AIBU to ask about your bladder?

[BladderBlues]

I've NC'd as this is obviously quite embarrassing!

I'm currently in my late 20s with one toddler. Since my late teens/early 20s, I've had a weak bladder. The occasional tiny we if I cough or sneeze too hard.

Since having DD it has become a lot worse. Every cough/sneeze/laugh is a huge risk. When I wash my hands or brush my teeth I can start to wet myself .

TMI but sometimes when I go to the loo, I think I'm finished, wipe, stand up and start weeing without even feeling it! I only notice because my legs/pants get wet . I can't feel my pelvic floor to even try to exercise it. I know I should probably go to the GP but I don't like the though of them poking and pricing down there!

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Did you see your GP? How did you 'fix' it?

Proding not pricing!

Definitely see your GP. You can have tests. Don't suffer in silence x

You definitely need to see your GP about this OP. The coughing/sneezing thing - yes for many who've given birth vaginally that is/can be normal afterwards - but yours sounds more extreme than that. The fact that you can't feel yourself peeing makes it sound like maybe you have some damage to your nerve endings. You should be able to feel your pelvic floor, even if you can feel that it's weak. You probably need to be referred to a gynaecologist tbh. Don't be embarrassed just because it's 'down there'. You need some help with this so don't be ashamed to ask!

Had bladder trauma due to a quick labour once and a year of hell afterwards. Gp no good at all. Fixed itself tbh.
Have you practiced the double wee?? Read about it and can do it now!!
Have a wee before you brush your teeth. Then have another one!! Sit right forward also to put pressure on your bladder!!
Maybe try before leaving home?
Don't be embarrassed about seeking help. I had to master self catheterising while pregnancy +mirror +nurse!!

Definitely see your GP, they can refer you to a women's health physio who can work with you to strengthen your pelvic floor.

In the meantime start doing your pelvic floor exercises - the nhs Squeezy app is a really good app for describing how to do them and setting reminders to get you to do them and how to clench when doing things like sneezing etc so after a while you do it automatically and leak less.

Don't feel embarrassed, there is lots that can be done to improve your situation.

Get yourself to a good women’s physio- they work wonders! GP can refer through NHS

Definitely see your GP. I haven’t had kids yet but have a weak pelvic floor which was impacting on some gastro issues I have- I had physio and it made a HUGE difference. If you’re totally against medical help there are some kits you can buy online like this www.amazon.co.uk/Kegel-Exercise-Weights-Assembled-Kegels4me/dp/B0034DLBB2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 where you build up strength by inserting weights and slowly increasing the weight (which I did after physio) but ultimately getting proper professional treatment is the most important thing.

I was like this after my ds. Definitely go to your gp and get referred for physiotherapy. I'm much better now. I did manual pelvic floor exercises and I was given an electric probe that did wonders. This can be fixed.

Thanks all. Will they have to do an internal exam?

My physio did mine to check my muscle strength and that I was correctly doing my exercises. She was very gentle. If your worried about it, voice your concerns. All the nurses and doctor's that saw me were very mindful to be gentle because of I stated I had enough of rough hands.

there are medications also that can help with never issues, ive nevr had a child, am 29 and take medication for an over sensitive bladder nerve that casues urgency, especially around running water.

Definitely get your GP to refer you for pelvic floor physio. It's so important post childbirth. I've had numerous appointments. Yes they will do an internal exam to check things and check you know how to do the exercises gently but it's not at all painful. I'm sure you can improve things.

Your gp might recommend some pelvic floor exercises, or they might send you to the hospital for urodynamics.
Urodynamics:
Basically they fill your bladder up, see if you recognise the feeling of your bladder being full, and then ask you to empty your bladder. They use pressure sensors to see what muscles you are using, and will then use ultrasound to measure how well your bladder has emptied.
It's not the most elegant thing, but the technician has seen it all before so there's no need to feel embarrassed - and remember it's only sterile water that you will pass during the test, if you have to do it.
Go and get seen!
It sounds like it's making you miserable, so don't put up with something that may be fixable.
Good luck.

I've seen the specialist nurse at the hospital but honestly it didn't make much difference, I've been offered surgery but I'm reluctant

GP can refer you to women’s health physio - also google “Holistic Core Restore” and of if theres is a local course, get yourself on it. Did wonders for me. Not cheap but worth it. Better than a gym membership.

I haven't but my friend did and was given some sort of treatment.

God you could be me! When you do need a wee is it very sudden and ridiculously strong? I quite often wee myself a bit but then when I go for a wee, nothing really comes out. I must have a wee after every drink I have during the day.
TBH, my GP just told me to do pelvic floor exercises despite me saying I already did them. He's been shite.

OP, I feel for you! I've had this problem since DC2 (after DC1 I had bladder control issues which quickly resolved themselves. But after DC2, it definitely didn't go away). It is life inhibiting but it can get better. I think the worst for me was after having had DC3 (he's just about to turn 5), I was at a friends house and her daughters were laughing, saying I'd wet my pants. I had! I was absolutely soaked. I hadn't even felt myself doing it. It was awfully embarrassing.

The NHS physio was incredibly helpful. I was really taught how to do pelvic floor exercises. I couldn't even feel myself doing them, my muscles were soooo weak. I also bought a TENS machine.
My condition is still not great because I am not dedicated enough, but definitely improved. I started cycling regularly a couple of years ago and I think that's been brilliant for my pelvic floor.

I haven't done Pilates, but I've heard it's also brilliant for the pelvic floor (there are some good youtube videos. I just haven't actually tried this out).

I still can't run around or jump on a trampoline. But I don't leak nearly as much. I tend to leak more when I'm really tired/stressed.

I'm 19, haven't had kids and struggle with bladder weakness to the point where I have to wear pads daily.
I pee when I cough etc (usually it's a smallish amount but can be more and have been known to lose nearly a full bladder in a coughing fit ).
I also sometimes get the feeling that I have to pee NOW and have started wetting myself on the way to the bathroom etc.
I'm too scared to go to the doctor and keep hoping it will get better on it's own.

Google bowel and bladder nhs and your area and see if there's a phone number to call. It's self referral, you will answer some questions on the phone and they will likely book you in for an appointment. At your appointment you should be given a bladder diary to fill in for next time, and probably an ultrasound. I've been 3 times now and have not had to have an exam, in fact she wanted me to last time but i was apprehensive and she said it's completely my choice, just said it gives her a better understanding but not mandatory. I put of calling for months because i was nervous but it's been fine so far and I am doing much better, so don't be scared to go along and at least discuss your issues. Best of luck.

There is an app apparently that you can down load with exercises on.

Being near geriatric with multiple pregnancies, my bladder is shot to pieces. the app was my GPs solution. No idea if it works as I've yet to bother

Don't be embarrassed your GP will have seen it all before. My friend had issues after a traumatic birth. She has been seeing a consultant and now has regular botox injections.