fess up...how do you deal with weak bladder when running?

[thepowerofnow]

so, am a new runner. if i drink more than about half a glass before running i manage to pee myself. have been doing runs first thing in am to avoid this, but sometimes i just can't get up at 6.30am and when i leave it till later in the day, my bladder just can't cope. What do you use? am i to be a purchaser of tena lady? are there any good knickers, shorts which don't show the odd spillage?

[mountaingirl]

Try cycling as well. Definitely helped with my pelvic floor.

[Pawsnclaws]

You really seriously need to strengthen your pelvic floor rather than getting yourself dehydrated! Improving your general fitness is a great idea but please get those pf exercises going daily - slow ones and fast ones! If you're doing them properly every day and see no improvement in a couple of months I would see your GP.

Pilates is great for core strength too, these things are all connected.

If all else fails ..... Wear dark colours/throw some water down your front!

[smartyparts]

I always have a wee before a run and always do kegels when I'm in the lift at work!!

[StrangewaysHereICome]

I had this problem when I started running after having baby number 3. Pf exercises and more running has strengthened things up a bit. Also I don't drink tea or coffee before a run, and rather than down a big drink before I go I take a bottle to sip as I go along which helps.

[NoNoNoMYDoIt]

running with a tampon in can help - or a mooncup. don't ask me why - but it definitely does help!

[thepowerofnow]

cheers ladies - just thinking maybe it's the tea, rather than water. will not drink that before a run and keep going with the pf exercises!

[upahill]

I had an operation.
it worked wonders!

[bluedomino]

upahill - please can I ask what did they do? and how long was recovery? Botox injections have been mentioned to me.

[backwardpossom]

For the first month or two, I had to wear a pad - but running has improved my pelvic floor immensely and I'm fine now :)

[glasscompletelybroken]

I used to run with a friend who had this problem and like backwardpossum she found that running improved the situation immensley.

Keep drinking, get some tena ladies and keep running and you will soon notice an improvement.

[shelscrape]

the key is to make sure you are well hydrated before you run. So, if I am running after work I sip on water all afternoon, no tea or coffee for an hour before I run. No major intake of fluids for 20 mins before a run - I usually have a large glass of water about 40 - 30 mins before a run. Then, empty your bladder as much as possible before you go running. I drink while I run too.

Usually this works very well. But otherwise i am very good a t finding convenient bushes and I seem to have learned where most public loo's are in an 8 mile radius.

[ThatVikRinA22]

i find on my longer runs this can be a problem for me, but not always Short runs of around 3 miles or so and im fine - when i go to running club i insert a tampon (it helps but ive no idea why)

i recently went to the gp who wasnt very helpful.

rather than get embarrassed i now do use a pad, just in case, though the majority of the time i am fine, the odd slip up made me worry about going into the club afterwards so i just use one to be sure.

ive got to get a blood test, a urine test (to rule out a water infection) then go back for an examination, when i ever get around to it. The gp wasnt too sympathetic so it put me off.

have to say though that the more i run the better it gets and the stronger my pelvic floor gets.

[castle251]

just seen this thread, as I too have experienced the same issues, and I've been trawling the internet to find the answer.. My friend told me about Diary Dolls? She bought them for her teenage daughter who'd just started her periods, but ended up wearing them herself for the gym! I've since bought a pair, and they're brilliant!

[QuestaVecchiaCasa]

Oh I've been waiting for a running/bladder incontinence thread to spend put in my penny worth.

I have noticed that when running, I don't sweat as much as other people around me yet I often get an overwhelming urge to pee. I am much more likely to have this problem in hot weather. I have come to the conclusion that I should think of pee as no different to sweat - just a practical way to cool the body down!

I am now absolutely shameless and pee quite happily when running. In hot weather I wear wicking underwear and shorts which often dry by the end of the run. Of course I shower shortly after I get home and all is fine.

In cooler weather I don't have the urge to pee so I don't have the problem of cold damp clothes.

I genuinely don't think it is a pelvic floor issue for me as I can have a very full bladder and cough and sneeze quite happily despite having had 3 children.

I wonder if anyone else has noticed this phenomenon?

[MegTheCat]

If you want special shorts, there are these evbsport.com/shop/
It's good to hear running can help improve your pelvic floor - I was worried it would make things worse - which was why support seemed a good idea.

[ImBrian]

I was told to stop running as it would make my pelvic floor worse.