Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the clinic do?
We help adults who are suffering from a pelvic floor dysfunction, which usually shows up as bowel and bladder issues.
Since it’s an intricate area of the body, it takes more than one specialist area to work on a care plan, so we take a collaborative approach with each patient. Read more
Q: How does it work? I.e can I just come in for an assessment or am I locked in for a specialist appointment?
Your treatment journey starts off with a consultation with our nurse practitioner, who will record the details of your symptoms. Depending on your symptoms, our nurse practitioner will conduct an assessment. This is done in the same session and is bulk billed. Read more
Q: Who are the doctors?
Dr Alexandra Mowat, Urogynaecologist and pelvic floor reconstructive surgeon
Dr Andrea Warwick, Colorectal surgeon
Dr Chris Gillespie, Colorectal surgeon
Dr Trina Kellar, Gastroenterologist – Motility and Functional GI Disorders
Dr Pamela Caleo, Colorectal surgeon
Dr Andrew Riddell, Colorectal surgeon
Dr Duncan Shannon, Gynaecologist and pelvic floor reconstructive surgeon
Q: Who are the physios?
Jess Forbes
Karyn Devlin
Elizabeth (Liz) Johnson
Zoe Mills
Q: Who is the nurse?
Q: Do I need a referral?
No, you can book your first consultation with our nurse practitioner without a referral. Make an appointment
Appointments with our allied health team (pelvic floor physiotherapists and dietitian) do not require a referral.
Appointments with our medical specialists will require a referral. Our nurse practitioner can write a referral following your initial consultation if required.
Q: When can I get an appointment?
We do our best to book your first appointment as soon as possible. Please complete the appointment request form and we’ll get back to you shortly. Make an appointment. You are also welcome to call or email anytime.
Q: How do I make an appointment?
Booking is easy. Get straight in to see our nurse practitioner using our webform: Make an appointment
Or simply give us a call on 31937711 or send an email to reception@qldpfc.com.au – our friendly staff are always happy to help!
Q: How much is an appointment?
Your first consultation with our Nurse Practitioner is bulk billed, just bring your Medicare card with you.
We are a private practice, designed to treat both public and private patients. Where possible we try to keep the costs to a minimum. We are the only service in Brisbane to bulk bill the first consultation, which may include anorectal and urodynamic tests.
Depending on the treatment plan recommended to you – whether that includes an appointment with our medical specialists, pelvic floor physiotherapy or dietetics sessions – additional costs will be discussed with you prior to commencing your unique treatment plan.
If you have extras cover on your private health insurance, we can process your HICAPS claim when you see our allied health specialists.
You may be eligible for a Team Care Arrangement (TCA) through Medicare. TCAs provide rebates for up to five Allied Health visits per calendar year for eligible participants. If you think a TCA could benefit you, we recommend chatting with your GP to discuss your eligibility. If you qualify for a TCA, your GP will provide the necessary referral. Please note: A TCA rebate cannot be claimed in addition to a rebate from your private health insurance extras.
Q: What are the ‘assessments’ at the first consultation?
The assessments refer to anorectal and urodynamic tests. They provide valuable information about how the body is functioning. Your symptoms will guide which tests are required. Find out more here
Q: Why are ‘assessments’ done at the first consultation?
Assessments are done for two reasons:
- These assessments provide valuable information that allows us to create your treatment plan and recommendations quicker as we have all the information from the start, instead of you revisiting to have the assessments done.
- For some, these tests are expensive; by doing them in the first consultation our patients aren’t out of pocket as the session is bulk billed.
Q: Do the doctors perform surgery on-site?
No surgery is performed on site. The specialists perform gastroscopy/colonoscopy and surgical interventions in private hospitals. In general, our goal is always to try to improve your symptoms without needing surgery, but if surgery is required, our specialist surgeons are all pelvic floor experts with significant experience in their field.
Q: Will I have to have surgery?
That depends on the treatment recommended to you, and if you want to proceed with that plan.
Q: What conditions do you treat?
We help people with bowel leakage, bladder accidents, constipation, diarrhoea, cramping or bloating, prolapses – that can feel like a bulge from the bottom or a heavy dragging feeling in the vagina or lower back, painful urination or bowel motions, pain during intercourse, bladder pain or food intolerances.
Q: What, if any, conditions don’t you treat (in the pelvic floor area)?
Prostate problems.
Q: Ever since my hysterectomy years ago, I sometimes wee myself. Is there anything you can do for me?
Yes. Urinary incontinence in some form is common in all groups of women and may not be a result of the hysterectomy. In the vast majority of cases, it can be significantly improved/cured. We will work with you to discover the underlying cause and find a solution that works for you and your life rather than just treating the symptoms.
Q: Will doing kegels solve my occasional urinary incontinence?
There’s a very good chance and a fantastic starting point. Once we understand the underlying cause we will work with you to design a treatment solution to ensure you manage the occasional occurrence.
Q: Giving birth to my child left me with a vaginal prolapse. I’m not keen on surgery, but will I return to ‘normal’ like going back to the gym, and not feeling awkward during sex?
With the right help, absolutely. Childbirth is part of life for a lot of women, and while things may never be exactly the same, there can be a significant improvement and some would say ‘fabulous’.
Q: I experience constipation all the time, and now I also accidentally wet myself. What can be done? How long will it take to fix this?
Constipation can mean different things to different people.
Some people describe infrequent visits to the toilet, some a reduced urge to go, some describe hard stool and others talk about difficulty in actually evacuating the stool (needing to push hard, use the finger, or incompletely empty).
Pressures related to straining can stretch important supportive tissues in the pelvis, and if left unchecked, this can lead to impairment of the “holding on” mechanisms in the pelvis as well.
Many patients will come to us complaining both of constipation, and also of leakage or inability to hold on because of this. Treatment always starts with an assessment of what has caused the problem in the first place – and initial supportive measures to optimise the stool consistency and the way you actually go to the toilet.
If there are still symptoms, other therapies include irrigating the anus with water, surgery to correct prolapse, and other more invasive treatments. The majority of patients improve with the first set of supportive treatments, but in some the problem is one that can only be “managed” and treatment and support may be required for years.
Q: I’ve been told kegels is what I need to do, will the physio offer me anything different?
Absolutely. Our specialist pelvic floor physiotherapists have spent years training in managing pelvic floor conditions. They provide a totally “holistic” assessment of the way someone toilets – assessing all aspects of this including both the bowel and bladder along with treatment and support for patients with prolapse.
They will assess lifestyle factors around visiting the toilet, positioning and technique, and offer advice on ways to optimise stool consistency and improve emptying and “holding on”.
Whilst visiting the toilet is something most people do every day, there are ways to improve your technique and the pressure exerted during toileting, all with the goal of improving symptoms and quality of life.
In many patients, Kegels can be one of the worst things to do, particularly in patients who suffer from a pelvic floor that is too tight, or not relaxing adequately during emptying.
Couldn’t find the answer to your question? Email us at reception@qldpfc.com.au or send your question via the contact page and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
BRISBANE
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