Sarah's Story*
Step 1
Sarah discovered what mattered
Sarah (she/her) is a 30-year-old who had a long history of constipation, incomplete emptying and bloating as well as pelvic and anal pain especially when having a bowel motion. She had seen multiple health practitioners and had tried several treatments and was getting very desperate when her GP suggested she try pelvic health physiotherapy. Through listening to Sarah’s story, a bowel diary and pelvic floor and perineal examination, we discovered her muscles were being held tense and she was unable to relax properly during bowel movements. Combined with a fear of exercise, dietary factors and a poor bowel routine, her body had created a cycle that was hard to break.
Sarah's Pelvic Health Goals:
- To understand what is wrong with me - the unknown is creating more worry and I can't move forward without answers.
- To find a general exercise program that doesn’t make my bowels and pelvic pain worse - I love exercise and enjoy its benefits.
- To get rid of the mental impact & concern about my bowels - I want to be able to wake up and enjoy my day instead of looking forward to sleeping where I don't feel the pain or fear.
Step 2
Sarah restored what mattered
With answers finally in hand, Sarah committed to her personalised treatment plan. She learned pelvic floor muscle relaxation techniques, practiced specific breathing exercises and muscle coordination to help with bowel emptying, and received education about the gut-brain connection. With biofeedback, Sarah experienced what relaxing her pelvic floor muscles felt like for the first time in her life. She implemented bowel retraining strategies and gradually introduced general exercise that felt safe. Pain strategies and stress management became daily tools that Sarah used to calm her nervous system.
Step 3
Sarah enjoyed what mattered
After 8 months of intermittent consultations, Sarah had achieved all 3 of her pelvic health goals. She was exercising regularly again, waking up without fear, and was planning a trip overseas - something she never thought would be possible. The mental burden had lifted and she was finally living the active, joyful life she'd been missing.