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Original poster

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

163 replies

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 17/12/2022 16:48

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.

OP posts:
userxx · 18/12/2022 15:44

I'm pretty shocked how many women this effects. Are people going to their doctors or just putting up with it ?

bellac11 · 18/12/2022 15:49

ladyandthechocolate · 18/12/2022 14:28

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.

I admit I struggle with this

I wont be able to see any bits with a hand mirror. Too much fat in the way of leaning down there, plus Im afraid eye sight these days means thats not possible to see that far.

I have no idea about stomach muscles I have never known what people mean by relax or hold firm your tummy muscles.

However, i thought I read somewhere that if you stop your wee mid flow a few times, thats the same thing as exercising the muscles, is that right and if so is that what I can continue to do?

Willdenytothedeath · 18/12/2022 16:19

userxx · 18/12/2022 15:44

I'm pretty shocked how many women this effects. Are people going to their doctors or just putting up with it ?

Personally, no. My pelvic floor has been fine. I can bounce on a trampoline without fear.

The incontinence has been specific to this bug. If it doesn't clear up when the bug does, then I'll seek medical advice.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 18/12/2022 16:38

Also have a bit of an obsession with toilets when I’m out.
Need to suss out where they are, how many there are wherever I’m going and restrict my fluid intake if I’m going out anywhere.

I cannot hold urine, when I need to go I HAVE to go there and then. It’s actually painful and almost impossible to hold it.

I get cold sweats if I see a queue, it fills me with utter utter terror.

I admit to using the disabled access toilet before now because it’s free and I HAVE to go.

OP posts:
BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 18/12/2022 17:06

I'm disabled, and have little issue with anyone using the toilet when they're unwell and have a genuine need 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anubis68 · 19/12/2022 13:13

boots stay dry pants are my saving grace.

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 19/12/2022 13:49

I seem to be on the mend. Still coughing, but it's less violent now and my knickers are safe (so far today)...

Anubis68 · 19/12/2022 16:20

my bladder will never be 100% i've got cauda equina syndrome from my accident nearly 10 years back

NotmyusualNN · 19/12/2022 16:39

I'm so pleased to see this thread. I went back to the office today, thinking I was over the worst of this cough. All was fine and then around an hour ago, I was hit by a sudden violent burst of coughing accompanied by a torrent of piss. I ran to the loo to clean myself up as best as I could but there's a limit to what I could do. On the way back, one of my employees stopped me to ask for help with a difficult issue on which she was working. I was trying not to get too close but she kept on and on about wanting me to sit with her and help work through the problem and then I saw her nose wrinkle in disgust and realised that there is a definite smell. I made my excuses and went back to my office and have just had a bit of a cry behind closed doors. I've never been so mortified at work and worried now that a complaint will be made about my hygiene.

I just want to go home and have a shower.

Ladyof2022 · 19/12/2022 17:10

mommatoone · 18/12/2022 13:24

@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!

Yes. The pants don't come in my size. I am VERY large.

Whadda · 19/12/2022 17:19

OP, if it’s any consolation, I don’t have children and generally have a strong pelvic floor with really good bladder control.

I’ve had an awful cough for the past three days and am now wearing period pants.

It’s awful.

Whadda · 19/12/2022 17:20

Ladyof2022 · 19/12/2022 17:10

Yes. The pants don't come in my size. I am VERY large.

Show quote history

Modibodi do period pants/continence pants up to large sizes- I think maybe a 32/34.

Peasepuddingbloodycold · 19/12/2022 18:53

@NotmyusualNN that sounds horribly embarrassing and worrying. But you can't worry about a one-off. I once had awful dental pain with dry socket and in a meeting the colleague next to me recoiled from my dreadful breath :(
Can you get a shower tonight? Tomorrow's another day and forewarned is forearmed.

You could do a preemptive strike and tell her couldn't help but notice an odd smell at her desk yesterday and is everything ok?

NotmyusualNN · 19/12/2022 19:28

@Peasepuddingbloodycold

Thank you. I'm home and have showered now. Also scrubbed my office chair before leaving and will definitely wear pads for the next few days until I can be absolutely sure this bastard cough has gone for good.

Still feel horrifically embarrassed about today though. I was very aware of the smell for the rest of the afternoon and really don't want my team gossiping about the boss who smells of wee.

NotmyusualNN · 19/12/2022 19:28

No idea what happened with formatting there.

