great improvement

YES Debra!!! You have found it…that confidence or as you put it, the reassurance that you can make the minor adjustments that will keep you on the right path. Thank you for sharing!

-Tasha

Debra,
The best advice that I can give you is TRUST! You have come so far, but you still have moments where you doubt your body. The truth is that often when you challenge your body with something new, you may feel your symptoms re-emerge. This can be due to a heavier breathing pattern and your pelvic floor needs to strengthen to this new level. It may be due to small breath holds that occur through a new acitivity. It may also be due to too much flexion in your routine or your time of month or so many other factors.

As for the symptoms you describe…a heavy, achey feeling is often described around ovulation or at the start of menstruation.

-Tasha

Deb,
Definitely, new activities may increase your symptoms because your body needs to adapt to the new stress. A great example is in my blog entry “Still Seeing Progress Years Later”. The focus of my entry was about how I still experienced symptoms when I would shovel my driveway. Even though I was running regularly, no symptoms carrying my toddler and a car carrier, etc. The difference was my own bad habit of short breath holding when I would lift my heavy snow shovel to dump the snow. Once I recognized this, I corrected my breath hold with a controlled exhale and resultant TA tightening with each shovel lift and I was symptom free.

So long story short, it may be recognizing a postural problem or bad habit such as breath holding….OR it may be that you have introduced new moves or new activities that your pelvic floor needs time to adapt to.

Let us know how your progress.

Tasha

Hey Deb,
Great news from your check up, but we want your symptoms to follow along with that good diagnosis. You are right on track with your thoughts about an over active RA can work against what you are trying to achieve rehabbing your pelvic floor. Your question on giving more info and more examples of TA work that will quiet your RA is a great one, however, my answer will be extensive enough, I would love to put it in a blog entry. :Look for a blog entry on quieting your RA this week!

-Tasha

Help…A few days ago, I noticed while doing jumping jacks that something wasn’t right. I went to my Dr and he said it’s nothing to be urgent about, do your kegels, we’ll check you again in a few months and if kegels aren’t working, there’s always surgery to correct this problem (uterine or bladder prolapse?).. Anyway, after reading here, surgery is not an option. I can feel the bulge some of the time and that is bothersome. I’m getting ready to go on vacation (talk about bad timing!), and need to know if I should limit any activity (hiking, walking, hot tub, intercourse…). I’ll start the DVD as soon as I get back. Thanks!

Thanks for your reply Tasha! I just wanted to let you know that our vacation was awesome and I didn’t have to limit any activity. It wasn’t easy to sit on my “tripod” while on a plane for 12+ hours, but I did my best and was very aware of my posture at all times. We took moderately strenuous hikes and I came back better than when I left. I’m anxious to start exercising with the videos. Thanks so much for the encouragement and all you are teaching us women!!