Just wet myself whilst running

[Pissy]

This isn't my usual name - my usual name is very decorous

I have 3 children, the youngest 2 yrs old, all vaginal deliveries.

I use a thin sanitary towel everyday for mild stress incontinence but the last few months have noticed that I have needed to change them a few times a day. I've had hayfever this summer which has made it worse.

I've recently taken up running and I have to make sure I have a fresh towel on before a run as I am a bit leaky when running. I went out this afternoon and after a few minutes realised that I felt wet. I had leaked so much that my trousers were visibly wet. I had the most embarassing walk home where I got changed and burst into tears .

I've been so pleased about taking up running, and looking forward to getting my body back. I've been doing it very gradually, increasing the run/walk pattern and taking a day between runs. Is this what I have to look forward to - can't do any exercise in case I piss myself? I'm not particularly overweight - at the top end of normal BMI.

I am so mortified and feel like a smelly old bag. I know I will have to see my GP but I just cringe at the thought of it.

Does anyone have any advice?

[belgo]

can you get a referral to a physiotherapist who specialises in this?

It's a very common problem, your GP will have seen many women like you.

[crokky]

Belgo is right, GP will have seen it LOADS! Do not worry about seeing the GP, he/she will help you.

[belgo]

I'm assuming you know about pelvic floor exercises and the importance of doing them every day?

Even if you are doing them every day, some problems will need more specialised help, especially after three pregnancies and births.

Don't feel mortified. Consider it a design fault

[pooka]

Oh god poor you. Echo others in saying that your GP will have seen this many many times before.
OUr post-natal group had a visit from the continence nurse to give advice and to basically inform us that the service exists. It is a very very common problem.

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn

[babalon]

ahhrh bless you

I wee myself when I exercise sometimes, well most the time to be honest. Trampolines are the absolute worst especially if you start laughing too!!!!

I've had 3 vaginal deliveries aswell the youngest being 1 yr old.

I've started pilates classes and I'm seriously considering getting those pelvic floor exercise cones from boots.

If you go to you GP they can refer you to a incontience nurse for assessment. There is a drug that can help ( I think its got some odd side effects though) or even surgery if its really affecting you.

Otherwise tena ladies dark running trousers and a jumper to tie around your waist should the worst happen.

Don't worry it happens to the best of us

[Pissy]

Thank you so much for all the replies. I will have to have embarsssing problems more often - I don't usually get such a quick response on threads .

Belgo, yes, I know about pelvic floor exercises but am not as assiduous about doing them as I should be.

[pooka]

Do them while you mumsnet. Since reading your thread I've been doing more today.
Slightly guffawed when hearing about someone on a trampoline, thinking that'd never happen to me. Then I went on a trampoline recently. All fine for a few jumps and then and I had to get off sharpish.

[orangehead]

if it makes you feel better i was not bladder incontient but the other way, unfortunely never had any embarrasing incidents but so easily could of. i had physio 4 this and got results within a couple of weeks so dont put it off, and keep going with pelvic floor exercises

[morningpaper]

Don't let it put you off running

Make sure you are as empty as possible before you go - and try and find some black trousers that don't show the wet, to avoid the Walk Of Shame back home if it DOES happen

Keep up the exercise though - and also see your GP/physio

[bozza]

Well I went to my GP about this and she said I had a slight anterior prolapse and to keep doing the pelvic floor exercises and keep as generally fit as possible. And that was it. I mentioned that I wasn't sure I was doing the exercises correctly and she said that anything was better than nothing. Although she did also recommed pilates.

Because of this I no longer go on the treadmill at the gym and have to stick to the bike/crosstrainer/stepper.

[Wallace]

I started running in may and have found my pelvic floor is stronger now I take regular exercise. So don't stop running!


Re Pelvic floor exercises - I find there are quite a few threads at the moment that you catch sight of the title and do and instinctive squeeze

[belgo]

trampolining is also good for the pelvic floor

[Wallace]

I've read so often on mumsnet about "leaking" on trampolines, so when I recently got the chance to go on one I was a bit wary.. But it was fine I am pretty sure I would have had problems a few months ago.

[Skribble]

I found cutting down on caffine helped me gain control too, I always have a top ties round my waist when running which I suppose would help to cover any tell tale signs from the back anyway.

[Skribble]

Wallace I too am sitting here squeezing too

[cocolepew]

Hello, fellow pisser . I went to a continence nurse after my DS2, it helped . But now 5 years on and heavy lifting in work, I have a prolaspe,(sp) so waiting for gynae. app. I would use Tena ladies instead of ST's. If you go to their website they will send you a free variety pack out, of all the types and sizes- some are tiny, but effective.

[morningpaper]

You could try a session with a pilates teacher or a physio who is trained in pilates - it does help to 'locate' your pelvic floor in a far more deeper/meaningful way, which makes it easier to control/hold your pelvic floor when running and exercising

[bozza]

D'you reckon a pilates DVD would be good enough or does it need to be a proper teacher - not many around in this neck of the woods.

[elasticbandstand]

i do aerobics in the swimming pool, so no one notices!
actually i am fine, but that is all the exercise i do,
good luck with it

[chalat]

Speak to your GP and ask to be referred to the Continence Advisor at your local hospital. They are brilliant, really know their stuff and hopefully get the problem sorted out quickly. In the meantime, practice your pelvic floor muscles often throughout the day, may well help you to have greater control than you do at the moment. Don't delay on it as it won't go away. Some great advice on this thread re dealing with the practicalities - why give up on an exercise you enjoy? Gaining weight could exacerbate the problem too so that is an extra reason to keep at it. Hope things are resolved soon for you and you will be back as 'Dryasabone'

[Pissy]

Will running whilst I am still working on the problem not exacerbate it?

Am practising my pelvic floors as I type

You have all cheered me up so much - I was so upset about it when I first posted.

I am mid-cycle - it seems to be much worse around then. Has anyone else found that?

I'll enquire at the doctor's about physio/incontinence advisors. I'm more likely to be able to work out childcare around that, than pilates classes. I have done pilates and yoga in the pre-children past so although I am now very out of practise I know about locating the relevant muscles.

[JiminyCricket]

Mine seemed to go through phases of being worse then not a problem..trampolines, skipping (at circuit training) and playing tag with over competetive dh have all caused me problems!
Just posting to say pelvic floor toner worked for me..with suprising and welcome sex life side effects

[Pissy]

Jiminy - what pelvic floor toner do you recommend, and where do you get them from?

[JiminyCricket]

Just looked at the box - No brand name except 'Pelvic Toner' - just says 'The world's best Pelvic Toner'. Think you used to be able to get them in Boots, but I couldn't find them when I looked so bought mine online (sorry, no idea where, just googled it). You can upgrade to a stronger set of springs which I haven't yet but could do with. HTH