GAH3 · 19/12/2022 20:43

Those who have this bloody cough - have you gone to the GP to see if it's bacterial? Not sure what the signs are of bacterial Vs viral but I am fantasising about something to get rid of it.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 19/12/2022 21:02

GAH3 · 19/12/2022 20:43

Those who have this bloody cough - have you gone to the GP to see if it's bacterial? Not sure what the signs are of bacterial Vs viral but I am fantasising about something to get rid of it.

Has the cough for about 4 weeks now; ended up on steroids last week due to it resembling exacerbation of my asthma but still bad after 7 days; was started on antibiotics on Friday when I went into the Drs as I was feeling worse not better. Not only do I have issues with coughing and peeing, but I’ve pulled muscles across my abdomen through coughing!

BrewandBiscuit · 19/12/2022 21:28

I’ve been given antibiotics today. Doctor said she could hear the fluid in my lungs, heart rate was 125 and o2 92%. I’ve got 5 days of amoxicillin and have to go back in 48 hours if no improvement. Feeling so lousy and this is the 4th week for me.

Mentalpiece · 19/12/2022 21:33

anunseemlylovefordustin · 17/12/2022 17:08

Oh my god, SO much solidarity with you. Thought it was just me! I’m 50, on week four of the cough and prior to the last couple of weeks have never had any issues with pelvic floor. Last two weeks have been getting worse and worse - I actually ordered an elvie pelvic floor exerciser last night, and a box of Tena pads! This bloody cough can DO ONE.

Please can you let us know if the machine works when you've got it and tried it out.
I've been incontinent for around fifteen years and I've tried everything. Exercises, kegel balls, literally dehydrating myself, everything.
Doctor wanted to fit a mesh strap, I said no outright due to the horror stories and I can't have medication due to medication I'm already on.
I don't even have to cough or sneeze for leakage, but if I do, it's like a blooming tsunami.
It costs me a fortune in incontinence pads.

dementedma · 20/12/2022 10:08

Had a cough since September!! 4 lots of anti biotics,2 lots of steroids,one chest xray..and a partridge in a pear tree.

Cough up lumps of yellow phlegm but been told its a virus and nothing can be done. Thankfully, dont have the peeing though.

EmmaAgain22 · 20/12/2022 10:11

Ohtheweatheroutsideistoocold · 17/12/2022 17:18

Same here, its driving me mad, I've not even had kids so I cant blame it on that

Oh right...I thought it was just me and was puzzled because no kids...

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 20/12/2022 12:39

GAH3 · 19/12/2022 20:43

Those who have this bloody cough - have you gone to the GP to see if it's bacterial? Not sure what the signs are of bacterial Vs viral but I am fantasising about something to get rid of it.

I did when I had the first version (@dementedma I had an awful cough in about aug-oct. Had a few weeks where it was gone, then this shit bug hit me). They said unspecified viral or possibly covid that wasn't showing on tests, but sent a culture off and it was clear.

What worried me the most was the rattle, but by the time I saw a dr it had improved. And the rattle passed this time too, so I guess I'm okay. 🤷🏼‍♀️

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 20/12/2022 12:41

I'm already on steroids for my AI condition, and just finished a course of ABs for the UTI, so I wonder if maybe it was bacterial and it's already been treated inadvertently

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 20/12/2022 12:42

In sept they sent me for an X-ray to rule out TB, as apparently it can pop up with one of my meds! That was clear too

WoolyMammoth55 · 20/12/2022 13:04

Hello all, I'm so sad to see how many of us women have this issue and are feeling ashamed and smelly and alone :(

I have a prolapse after birth injury with my first so had issues with stress incontinence before, but this cough is something else and it's been 2 weeks of really bad leaks, I feel awful about it...

Just dropping the things I've found HELP ME over the past couple of years here, in case any use to anyone.

I have the Perifit vaginal strength device - it's a sensor that measures your strength and it matches up via bluetooth with a smartphone app with really enjoyable games that you control with your vagina :) The games makes the exercises really fun and I actually do them! In fact I was over-training when I first got it because I liked the games so much...
It tells me that in the past 4 months that I've used it, my "vaginal wellness" has gone from 22% to 47%, and that if I keep playing then I'll be at 90% by next April... Super-motivating!
It's not cheap but it's by far the best investment I've made on this front, and is on offer at the minute from £199 to £119 which is a pretty good discount: uk.perifit.co/products/kegel-exerciser-with-app

Also I like the pelvic floor physio Sarah Duvall, who did a video on coughing and how to manage it the other day. There's also a free pdf download of the exercises she recommends - worth a look if you'd like to understand more of what's happening and how you can work with your body to get stronger: www.coreexercisesolutions.com/coughing-webinar/

Love and solidarity to you all <3