In August I got what I thought was the worst UTI of my life. Over the course of the last 5 months I've been treated with 3 antibiotics (back to back) and tested repeatedly for UTIs (all cultures came back negative). Even when I kept telling the care providers it was NOT a UTI and that I had already been tested for it. I was also tested for a few other things, but everything led to - "there's nothing wrong with you" mentality from the people that were supposed to be helping me. I've even had a clinic lose my sample! I was sent away from what I thought was an urgent care, labeled as a community hospital (that charged ER prices) and was told to drink less water. I've been place to place, and doctor after doctor, month after month, and in the end the all wound up telling me there was nothing they could do to help me.

5 months of this pain and urgency.

I finally got one of them to refer me to a Uro-gyn.

My appointment was yesterday.

I was diagnosed with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.

My pelvic muscles have tightened so much they push on my bladder causing these symptoms.

It mimics a UTI and can cause other issues, including painful sex, bowel issues, back and hip pain, amongst other things. Majority of the time it mimics a UTI and can go undiagnosed for months or even YEARS!

If I can save another woman the months of suffering I've been through by spreading some awareness - that's what I'm here to do.

So ladies - please trust your body. Trust that you know your body. And don't be afraid to ask about this. Don't let anyone make you feel crazy either.

Hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction is actually like the exact opposite of what new mothers sometimes go through. They don't have specific reasons this happens. But for some reason - your vaginal, pelvic muscles walls can tighten up so much that they cause of world of issues because those muscles support those organs. If those muscles weren't there - your organs would fall out, bladder and all. So if those muscles are too loose, it can cause women to leak, or pee themselves (like after child birth). If they're too tight, they put pressure on them and can cause UTI symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome, hip and lower back problems, etc.

I was skeptical at first, but it makes a lot of sense after doing some research. It's not every day you have someone tell you that you need Physical Therapy for your vagina.