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dedicated about them and patient. There are extra methods that can help if you find doing the exercises a problem. These include electrical stimulators, where a small electric current makes the pelvic floor muscles contract, or weighted cones, such as the Aquaflex system which you place and hold inside your vagina for around 15 minutes twice a day.
The problem with these is that they aren’t suitable for those with very weak muscles as they just fall out.
Biofeedback methods involve placing a small device inside your vagina and when you squeeze the right muscles it sends a signal, either in the form of an audible bleep, or more technically, via Bluetooth to an app on your phone.
I suggest that your first port of call should be your GP or practice nurse, who will be able to confirm that weak pelvic muscles are the problem and give you more personal advice about the best method for you. She may also be able to refer you to a specialist physiotherapist who can instruct you on doing the right exercises. IN reply to the reader (September 19) who wrote to ask your advice regarding water retention, I too thought I was suffering from water retention but after a visit to a hospital consultant I was informed it was lymphoedema and that there was no cure.
In my case it was caused by the medication I was taking but I understand there are several reasons why lymphoedema may develop.
However the “cure” wasn’t so helpful. I am to walk, but not too much; rest, but not too much; spend time lying with my legs up, but not too much, and exercise, but again, not too much. All I can say is I’ve followed the advice and x3 found that on hot days the swelling is very bad but on cold days it is bearable.
K Blackburn, Dublin, Ireland
If you have a health question for Dr Rosemary, write to her in confidence at The Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN or email health@express.co.uk.
Dr Rosemary’s reply will appear in this column. She regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence and due to the volume of letters she cannot reply to everyone. Find out more about her at drrosemaryleonard.co.uk x4