Hi. I have name-changed through embarrassment.
I am starting the menopause and sometimes don't have a period at all, but do have the crampy, bloaty type feelings beforehand.
In the last couple of months I have started to get real bladder urgency around this bloaty time. Actually (and I can hardly admit this to myself) I have actually started to piss myself. Oh God, I've typed it - you have no idea how long that took.
I went to my GP for something totally unrelated and mentioned it to her. As a mother of 3, I expected a bit more support, but all she said was to practice holding my wee while I'm on the loo in order to strengthen the muscles. I scuttled out because I feel so awful about it.
Moving on ...... So I was running last weekend. I ran a PB and was feeling epic. I was laughing, chatting with my clubmates afterwards and when I went back to my car I happened to look down as I sat down. Between my legs my running shorts were wet. I thought, don't panic... it's sweat. Nothing more, nothing less. Got home - avoided everyone and ran straight for the bathroom. Took off the shorts, sniffed ..... piss. All my clubmates might have noticed, not to mention how upset and embarrassed I felt for myself.
Pulled myself together yesterday and went to Boots. Stood looking at mattress-sized products for pissers. (Yes - I have lost all self-respect and am now the woman on Little Britain).
I couldn't stand it anymore and asked to speak confidentially with someone in their little room. A beautiful young woman in her 20s with poise and sophistication emerged and asked me how she could help. I was mortified. In the end I managed to explain, the tears came ... total drama.
She was wonderful and brought me in some products to look at in private. She opened up the packets so I could see them.
They are so BIG! Where does it all fit? I am a size 6-8. My running shorts are tight and my running tights are tight (obviously). The width of these things is wider than my undercarriage.
What the hell am I going to do? I am so upset. I know I could have a life-threatening illness and need to get perspective but I am sooooo upset by this.
How many others are affected by this and how do you deal with it?
Have you had to change your life? Give stuff up? I only started running a year ago and I bloody love it. I'm getting faster and further and entering proper races and doing well.
Self-respect gone. Help.
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Honestly ... are you affected by this?
31 replies
AndyMurraysBalls · 03/07/2013 09:30
OP posts:
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