It was still not comfortable. There was still some pain. But it was better than the first time.
It was equally awkward during the pre-massage interview — in the Why am I trying to make her more comfortable about these questions? kind of way; I mean, she’s the Vag Therapist, right? She should be trying to make ME more comfortable! — and there were a couple of WTF points, but overall I think this whole getting-a-deep-tissue-massage-in-my-snatch thing is helping.
She seems to think so too, based on her “Wow, that’s a big improvement!” comment when she pressed on a spot that was not nearly so YELP! as it was last time.
The general appointment procedure was the same as last time:
- Discuss symptoms.
- Share information.
TerrorizeTherapize my vag.
She seemed a little concerned that I had residual pain after my first session, but since it was basically the same kind of residual I used to get after my massage therapist would beat up my back, I thought it was no big deal. I’m guessing there are people who don’t come back for a second session when the residual-pain thing happens though, so that could have been why she was concerned.
We discussed my libido. “I’ve experienced a few minor awakenings,” I told her. To which she responded, “What were the circumstances?”
Errr…
?
I’m pretty sure she wasn’t asking about my jill-off fantasies, and I’d already told her that I have not attempted penetrative intercourse with my spouse yet1, so I had to think about that one for a minute.
Interpreting ‘circumstances’ as ‘general situation’, “It was warm,” was the first thing that came to mind. (Being too cold has long been a known factor in my libido-less-ness.) I was also relaxed. I’d just had several days of not having to work and had just gotten over being sick.2
[Insert moment of PT stressing out loud about how many people come to their appointments when they are sick.]
And then I told her that, whether it’s related or not, I’ve stopped having to wake up at night so often to go pee. (I mean, I kinda figured it was related, because {a} the lessening took place after my first pelvic therapy session, and {b} clearly those nether-regions muscle groups are all inter-related.)
And then she told me that ‘normal people’ (OoooooKaaaayy…) pee between five and seven times in a 24 hour period.
I guess this is a thing?
It’s been studied. Apparently.
And I found that a little bit interesting. Because — being a young-starter and long-sufferer of UTIs — I’ve always been told not to “hold it.” Like, if you feel a sense of urgency, you should go. And if you are about to leave the house, you should go (even if you don’t feel like you have to go). Or if you’ve put any kind of liquid in your system in the past two hours, you should go.
And such.
But apparently there is a negative side to that. Which is: if you go too frequently, your muscles forget how to “hold” and they don’t get their proper exercise, which leads to a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.
Which is why, apparently, pelvic floor therapy is often useful for women with urinary incontinence issues.
So there ya go. Fun fact.
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