I had A&P repair on 2nd December so I figure I am well on the road to recovery. I have been nervous about going back to exercise but my weight is steadily creeping up. After a successful trip to the
Lake District (walking with small children but long walks and steep hills) I decided I was ready. My gym were doing a special offer on personal training so I signed up for two sessions with a lady who specialises in post natal exercise so well versed in pelvic floor issues. No hig impact, no heavy weights it felt great. But today AAAAAAAARRRGGGGHHH. My insides feel like I did 3 weeks post op. Is this just the pelvic floor equivalent of achy legs due to no exercise for 4 months or have I pushed it a bit too far? No pain no gain, but I don't want to do damage. How have others embarked on return to exercise? Any advice/experiences gratefully received.
I can't answer your question about doing exercise 4 months after surgery because I didn't because I knew it was too early. Sorry that's probably not what you want to hear but it's not what we recommend. I don't think you'll have done any damage but you've probably put strain on your pelvic floor.
Thanks Matron. My consultant cleared me back in February. No running, or double left lifts that type of thing but exercise good. She even said that light weights were a good idea. She is Urogynaecologist.
I guess what im trying to work out is whether the pain is just a sign that I worked my pelvic floor (as when your legs ache after a long walk) but I've done no damage, or whether different rules apply and I should work around my pelvic floor rather than use it.
It's difficult because everyone is different and only your Urogynaecologist knows exactly the extent of your surgery and what is also important the type of sutures she used. She's also seen you in February and I presume she examined you so she knows how well you've healed. I'm currently working with my local NHS Trust looking at standardising information given to ladies following pelvic floor repair and we aren't recommending that ladies weight until 20-24 weeks until they return to the gym. If your consultant gave you the ok then I would never dispute that but because you are in pain then I can only think it's been too early.
Hi bresychen, How are you, doesn't sound good, think that you have always got to be really careful and take it really slow and easy when you start anything new, just a little at a time to see how it goes. I was told that the cross trainer should be OK but in the long run it wasn't, had to watch doing breast stroke, yet OK with front crawl. Think it's trial and error with low impact.
It's so annoying not having the same choices as before.
Phyl xx
Cross trainer was not good?? Damn...I was banking on that one. Was even thinking about buying one. What happened Phyl?
I did buy one Claire, after physio said I could try it but not to overdo it. I found that with any low impact where legs stretched quite far apart seen to really put overstretch pelvic floor, not sure why , but I know it well over a year maybe year and a half after op. Did have a really bad prolapse and therefor an extensive repair, physio said my ligaments are very weak. I was also told by ward doctor this time round that my walls are weak. You mag be luckier than me and manage the cross trainer without doing further damage. When I went through the menopause it really weakened my pelvic floor, and while they can tighten things up I suppose they can't fix overstretched ligaments, they must be like droopy spent elastic bands.
Like I said though if you introduce things slowly so you build up muscle strength first if potable will be OK. Good luck!
Phyl xx
My physio specifically told me to avoid breastroke, though can't remember why. I haven't tried cross trainer. Slow rowing no resistance, more of a warm up than a work out, stuff with free weights nothing more than 4kg, and supported squats (leaning back against one of those balance balls, not going too low). Maybe I should just do a shorter session more often and build up. I can't bear feeling so unfit. I've put on a stone in the time since my op, which isn't great for recovery either.
I've heard that said before about breast stroke but I just can't understand why. I'm going to Email a friend who I'm sure will know the answer.
Breast stroke is so good for pulling in upper abs/mid drift , but I know if I overdone it always felt the dreaded dragging feeling.
Not so good at the front crawl, hubby always says I look like I'm fighting the water and dosen't seem to pull the abs/ mid drift in as good as breast stroke.
Phyllis xx
Hi Matron. Could it be because of the leg action in breast stroke? You have to open the legs wider but in crawl you just wave the legs up and down if you get my meaning. I went back to swimming after 3 months as my GP said any earlier was a risk of infection. This was in 1984 mind so things could have changed a lot now! 
Pollyanna UK
It probably is Pollyanna, I hadn't really thought o that because I do breast stroke but don't do the leg actions 😂
Matron I would just sink if I didn't do the leg action, and have tried the combining the upper arm breastfeeding stroke with lower leg front crawl actions. But find it very difficult to co-ordinate.
Phyl xx
Sorry comes up breastfeeding feeding every time! 😅😅😅
I did laugh when I read it but presumed it was the predictive text. I often have the same problem 😂😂
Forgot to change it before sending !
Heading to wedding in 1 hour . Kind of overdone things a bit yesterday could hardly do my evening walk. Anyhow no nippy feelings and no discharge so probably just muscles complaining. Arriving at venue last min will sit through ceremony and minhle for a while, then head upstairs to room to rest till meal ready. Don't want to over sit before dinner. Will be Google test to see just how much sitting standing time I can take!
Hate predictive text, only handy when unsure of spelling!
Have a lovely day phyllis. 😘