to ask about your pelvic floors (might be TMI)

[kitnkaboodle]

... because I just weed myself.

Generally pelvic floor not too bad. I went down the road tonight for a drink at a friend's house. Had two largeish glasses of wine and ended up bursting for a wee. Too lazy to go upstairs to her bathroom as very cosy by the fire.

When I left to walk home felt that bladder was full, but not at all worried about walking home. Started walking down the street and could feel it gradually leaking out. I was sort of clomping along as I had quite high-heeled boots on and was a bit tiddly. With every clomp a bit more wee leaked out. Not gushing by any means, but by the time I got home I was worried that OH might be still up (he wasn't) and might spot the problem. Wet enough to have to change knickers and trousers

have I got a serious problem, or is this kind of normal? I'm 50 - had 2 children vaginally. Like I say, I don't have leakage problems normally and my bladder was VERY full - but still a shock

I didn't have leaks as such but a bit of a weak saggy feeling in my pelvic floor after 3 kids. Bought a kegel8 machine and it's the business, it's like a slendertone for pelvic floor.

I did the exercises after having the dcs and thought I'd done a pretty good job as I could run, cycle and horse ride with no problems. Then I got on a trampoline and had an awful shock! The good news is that starting with very gentle bouncing (with an empty bladder) I was able to build up over time to proper bouncing (without necessarily having to visit the loo first), so it seems the situation can be improved. I've not had any problems since with coughing or sneezing or anything.

Of course I've now got lots of lovely menopausal type things going on so I suppose that could change...

Get some jiggle balls. I bought three different sizes and am now tight enough to hold the tiny ones in place. Regularly wear them out of the house

Don't rush into pilates, read this thread first thread from yesterday

Mine is rubbish after 4 DC and I can't even feel my pelvic floor muscles to do the exercises. I've also definitely got a prolapse but haven't done anything about it as I don't want surgery unless I can't live with it, which I can at the moment.

Well I dont even have a floor so cant comment about my pelvis having one.

I cough and I wee
I sneeze and I wee
I laugh and I wee
I laugh cough and wee at the same time (now that is what I call clever)
I also have to pee after a certain amount of time and will go in a bush if need be,its not my fault

There's no way I'm ever going on a trampoline again if it's anything like last time. I thought my bladder was mostly empty.

I told my son earlier to go to the toilet as he clearly needed to but was too busy (doing homework, not cosy next to a fire!).

Just be stricter with yourself next time.

Now say this in a Strictly Come Dancing kind of way.....Keeeep clenching

Yup, I'm clenching! I try to remember mine as I had a 3rd degree tear. I'm fine for a day's teaching again, but skipping, trampolines and sometimes running are a bit too much impact. I tend to wear a pad prior to high impact exercise. The bit I find irritating is that'll doesn't matter that I went to the loo 10 minutes earlier, there is something to dribble out.

Being a woman is so glamorous!

GussieGrips is fab for advice.
Came on this thread hoping she'd be here tbh.

Mine gave in after a bout of whooping cough a few years back. :(

She was on the one I linked to from yesterday, so she may well be around.

I'm having bladder physiotherapy. The tips I've been given:

Cut out as much caffeine as you can.
Drink as much fluid as you can (don't hold back for worry you'll leak).
Do ten short pelvic floor exercises and 10 long (5 second holds) twice a day.
Try and space out the time you go to the toilet - I have specifically been told not to do precautionary wees (before going out). But to try and hold out as long as possible - clenching muscles, hold it out for longer before you go to the toilet, and try and stretch the bladder and strengthen the floor.

I think on the whole it's kind of normal. But there's lots you can do to try and improve the situation.

I'm at the stage of avoiding surgery for prolapses. Losing weight is another bonus if you're carrying extra.

I've never done any exercises and I had no idea that it can creep up on you later on. I've had 4 children 3 normal births (no stitches/grazes/drugs) and one csection. I can drink 3 litres of water before I feel a slight need for a wee. I'm terrified now that within 5yrs I'm going to be wearing some sort of nappy. Shall never boast of my amazing bladder again .

It can creep up in the menopause years when oestrogen levels drop it affects the muscle tone (or something). Also it can creep up because of the accumulated effect of long term pressure on it from lifestyle, if you do a lot of heavy lifting, have a chronic cough for example.

Has anyone here heard of the Foo Foo Fun Club? It was started up by a lady who had severe bladder control herself and, as a nurse, worked out the best way to tighten the muscles. Def worth a look!
PS. No, I'm not on commission, just keen to pass on helpful tips!

I leak when I sneeze, cough, vomit and shout at the DCs

I've done exercises religiously before and after both kids and it doesn't seem to have helped.

I generally find it's manageable with a liner unless I've got a bad cough which seems to weaken everything.

I had a ladies health check and smear test done this week and one of the questions the nurse asked me if I do any pelvic floor exercises. In all honestly I do them everyday, because I have to. I started them religiously after having repair work done after having far too many c-sections rather too quickly.

The consultant was rather too frank about the fact the repair work to my bladder etc. could only have one attempt what could happen if I did not do my pelvic floor exercises. That was it, I have been doing them ever since. I do them at home mostly, as if I do them at work my colleagues think I am reading tragic emails because I tend to grimace the longer I clench!

Before my surgery I was weeing myself and would have lots of accidents. I only rarely have accidents now and only if I have been drinking fresh fruit juice or wine for some bizarre reason.

Just wanted to say, that surgery and the exercises does really help!!

I need to get mine fixed. Full bladder prolapse.

Schexy

I recently learnt about jiggle balls - maybe the way to go?

Yes 2 c sections 2 smallish babies and an appalling pelvic floor. It's the only flexible bit of me .
IM ok til I cough quite hard then disaster strikes. I asked a GP about it when pregnant with my second dc (because I had morning sickness and weed when I vommed..) and the advice I got was this - clench the muscles as if trying not to fart. That's your pelvic floor. Always do long hold exercises first (at least 10 seconds but ideally more) before short sets. And do them whenever you remember. Twice a day is not enough she said.
When I remembered to do them they made a difference really quickly but you have to do them forever I think....

You can also practice your pelvic floor exercises during PIV sex. Gives a nice grip.

I've also read about 'un-tucking the tail bone' and doing/holding deep squats. I found this on my travels:

nutritiousmovement.com/you-dont-know-squat/

This is just info I've found from pottering around the internet of course, so it could be a load of old rubbish for all I really know.

Zombie thread. But it has helped reminded me to start squeezing again.

Ha! How unobservant of me. It has reminded me to do some unobtrusive lifting though so it's been useful in a way.