Can we talk about KEGEL...

Hello All,
I'm about 4 weeks pre-op (and at the risk of sounding stupid or perverted), have just read about Kegel exercises. Boy, am I confused now. Anyway, everything I read seems to tell you very detailed( but technical) information. I also find that it is contradictary. Now, I'm no anatomy major, but I'm not a stupid women either. Do you stop urine flow or not? Do you allow other muscles to help..like pelvic and anal..or not? Does it improve not only sexual satisfaction for you and your dh, but also bladder funtion? UGH!!!
I have a large fibroid that maybe causing some bladder problems now....BUT I don't think I can do these Kegels. I'm intrigued and really would like to know more. Anyone out there try these and do they work? How do you know if you are doing it properly? Are my muscles sooooo out of shape( like the rest of me) that I CAN"T do these.
I'm sooo confused... any advice?
Thank You

FibroidFanny,

I found out about Kegel exercises when I had my DD 22 years ago. Wew....that seems like an eternity when I write it!!

Anyway, my Dr. at the time recommended them to help with vaginal and pelvic support.

I have done them off and on through the years. Still do them now and I am 12 weeks post op. Just out of habit.

Do I think they help?? Well...I do not think they have hurt. I did not require any bladder work with my hyst. My Dr. said their is a some wear, and it is normal for my age.

Hope you get a hostess that responds with some links. I would be interested too!!

There's a wonderful link in this old thread by Twyla.

https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...threadid=35072

Hey There,
Thank You very much for the link it is helpful. I just don't know if I'm doing them properly.

When I saw your post, I remembered my nursing instructor used to preach about kegels. She said she always does them when caught by the traffic lights, and recommended we (the students) do the same.
I giggle anytime i see her in traffic and am glad we have never been stopped by a red light together!

I wouldn't even want to do Kegel exercises with my Fibroid.
Ouch!!!!!
I will try them after my surgery and get the all clear!!

I was told it was the muscles you used to stop the flow of urine and to try to stop wind!! You have to clench the 2 muscles together in a clenching and lifting movement. Hard to do if you have other problems in that area of course.
Now post op I have to do these things again...for life, he said. It is difficult to know if you are doing it correctly without some sort of measurer, but I haven't fancied that!

I learned about Kegels after I had my children and I've been doing them off and on ever since. They help with the flow of urine and passing gas, and can also enhance sex. My doctor says that the way people cheat at Kegels is by using their butt muscles. You have to be able to do them without using your butt. I believe that Kegels work and strongly recommend them!! I'm doing them now to help build up the muscles that were damaged during my surgery!
Michelle

I had some urinary incontinence before my surgery. I could not feel it but would sometimes notice a odor and had to freshen up and change a couple of times a day.
I tried to do kegals but the urine would trickle out anyway because the fibroid was just too heavy is my guess.

Now I am 2 weeks post op and I can hold the flow now with the kegals and I have no leakage anymore.

I just realized that I don't get up in the middle of the night to urinate anymore. I used to get up as much as 4 times a night. So at least the surgery has taken care of that problem.

It has not be a cure all though. I hoped that it would eliminate my daily heartburn but it has not. I still take Prilosec daily.

So I will keep practicing the kegals and see if there is a difference when my doc gives me the OK for sex at 6 weeks.