To think I shouldn’t be able to cough out a tampon

[NoRightIsIt]

I mean seriously it’s not right is it? To almost cough out a tampon?! Stinker of a cold and throat. Every time I cough there goes a bit more pee for last week. Now period on and heavy so doubled up with tampon and pad and coughing earlier and felt like tampon was shooting down ready to come out 😱 Two children later and I’m a leaky mess 😭

On seriously note...any tips?! I try pelvic floor exercise but am useless. I can’t see doctor they wouldn’t do anything. Any devices I can use to help? Or am I going to have to accept I’ll stink of pee whenever I have a cold now (I use pads and change so sure don’t actually stink but it’s not nice either).

Oh and my other AIBU is...are we neglected in this country health wise?! Post birth I’m sure the French get physio. I don’t remember being taught about pelvic floors either? I’ll make sure to educate my DDs as this is so embarrassing.

I sympathise but afraid I have no useful advice. I cough tampons too. If I didn’t wear knickers I‘d probably have someone’s eye out.

Doesn't that mean you're using one that's too strong?

Why wouldn't the GP do anything? You could have a partial prolapse of some kind.

Doctor's appointment and point out the effects. They are a medical condition that can be treated.

Why do you think a doctor won't do anything?

Well, if you coughed it out of your mouth, you're probably inserting it too far.

On a serious note though, could it be that you need to use a, different size post birth?

Why are you useless at pelvic floor exercises? You should do them daily

I was taught about pelvic floor exercises during sex ed at secondary school

Pelvic floor exercises can help prevent wee leakage to unless there is medical reason for it

You're not meant to put them down your throat dear

There actually is a little device called 'PFE - Pelvic floor exerciser' you can find on Amazon. Ive got one ready for after I give birth - Ive heard really good things. About 50 quid but worth looking in to

after 8 pregnancies and doing the pelvic floor exercises I have never coughed out a tampax

see a doctor and in the mean time do your pelvic floor exercises

It sounds like you have a weak pelvic floor and possibly a prolapse. See your GP for assessment, and ask to be referred to a pelvic physio. There is much that can be done to improve things.

I switched to a mooncup which helped. It does sometimes work its way out but it's easy to push back in unlike a tampon.

You can buy electronic pelvic floor toners for about £50. However, you might have a prolapse so should really see your GP.

I was referred to a pelvic floor physio and the difference has been amazing. A bad cough can still cause problems if I'm sat in certain positions and racing my DD on a trampoline was a mistake but every day life is now fine - laughing, sneezing, running are all leakage free.

Yes defo see gp for referral to gynea physio. This is definitely treatable and they will teach you how to do the exercises. It’s really important if you don’t want this to get worse.

When you have bad cough and period use Tena lady maxi night. It is like an enormous nappy. It does not leak even when i went through peri menopause flooding.

NeuroTrac helped me. It's worth the cost (80 quid I think) also your gp should be able to refer you for physiotherapy if you are leaking. My physio has been lovely and really helped.

Oh thank god. I thought it was just me.

Sorry you are going through this as well. I gave birth 11 months ago, and have been fine until this stinker of a cold.
I also piss when I cough at the mo, and also managed to dislodge a tampon.

Oh no I was hoping for more confirmation it was normal and not to worry type thing. A prolapse wasn’t in my mind. I don’t leak normally. Just when have cold/bad cough. I do try pelvic floors but don’t seem very successful. Thanks for the tips on the devices any brands I should be looking for? I just didn’t think doctor would be able to do anything except say “do pelvic floor” and I’m crap at those.

Sorry can’t link to individuals but for PP who said they got educated in pelvic floors at secondary school that’s amazing. I never got anything like that. I hope today’s schools are doing that.

Your doctor can refer you to the physio. The physio can lend you a machine as well as giving you exercises to do. You are not alone.

Alaskan so glad it’s not just me....feel failure!

Thanks for the tips. Maybe doc and referral is way to go then.

A physiotherapy will be able to teach you how to do pelvic floor exercises.

This is the one I have

www.tower-health.co.uk/itouch-pelvic-toner.html?ppc_keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhr3Qz7ag4AIVy7_tCh1VDwXREAQYAyABEgLRnPD_BwE

Not to alarm you but I never leaked either, but I needed surgery because I had two bad prolapses. Take it seriously and get checked out.

The gp should refer you to women's health physio. It is true that some gps think this is "just one of those things" that happens after women have children but there is plenty you can do to stop it getting worse. The physio can test to see how effective your pelvic floor exercises are, offer advice to improve them (which can include strengthening glutes, abs etc to give more strength to the whole area), may suggest an e-stim machine to assist with pelvic floor exercises or consider other options to provide support. I have a mild/moderate bladder prolapse after 2 dc and see a phsyio. She has helped hugely.

I have a prolapse (posterior), I have an appointment next month to discuss surgery. In the meantime I've forked out for a pelvic toner which does actually seem to be starting to help a bit. I use a mooncup, far better than tampons and has never come out even with a coughing fit (of which there were many in December when I had a horrid cold). See your GP, there are lots of options (pessary, physio, use of toner, surgery if needed and wanted) and you don't have to just put up with it.