5 Things Your Pelvic Floor Therapist Wants You to Know
There are probably 500 things I wish I could tell my patients before they come in for their initial evaluation, but here are 5 key things to know.
1. It is normal to be nervous, but you should not be scared.
EVERYONE is nervous for their first visit. If you are scared or have anxiety about the appointment, call the facility and ask what you can expect. Check out my blog You do WHAT?! for a general overview of what takes place.
Please bring someone with you if it will make you more comfortable.
I have worked with A LOT of people that I know from the community. Don't worry about seeing a therapist you already know (from another injury, from the community, etc).
2. We will tell you if something "doesn't look normal"
I honestly do NOT care what your personal grooming habits are. It takes A LOT to surprise me. External genitalia come in a wide variety of normal. If I see something concerning, I will either ask you about it, or call your doctor.
Gentle soap and water is all you need to clean yourself off. Do not feel like you need to use any special soaps or washes. They are often times irritating to the area anyway.
3. Please be honest. NOTHING is off-limits and you are NOT the only one (I promise)!
I will ask a lot of questions. The more honest you are, the more I can help you. No matter how awkward or embarrassing you think something is, chances are I have already heard it...multiple times that week!
4. Yes, you can be on your period.
I use lubrication for any internal vaginal therapy/assessment, so being on your period is just "extra lubrication". It doesn't bother me, if it doesn't bother you. If it does bother you, there are plenty of external treatments we can do.
Often times, symptoms will be different throughout a woman's cycle. It is frequently helpful to work together during these different phases.
5. Come with questions!
My #1 goal is for you to leave with a better understanding of your pelvic floor and what is going on. I do not expect anyone to know everything. I certainly DO NOT, but I want to teach you as much as I can!
Having questions shows me that you are engaged and want to learn and get better.
What are your goals? Sure I have to write goals on my evaluations for insurance purposes, but I want to know what's important to you. Everyone's goals are different and I won't know unless you tell me!
I hope this helps someone out there in internet land.
