Pissed off at doing everything 'right' and things getting worse

[Incontinencesucks]

So as my username suggests since the birth of my youngest of a few months ago my pelvic floor has been...iffy shall we say.

The last couple if weeks I've really upped my game with being diligent with kegels, pilates and core exercises only to find it suddenly 10x worse.

Not only have i had urgent rushes all the last few days, I've pissed myself 3 times. I drink more than enough water, make sure to empty my bladder properly each time, do the bloody exercises and don't drink alcohol.

So why i why on top of that did i just spend an hour on the loo constantly needing yet another trickle? What is wrong? Has my new diligence irritated my bladder too much?

I know it's not important in the grand scheme of things but any advice anyone? AIBU to wonder why upping my game means more bloody incontinence??

I agree that you definitely need to go back to the GP and push for a proper diagnosis from a specialist. It is not normal to leak after having children and usually there is a cause. In the meantime, I would let up on the exercises just in case they are making it worse. Good luck!

www.holisticcorerestore.com/will-these-programmes-help-you/diastasis-recti-repair-before-after/

I really recommend speaking to these people (I don't work for them or have any interest with them but I've done one of their courses and it was amazing!). I'm a lot older than you too and it really made a difference to my stress incontinence. If you've got a good practitioner near you they should be able to recommend a specialist physio for pelvic floor issues to make sure there's no underlying problems that need to be sorted before you embark on one of their courses. The thing is not all GPs or physios specialise in this kind of thing so you might not be getting the best advice. Good luck!

I really recommend getting some physio by someone who specialises in this. It made such a difference. As well as exercises and things, she always taught me how to wee slightly differently.

First you need to rule out a UTI. Call your gp surgery and speak to the receptionist. Most will allow you to drop off a sample for testing without an appointment. You just fill in a form about symptoms etc.

Once that's ruled out (or in) you need examining for a prolapse. From there any necessary referrals can be made. I had women's health physio for a prolapse and it was amazing

I feel your pain. The professionals I've seen about multiple prolapses keep telling me to do some pelvic floor exercises. I want to scream, "I have! I did fucking loads and continue to do them!" Not that I expect surgery or anything. Just stop giving the most obvious, basic advice that every woman knows... it's frustrating.

I needed a year of physio after my first due to a serious tear. She taught me what exercises to do and also gave me a scan to see the internal damage.
After I finished the treatment she told me I could self refer if I ever noticed a weakening or leaking.
She was really good and told me that leaking doesn’t have to be a part of life.
Your GP should be able to refer you on the details you’ve given here. If they refuse, seek a second opinion.

Did you have a traumatic birth ? You could have some sort of bladder or pelvic organ prolapse , I wish they would stop telling women it’s normal to be incontinent after having children it’s common but should return to normal , if it doesn’t you likely need intervention . Ask to be referred to a specialist , there is surgery you can have to stop it happening in the absence of time and exercises not happening . Women really don’t need to put up with this , it makes me so angry when they are fobbed off like this , men wouldn’t be expected to be incontinent from their penises and put up with it .

Is it a special type of physio? I have simikar issues and my GP was incredibly dismissive - actually told me to use google for these sorts on non medical issues. So i would be nice to ask to be referred to the right type of person.

Sit ups and similar are an absolute no winner RH these sorts of post birth issues so I’m sorry to add to the voice saying you’ve probably been making it worse.
Go back to your GP and ask to be referred to women’s health physio department at the hospital, this is exactly what they are there for and will be able to give you exercise that improve things.

To anyone who has been dismissed by their GP please do make a complaint. You’ll be saving other women from the same t
‘treatment’. Your GP should be following NICE guidelines on this which means referring you for physio.

Your OP screams prolapse to me, in particular

• suddenly getting worse a while after birth
• wedgie/ tampon feeling
• urinary incontinence

Be careful what exercise you are doing as you don’t want to make it worse when it is probably still repairable! In particular avoid weights where you have to clench your abdomen.

