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Re: GYNECOLOGIC: 'Gap' in muscle between vagina and rectum - normal?
From: William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:36:00 -0500 (CDT)
Carrie
I could not say without an exam. I would recommend seeing a
gynecologist for several reasons, evaluate what you have now and discuss
future childbearing...Dr. von Almen
At Fri, 31 Oct 2008, Carrie wrote:
>
>I have been having problems with bowel movements since the birth of our
>second child. If my stools are even the slightest bit firm I find it
>very difficult to pass them, and have a lot of cramping, and often I
>have to 'help them along' by using my fingers in my vagina.
>
>For the first year or so I also had a problem with fist-sized faeces
>gathering up at the entrance and bulging up into my vagina before I even
>had the urgency to go to the loo (when I had to manually push it out),
>but that is much better now and has been replaced by a lot of cramping
>pain and urgency long before the faeces reach my anus.
>
>It is by doing the manual evacuation that I noticed I can press my
>fingers down into a gap between my vagina and rectum - it is enclosed by
>skin, and when I do pelvic floors I feel muscle pressing around my
>fingers.
>
>I told a GP about it, and that my vagina seems very loose and
>'different', and she seemed very bemused and didn't particularly
>understand what I was talking about! She didn't examine it but referred
>me to an obstetric physiotherapist.
>
>My physio is currently supervising me as I try to retrain my muscles
>doing pelvic floor exercises, which is helping the small urine leaking
>problem I also had, but doing nothing for my bowel issues. She gave me
>a grade 2 out of 5 for my muscle strength and says that my bladder is
>pushing down quite a lot (which I can visibly see). She says that if
>any gap in the muscle exists it can be rectified by pelvic floors but
>she too has never actually examined it.
>
>This leads me to think that a gap in the muscle is a normal thing - am I
>worrying for nothing and continued pelvic floors will solve the problem?
>I worry about a future childbirth (if it happens) and the word 'fistula'
>fills me with dread!
--
Note: Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes
only and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient
relationship. This information is not intended to supplant
the need for you to consult with your physician prior to
choosing therapeutic options and/or interventions.
** Private emails cannot be entertained due to time
constraints; consequently, they will receive no response.
William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG
Private Practice
New Orleans, La.
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