was holding on..... its so frustrating....
also i am disheartened because it seems my problem is from the catheter being pulled from the bladder into the urethra, so the little valve thingi that is meant to shut off and open up for urine, has been stretched by this balloon catheter, so the valve isn't working at all, which is why i am leaking (plus a dodgy pelvic floor)... i'm not sure how much exercise etc is going to help, although i will do it obviously, but at the end of the day if the wee is coming out because of this injury by the catheter, what hope do i have....
i am meant to be going to qld in 2 weeks but really don't see how i can go..... i feel so guilty as my kids and family are suffering because i am so depressed and feel like i can't go anywhere... i have my mum helping out and my dp has taken time off work, but everytime i move i feel myself leaking and i am just so scared its going to be a huge leak, that i really don't want to go far from home at all.... i keep emptying my bladder every hour so its never really full, and i am trying not to drink huge amounts in one go, and space out little drinks frequently, but i am still so scared of having an accident....
thanks for reading it helps to get it out... i don't tell my partner much as he doesn't know what to say, he isn't much of a talker in these sorts of situations...
i don't know whether to just say stuff it and go to qld and deal with whatever happens, or stay home where i feel safer.... if i go and it is just awful it will make me feel even more depressed... everytime i have an accident or a huge leak it makes me feel worse and worse.... but i don't want my little girl to miss out on the fun we had promised her, plus its all payed for.... i dunno what to do.
emma, it sounds like you're having a seriously tough time. it's crazy enough with a NB, without extra stress on top of it.
i don't have any advice but wanted to pop in & offer some more virtual support. i hope the specialist in malvern is able to give you some assistance - and hopefully some of it starts working quickly. is the appt before your trip? i hope you're able to go on your holiday without any worry.
I am wondering how Emma went with her stress incontinence problem. I am experiencing the same problem with severe stress incontinence and I also had the catheter pop out with ballon still inflated during delivery and am thinking that this may be the cause. Emma, if you still visit this forum I would love to know how you got on. Thanks.
Sweetie - big big You sound so distressed. I had a small brush with incontinence while I was having chemo and it was very distressing & nowhere as severe as yours so my heart really goes out to you. :hugs:
First of all - DON'T WAIT. Ring the specialist physio back, explain that it's a severe incontinence issue and not a slight one - and ask to be placed on their cancellation list or speak to the physio directly. They may be able to squeeze you in earlier because of the severity.
Secondly - I'm sure the physio you saw meant to reassure you about it getting better over a period of time but that is not IMO an excuse not to treat this as proactively as possible. As Blu-K said, there are some medications that might help (Ditropan - sorted mine out completely) which is worth discussing with your GP, but at the very least you should be consulting with an incontinence nurse who will help you with some exercises as well as coping strategies. Underlined because you are doing an admirable job of getting on with things but it does sound like you feel like you're not coping.
BTW they have all sorts of gadgets to help, my friend had this thing she sat on which (??? not sure how it worked) but it re-taught everything how to work properly.
BTW don't give up hope with the pelvic floor exercises - you *will* reap the benefit, but it tends to be more noticeable in hindsight, kwim? But to me it sounds like you need more help than "just" the exercises, so make sure you communicate how severely this is impacting your life so you get that help NOW.
Emma - FWIW I bet I know exactly which physio you are seeing in Malvern - just down the road from Cabrini hospital, Wattletree Road? They are FANTASTIC. (I'm ex-Melbourne).
I saw them for back pain when I was pregnant with DS and they come and visit all the new mums in Cabrini one-on-one to teach them how to do their pelvic floor exercises and a give them a general assessment of their condition after the birth and a program to follow at home. I had both DS and DD at Cabrini. They also come to the prenatal classes at Cabrini and teach the pregnant mums how to exercise their pelvic floors. I still have all their literature in my bedside drawer for reminding me how to do my exercises now.
I just want to second what Marydean said - ask to be put on the cancellation list. Ring them every couple of days. There are lots of physios there and you should be able to get in to see someone quicker than March. From memory I am sure they have a toilet in the reception area so don't worry about the drive, just take a change of undies with you and you can get changed there before the appointment. They might have more "heavy duty" incontinence pads at the chemist rather than the ones at the supermarket if you feel you need extra protection during a long drive.
Parking is fairly easy there, you should be able to park on Wattletree Road or just around the corner on a side street.
Hi Emma, Just popping in because I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are getting on! It's nearly early- march now - so I hope some relief is at hand
BellyBelly Member
. I highly recommend seeing a women's health physio in your situation. They really know what they're doing, it's amazing how they can whip you into shape! And please give yourself and your body more time, it really hasn't been very long, although I'm sure it feels like forever for you
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