Look into hypopressives.

NHS physio gave me loads of kegels ( literally sets adding up to a hundred odd a day!) which made it much much worse. I was mystified. Hypo is gentle, is specifically for women, and has really helped.

The feeling of a slipped tampon sounds like a mild prolapse.

Do you have any spare cash? See if you can book a web consultation with a women's health physio.

It is a medical issue! Ask to see another gp. Pissing yourself should NOT be classed as normal and to be put up with.

I have an overactive bladder. 8 years ago, I was given meds that actually changed my life. No more leakage.

If you haven't been referred yet do ask the doctor for that. Also watch what you drink - caffeine and fizzy drinks can both make the problem worse for me. (So I would have decaf coffee at breakfast before a class at 9:30). A week before going to the gym and one right before class. In the early days I would sometimes pop out after the warm up too....but not now. A decent lady pad - I like the tena ones as they do really thin pink and white packets which are really absorbent but just look like a sanitary pad in your handbag. Take a spare when you exercise just in case. And don't be embarrassed as it affects lots of people. (I actually feel ok....some of my friends are too embarrassed to talk about or do anything about it but wouldn't dare come to a trampoline park with the kids. I just prepare and have fun.

Thank you all. I'm just trying to settle a terribly collicy baby and my other dc have tummy upset but i have read the messages and i will get back to everyone.

Thank you all so much. I felt very dismissed by the GP. I have a phone call tomorrow setup to speak to her.

Classic UTI symptoms for me. I don't get any other symptoms.

If it is a bladder prolapse in your case, you should avoid heavy lifting (where possible, I know it's easier said than done with children) and don't do any running or high impact exercise because all of those things will make matters worse.

I forgot to add, before I knew it was a prolapse I was convinced it was a UTI because I also had a burning sensation. Urine dip was negative and I was diagnosed with a cystocele a few weeks later when I saw a uro gynae.

@Temporarilyc I'm sorry to hear you had a prolapse, it's rubbish the side effects we can get for such a fantastic gift.

Thank you, I've spoken to my GP now ( she was on mat leave previously so my other one was her replacement), she's going to examine me after lockdown though she's running UTI tests as a precaution.

@ttim985y I'm sorry to hear you had a prolapse too.

I had thought a normal yoga pilates combo would be ok but it does include things like crunches which my GP has said is a no so I've borrow a friends postpartum exercise dvd which is for diasis recti so very gentle.

@2tired2function that's really interesting, i had to see a physio after my back was bad in the first pregnancy and we did pelvic floor but but was all about tightening and holding. Nothing really about relaxing, so i didn't realise.

@indub that was my belief at my 6 week check, i had physio for a bad back after pregnancy previously but the GP made me feel i was incorrect. I think perhaps everything with COVID has them focused elsewhere understandably.

She's my GPs cover and i spoke to my GP who is back from mat leave, she called me yesterday evening instead of today which was good and she agreed to stop exercising and after lockdown she will examine me.

@Friendsofmine so strange them working the opposite when you are trying to do everything you taught helps. I'm definitely stopping the exercises and cutting back!

@Savingshoes thanks I'll take a look at her. I've always done kegels but only a couple of tines a day until now. I drink a lot of water.

@nannybeach I think in my enthusiasm for repetition that I've rushed quality for quantity too!

@lovemakespeace thanks . My GP is back from mat leaves and agrees with you.

I second the recommendation to look into hypopressive exercise. It's a common postnatal technique in some other countries. (I live outside the UK, had a physio come to my hospital bed after the birth and show me how to do the exercises!).

Very, very effective once you've got the hang of it!

Not sure about the leaking but just want to reassure you that I had a sensation of needing the toilet for about 3 years getting up multiple times in the night. I noticed improvements after stopping the contraceptive pill which I used to take before bed (later found the one i was taking was as a diuretic) and I also had improvements after I had copper coil removed. Could any of these things be effecting you ? Wishing you all the best and try and have patience- there will be a solution.