Bizarro thing my doctor said

B

bearcatfan

Cathlete
I went for my yearly gyn checkup today (as background I've had a full hysterectomy, feel fine and am around my ideal weight). Anyway, he complimented me on the weight loss and asked how I did it. I mentioned weight training and he warned me not to lift too heavy.

"I suggest my patients only use 2-3 lb. dumbbells."

WHAT???????? I guess that wasn't the time to mention my 15-lbers, or my 40 lb barbell. He said heavy lifting would contribute to vaginal prolapse, especially in hysterectomy patients. I don't see how, but it wasn't the time to start a debate, if you know what I mean :).

I was surprised this came from him, since he's a runner and cyclist and all-around pretty progressive guy.

Rose
 
It could be that your doctor is progressive only as far as "guy" things go, and it could also be that as a runner and cyclist he couldn't lift the weightloads you can.

That is indeed a bizarro comment, and IMHO (not being a doctor) I think he's full of it. The patriarchal nature of medical practice still rules to a depressing extent, with cultural images of women coloring "scientific" advice. Get a second opinion from an ob-gyn who also is into strength training, preferably a female ob-gyn who's into strength training.

A-jock
 
Vaginal prolapse, huh? Guess we're all in trouble!
Honestly, I would continue to lift heavy, and also as Annette said, ask a female OB-GYN what she thinks, just for good measure.
Cari
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Dec-18-02 AT 05:48PM (Est)[/font][p]Rose,
This might not and hopefully will not affect you but
your physician is giving you a correct information. Any chronic activity that increases intra-abdominal pressure can cause vaginal prolapse especially in patients who have had hysterectomy, since the support system of vagina has decreased. You can also do a search on "vaginal prolapse and heavy weight lifting".
 
Hmmmm, he is definitely misinformed. I know that when I do squats in PowerHour with the barbell across my shoulders I feel myself squeezing the kegels when I come back up. I would think this makes things "down there" stronger. But, I know what you mean about that not being the time to start a debate, feet in stirrups, butt hanging off the table. Not a real powerful position, is it??
 
Wait a minute here! I know this might not be something you guys want to hear, but why are some of you so quick to assume that this doctor is wrong?? Instead of waving him off and calling him rediculous, I would second Annette's idea of getting a second opinion. I just did do a quick search, and although I didn't look too far, I saw lots of NO HEAVY LIFTING involved with vaginal prolapse...
I'm just wary of saying a doctor's advice is wrong or rediculous, since most of us here are not trained in medecine.
(I'm also not saying he's right. But he might be...)
Wendy
 
Maybe he could define what "heavy" means?

I guess you shouldn't pick up your child or carry your own groceries, either...right?
 
I would like to hear the definition of "heavy," also. And you're right about the second opinion part. I think I spoke too soon.

Just Do It! :)
 
I did a teeny bit of Internet searching - ewwww! Yes, you're right that I need him to define heavy lifting because my daughter weighs 30 lbs and there are times she NEEDS to be carried (and I have another on the way also via adoption so there's another load to cart around!).

The information on the Internet I saw was for people who lifted heavy every day as part of their jobs (ie factory workers) who were likely not using proper form. Also mentioned (in the search and by my doctor) were female bodybuilders. From what I read, it can happen to anyone regardless of their medical condition.

The upshot is, he did not lecture me like he has in the past about other things :) so it did not seem like a big issue - he's a great doctor in many, many respects. He did say I was young enough (36) that it was not an issue right now, but to be careful as I, ahem, age.

I keep thinking that weight lifting has never been mentioned with this on any of the forums I visit, and there are many women of a certain age on them. Any doctors on this forum want to chime in?

Rose
 
Jeez...no wonder so many women fear weight training! He belongs to the 'pink weight' mindset.

As for age, gawd, since I'm 48, maybe I should just get a walker now and forget about the muscles I'm building.

naw.... :)
 
I don't know from nuthin' on this, but it seems to me that weight lifting not only engages the kegels but also the core muscles. These deep abdominals seem to me like they would tighten and hold the vagina in a safe and tight position. Also, it seems to me that the stronger my core gets the tighter my lower abdomen stays even when I am not exercising.

Just my .02 as the saying goes.
-joy
 
Heavy lifting drives the pelvic floor down and can possibly creat hernias in the vaginal tissue leading to prolapse.
Kegel type exercises can strengthen the muscles but do not solve the problem. It is like umbilical hernia, if the abdominal fascia is weak, no matter how much you strengthen the abdominal muscle the fascia remains weak and hernia might occur.

What is "heavy"? No one knows that answer.......Common sense will tell you that no two individuals are alike and the muscular development is different. Therefore what is heavy for one person is not a problem for another.
 
I'm 31, but I remember when I was younger, people always made a big deal about the fact that girls should not lift heavy objects. No one ever gave an exact reason why this was, but it was implied that this could affect a "woman's health". Huh??? What did this mean? I pretty much blew off these comments, and haven't thought about it for years, but your post made me rethink all this. Did these comments have any validity, or was this an old wives tale originated by the chauvenistic behavior of men?

On a side note, I also remember playing tennis in summer leagues, and everyone saying not to drink water while exercising because it would cause cramps. I blew off these comments too, so while my friends were sitting around hot, tired and/or thirsty, I felt very refreshed. :p

I never got cramps from drinking water, and now drinking plenty of water before, during and after exercise is strongly encouraged. Go figure.

Lisa
Unofficial President of the Mojo Jojo Fan Club
 
I of course have no scientific knowledge of this. But applying the sanity test - have you EVER heard of someone having vaginal prolapse due to heavy weight lifting? Or of someone having it at all?

Maybe it's a completely common thing that I'm just not familiar with, but I've never heard of it happening before, and certainly never heard of it being associated with weight-lifting.

You can find lots of myths on the Internet, too, so unless things are from a reliable source, you have to completely ignore most (mis)information.
 
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