Pelvic Floor dysfunction treatment

You don’t describe the incontinence problem in detail, but that’s sometimes a symptom of pouchitis. Have you ever tried a course of Cipro for it?

Hi Scott, yes I was on Cipro constantly for almost a year. I had anal strictures and scar tissue so bad I could tolerate an rectal exam while awake. My PT had me due dilation for 4 months which was brutal. Barely able to tolerate her small hands. Now at night everything is relaxed and I have incontinence. PT didn’t have a plan to address retraining muscles. I’ve had to push back hard to get attention and now feel like PT wasn’t what it should have been. I was wondering if anyone else had this experience and what they did to correct it.

thanks for your reply.

Also when I say incontinence I’m not talking about leaking. I went on this journey to improve that and maybe 2 to 3 times a month having a larger issue that usually a pad handled as I woke up. Now I’m talking about having to wear a diaper every night. I have had as many as 3 but generally 2 to three full poops in a night. I don’t always feel it to wake up like I used to. I finally accepted having to wear a diaper to prevent the constant sheet washing. Maybe something has changed physically but the PT job is to help and I’m beginning to think she just doesn’t know what to and isn’t willing to ask. I am finding out she hasn’t communicated with any of my doctors and may not fully grasp my upgraded anatomy based on my questions.

Based on my research, I’m confident that this can work but there is a process that isn’t short. I was hoping someone in the group might have already gone down this path.

That level of incontinence is debilitating! It sounds like a consequence of the dilations, even though you needed a better anal opening. I don’t know how recently your dilation process was, but certainly there can be some recovery over time, even if the dilation did some damage. Have you been doing kegels (plenty of sets per day) to help restore sphincter tone?

And there’s the rub. Kegels cause pelvic referred pain. It’s been about 4 months since dilation. Never got past .5” dia

about the size of female index. That’s been ongoing and why I think PT may be in over her head. I’m already talking to other doctors for either confirmation or referral to someone else. We will see how next week shakes out. I think she gave her best shot but wasn’t paying enough attention and I just don’t feel there’s enough knowledge there or experience with pouch and radical rectal surgery. I already had some nerve damage but wasn’t like this.

thanks for responding.

I'm following because I'm also curious about pelvic floor therapy.  I haven't had it but am considering it.

It has helped tremendously with PF pain and painful urination and I believe or am being positive about fecal incontinence. I did close to 2 years of research before I was even brave enough to start the journey. I really believe my train left the rails because of my PT’s lack of experience not lack of effort. I just setup a re-evaluation with another person and after the phone call it sounds really good. My lesson learned is it’s no different than anything else. I began to question in January and should have gone with my instincts.

I will update with any new information. I was hoping someone else might already have navigated this River.

R