Stress incontinence

[Hannycakes]

Hi everyone,

First time post, so please be gentle 😉

I have been suffering silently for a long period of time with stress incontinence. I plucked up the courage to go to my GP and have had pelvic floor therapy and a Urodynamic test. It’s been confirmed I have this and will need surgery.

Has anyone here had either of these surgeries - laparoscopic (keyhole) colposuspension or Urethral bulking agents as I would like to hear opinions and experiences please as I am unsure which option to go with.

thank you!!

I can’t help as I’m in the same boat but would also be interested in people’s replies as I’m considering Bulkamid!
One year post partum and still leaking terribly! Some days even walking does it

Hi, I hope your surgery went well.

Just a question, how did you know it was stress incontinence? I haven't been to the doctor but i am not sure if this is what I have? I think I must have always had a weak bladder as when I need to go it feels urgent and I can't hold it for too long. Sometimes it has resulted in a bit of a panic to get to a to a toilet. Is this what stress incontinence is? Sorry for jumping on your post!

@Copperfoz stress incontinence is when you leak from things like couching, sneezing or jumping, i.e., things that put the muscles under stress. What you describe sounds more like urge incontinence.

I was suffering from stress incontinence, but after taking HRT for 6 months it has gone almost completely, except maybe for those most unexpected sneezes.

Old post sorry, just wondered if you went ahead with either surgery or got any more advice? I'm currently on the waiting list for Colposuspension.

@nimski
I'm also catching up on an older post.
Have you had surgery yet. I was on the list for 5 years and finally had it done at the beginning of June. Was looking up the surgery to see how everyone else got on recovery wise and came across this, so thought I would write back to you.

Hi all - I've recently had a colposuspension after years of stress incontinence after having our 3rd child! I dont want to get ahead of myself but I'm on week 5 of my recovery and so far so good in the leaking ( now not leaking) department. What I would like to know from other peoples experiences is how long they waited until going back to work? I'm a learning support assistant at a primary school , which is a busy job and can be stressful. My tummy is quite bloated and still a bit tender in places xxxxx

I had colposuspension surgery about 6 years ago now.

Had 12 weeks off work but could have went back sooner tbh but i took the full line my surgeon offered as I wanted the best chance of recovery.

It did make a huge difference but didnt solve it completely

My surgeon did recommend losing weight which i didnt do and regret now tbh - hoping losing it now will help

Oh really - maybe I'll take 8 if I can then! It's so hard to know what to do isnt it! Like you say- you want to give yourself the best chance for recovery. All the best with losing weight. It's not easy is it! Glad the op helped alot. Like you say, hopefully a bit of weight loss might just make the difference! Thankyou for your help xxx

Hi again - I had my colposuspension op nearly 8 weeks ago and so far so good! I am trying to find out which pilates tummy exercises are suitable aa I know they arent all good after a colposuspension. My consultant said that pilates was ok but I've googled it all and some info is saying that anything too taxing on the tummy arent good. I've started back to swimming gently which feels fine and I'm walking regularly but I am keen to start up my pilates again once I'm ok to do so! Xxxxx

I’m at the same stage as you with my colposuspension recovery. I’m not back at work yet. I’m desperate to start doing more exercise. How are you feeling? Are you back at work?

Oh bless you xx I'm back today after 8 weeks off. I've just been walking and swimming a bit. Only swam in the last 2 weeks and only once a week. Its difficult isnt it! What have you been told regarding exercise? Xxx

So sorry for late reply. I’ve been back to work for two weeks. I’m now 12 weeks post surgery. I still feel tender and very tired. I currently unable to do any more exercise apart from what I do at work. One more week to go and then two weeks off for Christmas. :-) Each week I do feel better, but didn’t expect to still be feeling tender.

Bless you - I'm nearly 12 wks. I haven't done much exercise since being back at school aa I have been too tired by the evening. I'm glad I took 8 weeks off as once I was back it was full on as I expected! It's near impossible being a woman and resting i decided a long time ago! I think my surgery has mainly worked but I've had a few incidents when I've leaked a bit after sneezing/ coughing, but only when I needed a wee. On the whole its certainly alot better than it was. Finding it hard to fit pelvic floor exercises in 3 x day but doing it! Take care and merry Christmas xxxx

Hi all. I’m having the colposurgery in two weeks time and I’m panicking about the recovery. Husband is very supportive but he will be working full time and now juggling all the childcare and school runs. What is it like in the first two weeks? Will I be bed bound? How long before I can move around/do some chores/short walks? Don’t like feeling useless 😬 and the mum guilt is kicking in already.

Had Bulkamid at least six years ago. It’s been great.

That is urge incontinence. Usually people who work in jobs where getting to the loo is impossible (nursing, police, etc) so you hold onto it. Over time, your bladder muscle and rethral sphincter weaken, so can't hold much urine and your sphincter isn't strong enough to stop the flow.
It's awful! I feel your pain!

Are you having open or keyhole surgery? Mine was open surgery. Husband and I both underestimated the care I would need. Don’t expect to do much more than have a shower daily for the first week. You need to rest a lot. My children are teenagers, so were self sufficient and could also help me.

Keyhole so hopefully I’ll be on the mend a little quicker 😬. I thought I would get more notice before I had the surgery and could prepare a bit but tbh I don’t think there’s ever a good time to do it. Hopefully will all be worth it.

Keyhole is supposed to be better for recovery. Good luck with it. Xx

How did the surgery go @Tbot I hope you’re recovering well.

@ChicLion it went well thanks. Had to come home with a catheter which hit me hard emotionally but soon got to grips with it. Had it removed after a week and no issues since. Just trying to be patient (which I’m notoriously bad at) and take things easy now.

@Tbot just wondering how your recovery is going and whether you were able to go back to work after a few weeks? I'm being considered for this surgery later in the year and I'm just terrified of complications, the long recovery time, losing all my fitness and the fact that it might not even work.

@FantasiaTurquoise honestly I’m so glad I went through with it. I had the surgery nearly eight weeks ago. I would take the maximum time you can to recover tbh. I’m up and about mostly feeling normal but sometimes I will suddenly feel like I’ve hit a wall and need a rest which can be quite frustrating. I have been avoiding lifting much (I think some of that is psychological tbh though, as I’m just petrified of hindering my recovery). So far it seems to have been a total success. I’ve gone from wearing pads every day for the last 6 years to not one leak. I’ve not done any strenuous exercise yet but plenty of walking.
apart from having to have the catheter in for a week after surgery I’ve not had any other complications. Can barely see the incisions which is a nice bonus.
it is hard but I guess you have to consider what your life is like now with the incontinence and what it could be like without. For me it was really affecting the quality of my life- I kept thinking it had gone on for so long I would just get used to it but I never did.

I had Bulkamid under local anaesthetic in February & unfortunately it didn’t work & I found it very very uncomfortable under local.
Yesterday I had my second try with Bulkamid but under general anaesthetic this time so I’m hoping that as I wasn’t flinching every time the needle went in under local my surgeon hopefully managed to get it injected betterer 🤞🤞