DD11 has urine incontinence/bladder issues - wise input needed

[gingerparkin]

Hello
I'm posting in general health for traffic.

My 11 yr old DD2 has an undersized, oversensitive bladder. This was diagnosed at Evelina 'urinary' clinic and she has been under a paediatric clinic since she was about 8.

She wets herself every time she laughs and occasionally if she is active (for example when she plays football). She was on medication for a while but it didn't help much and she started to refuse to take it. She is now trying to manage it through drinking and pelvic floor exercises but not making much improvement.

She is in denial about the problem and refuses to talk about it. Her need to cross her legs and squat to control the urge is becoming more and more apprarent as she gets older. As is the smell. She gets very upset when I talk to her about it. She refuses pads.

My fear is that one of her friends (and especially when she starts secondary school) will notice it and she will be mortified.

Any sage advice gratefully received?. I am pushing for a referral back to the hospital. Could a physio help with the pelvic floor exercises? How do I persuade her to wear pads? Did anyone experience this? The hospital tell me it will improve with age??

Thank you very much in advance.

[tentontruck]

I could have written your post, my DS has the same issue. He's also 11 but has already started secondary school. He also seems to be in denial about it and comes home from school smelling and often wet.

I've no advice I'm afraid but wanted to say you're not alone. I'm hoping someone will come along with some good advice.

[tentontruck]

We've got an appointment back at the hospital next month but I'm worried they will just say the same things - keep up with the drinking and the exercises and it will improve with age. I'm sure DS's friends must have noticed but he says none of them have said anything to him.

[gingerparkin]

Hello @tentontruck.
I'm sorry your son is in the same situation too. It's rubbish, isn't it? I noticed on my daughter's texts that one of her friends had said she smells :-(. I've just spent a fruitless hour googling. I honestly don't know how much water she needs to drink before it will help. And of course, she doesn't want to drink any in the first instance.
I wish you luck. Hopefully, someone will be along shortly to give us some hope!

[Ohyesiam]

Look up Mannose D, usually taken for cystitis, but I’ve heard of someone with sensative bladder who was really helped.
Best of luck

[madeyemoodysmum]

D mannose is worth a try. I find it helps me with urges. I have irritable bladder and it calms it a lot.

[niknac1]

A physio helped me when I asked for help ask for a referral and they can give her exercises.

[TheForgetfulCat]

oh dear, I wish I knew. DD 9 has a similar problem with daytime wetting. Have recently coaxed her back onto the oxybutynin which does help in her case. Also making sure that any constipation is well managed.

Any further words of wisdom very welcome!

[InteriorLulu]

DD13 has a similar issues. Repeated UTIs throughout her childhood, renal scans, bladder ultrasound and under the paediatric team until about 3 years ago when things seemed to spontaneously resolve. Throughout this time she continued to wet the bed until about 18 months ago, which was managed using desmopressin. She still takes this when she goes on sleepovers. But there's never been a formal diagnosis of any - my aunt (helpfully) says it's a familial trait among the women in our family.

However, we've been back to the doctor as she now has urge incontinence - she says she doesn't get the 'warning' signal that she needs to go to the loo, just the urgent one and can't hold on. She uses pads at the moment but obviously wants it to stop.

We're currently keeping a fluid in/out chart and trying to identify the urgent points. However, getting a 13 year old to do this is nigh on impossible. The doctor did suggest she stop fizzy drinks entirely and focuses on drinking at least a litre of water a day (and I'm sure you've had similar advice). Were going back in 3 weeks time and then we'll see what's next.

I hope you get some resolution to the issue - not just OP but everyone.