Got a cough. The most awful symptom thpugh is the bladder issues.

[ColinRobinsonsfamiliar]

Barely able to control my bladder usually.

Got an awful cough and of course every time I cough, even if I have just emptied my bladder, I wee.

Its fucking annoying and embarrassing and just bloody soul destroying.

2 showers a day, pads, worrying about smelling and getting sore.

My body is just ruined I think.

Well I haven’t got a cough but I still wet myself yesterday (went over a bump on a sledge) and today (full bladder + playing chase with kid = not good).

This is why women traditionally wore skirts I reckon. Nothing to do with sex or periods, it’s all about bladder control 😢

No I've always had trouble with my bladder when coughing sneezing or jumping. Regardless of whether I was 7 stone at the time or 14 stone at the time. Weirdly though because of my job I can hold a wee in for ages no problem. Provided I don't cough or sneeze in the meantime of course. At the moment I have an awful cough and used my last pad up today so tomorrow is going to be great. Must have some gunk on my chest as well cos I coughed and retched and was sick slightly earlier on but the tightness in my chest eased loads and I didn't need to cough for a while afterwards. Strangely ever since Covid I've always picked up chest colds or viruses around this time of year and they all seem to be nigh on identical. Starts with a scratchy throat and constant running nose, then the cough starts and the aching legs. As soon as I've thrown up a few times I start feeling slightly better.

Another one in the same boat …. I just dread getting any cough/cold/sickness now. A vote for Aldi incontinence pads from me !

For the record, my BMI is normal

Does anyone know what I can do about stick back pads that keep turning, twisting, sticking to my thigh instead of my knickers, and shifting so much that when I cough and pee they don't catch any of it? I have gigantic thighs (medical condition called lipedema) which rub together which is probably the reason but I need the pads when I cough or sneeze so what can I do?

I had this issue for a week or so when my covid cough/chest infection was at it's height and I could hardly draw breath or hold my pelvic floor together it seems. I never have problems usually, so it was another fresh hell to add to the list.

Me too!!
had to pad yesterday as I can’t stop dribbles. I’m coughing so hard that I get a red rash appear on my arms and flanks
excruciating and then it goes

Same here, have had to change just now. Not fun!

I hope you all feel better soon.

For those who normally have bladder issues please check out @gussiegrips on Twitter who is running a campaign to help women strengthen their pelvic floors and reduce longer term problems associated with incontinence.

Seconding Gussie Grips (aka Elaine Miller). She's fantastic.

In fact this thread has reminded me of it thing I saw by her about how bladder issues in women went through the roof in Australia after their awful fires a few years ago, as suddenly everyone in the vicinity had an awful cough (from smoke rather than a virus, obvs).

I had whooping cough 4-5 years ago and it was the same for me, awful 😞 I had quite a bit of time off work to get better and it went as the cough went

Been there, done that and it hasn't made the slightest bit of difference. I don't even know I need to wee these days

My pelvic floor is actually like iron. Official diagnosis from the gynae 😁

It's the tissues surrounding it that are fucked - connective tissue problem.

Pelvic health physio here 👋
It’s very common to get a sudden deterioration in pelvic floor function when you get a cough that goes on or you are violently sick. With each cough you stress the pelvic floor muscles and they lose some strength and therefore ability to help squeeze around your urethra and stop you peeing. There are also other reasons too but this is the main one.
Gentle pelvic floor exercises only while you are still ill then commit to 3x per day once you feel better. It usually takes about a month to heal after illness. Make sure you don’t subconsciously clench them, otherwise this can make them overactive and weak too.
If you have underlying bladder or prolapse issues or things don’t improve after a month then get yourself to a pelvic health PT. Incontinence is almost always fixable.

Thank you for this it's really helpful. I've spent the last couple of years since my first bout of covid struggling with coughs so what you said about coughing impacting your pelvic floor makes sense

@Ladyof2022 . Do you mean sanitary style pads?. These didnt work for me either. As others have said, i bought incontinence pants. So, like knickers you put on but with padding. Got mine from lidl they are great!

Would period pants work for this?

It's horrible, isn't it. I was driving home the other week when I had a coughing fit and pissed myself - the whole bladderful. My car seat needed cleaning, and I had to stagger into the house to take everything off and have a shower.

I've had enough of it now, 4 weeks in!

Such an important message which could prevent so much chronic incontinence and misery.

If Im honest Im not quite sure what im meant to be doing with the PF exercises, Ive never quite known?

Also my technique for avoiding too much smell I hope is to keep drinking lots of water, it does mean I have to go to the loo a lot and risk more leaks but my urine is like clear water so Im hoping its not too much smell

Another reluctant member of the club. I've resorted to buying incontinence pads from Amazon. Not the tena lady mini pads- these things look like period pads on steroids. Probably overkill but I would rather not end up completely embarrassing myself every time I cough.

I'm not even 40 and I am buying maxi incontinence pads fgs. Thanks kids (2) for wrecking my pelvic floor

If it makes everyone feel better, DW is early thirties and hasn't carried any children!

Well Ive just put on my tena pad that I bought today, they're too big for my knickers and I have massive knickers, my knickers are a size 24!!

I find it so embarrasing

So if you’re wondering about whether or not you are doing pelvic floor exercises properly this may help…
Sitting on a firm chair, sit up tall and relax your tummy muscles. Try to release any tension around your back passage or ‘sit bones’. Then, imagine you have a straw coming out of your vagina (I know, I know, weird analogy) and that you are trying to suck up water through the straw. These will be the same muscles that you would use if you were trying to stop a wee mid flow.

If you are also tightening your tummy that’s ok, if you are clenching your buttocks that isn’t ok.

To be sure if you are doing the right thing, lie on your back, knicks off and knees bent up. Take a hand mirror and take a look down there. As you contract your pelvic floor muscles, you should see a lift and in drawing of your perineum (between vagina and anus).

Try to contract the muscles for 10 seconds, 10 times 3 x per day in sitting or lying. Follow with 10 quick squeezes.