To think pelvic floor exercises won't help

[BrollyGood]

I'm 45 and since having my second child 12 years ago I leak urine sometimes after urinating and sometimes randomly.

The weird thing is that I don't leak when sneezing or on a trampoline like so many women experience. So that makes me think it's not pelvic floor related. I tried a pelvic floor toner machine a few years ago that was advertised as being recommended by the NHS. I would go so far as to say it was pleasurable to start but then after a few minutes I could feel the buzzing of the machine and it was uncomfortable. I also can't stand doing pelvic floor exercises - it just feels weird.

I have had abdominal and transvaginal scans and there's no cysts or polyps. I've also started feeling a heavy feeling on my bladder especially at night, similar to when the baby's head is on your bladder during pregnancy.

Surely this can't be pelvic floor related when I've no problem with sneezing etc. But what then can it be?

Sorry, @Ilovelowry I meant what do they do to fix you, rather than how they diagnose you. The Mumsnet consensus seems to be that it will still boil down to pelvic floor exercises so I guess I just need to get off Mumsnet and start squeezing.

No you should really use squeezy once you've had a proper session with physio.

Thank you for your sympathy. Tis totally rubbish!!
I always recommend the following podcasts:

Kelly Casperson - US uro gynae
Kassie Dewitt

Also look into hyperpressive breathing. Really helps with bladder prolapse.

@Ilovelowry the NHS physio does that but no twinkly lights or large bill.

My DM has Overactive Bladder which has similar symptoms to what you describe and has been successfully treated with tablets. She suffered for years with everyone assuming it was a pelvic floor issue before she finally got diagnosed.

I tried them @Lighttodark but really disliked the feeling. I know it sounds childish but I really feel weird when doing them.

It's got worse recently with the addition of a heavy feeling on the bladder especially at night. The gynae prescribed solifenacin but when I read the literature at home, it doesn't sound like what I need - I can hold my urine for ages, albeit with it feeling uncomfortable and there were lots of bad side effects listed.

Thanks @StuntNun I think that's what the gynae reckoned I had as I was prescribed solifenacin but I don't think it can be overactive bladder when I can hold my urine for hours if need be.

Did your Mum have solifenacin? Any side effects?

It will be personalized advice for everyone but they'll evaluate you and then probably give you exercises. Not necessarily kegals though, it can be core stuff or pelvic lifts. An overly tight pelvic floor can also cause leakage so they can give you exercises to help relax it.

They can also recommend things like pessaries.

Prolapse can feel worse/better dependent on your cycle because hormones effect this.
Mummy MOT are great and a change in diet including the amount of protein and strength training also benefit.

It won't just be kegels that a good women's physio gives you - the whole core/glutes etc need to be strong to have a healthy pelvic floor. There's so much they can offer, especially if your prolapse is only stage 1.

For the last 6 weeks I’ve been doing pelvic floor exercises with Female Physio Co on Tik Tok (I think she’s also in Instagram). An Australian physio who takes you through a minute of pelvic floor exercises in each video. She made heaps of videos so you can do different ones during the day - no problem. After 6 weeks I’m doing about a minute, 4 times a day and now completely empty my bladder as normal most loo visits, and I’m needing to urinate less frequently and have experienced more frequent bowel movements (I was struggling with constipation for years but it’s improved after 6 weeks).

It’s free - and although she has just introduced subscriber level, atm I’m sticking with cost free.

Now, if I could only find someone on tik tok that could encourage me to do core muscle exercises.

Hello. What is the name of the Instagram person you found helpful, please.

I don’t know what medicine she has @BrollyGoodi afraid. As you say, it could be something completely different but I wanted to point out that it took a long time for her to get properly diagnosed because everyone assumed it was a pelvic floor issue.

Don't think anyone should take advice against surgery based on one testimony of failed repair surgery. I had mine done aged 45 and it only started slightly prolapsing again when I was nearly 70! I'm 73 now. It lasted 25 years.

That's amazing and I am really happy for you honestly. I was fully expecting the same outcome and I'm totally devastated by what has happened to me.

And yes there are lots of success stories and I'm sorry if I made things too negative. Not really in the best frame of mind. Sorry. X

omg sounds too good to be true @RevolutionaryMode Delighted for you. I'm going to see if I can follow what she says.

They do feel weird but get easier with practise. It's a bit like if you hurt a different part of you and need physio to strengthen it back up, you won't see improvement unless you do it. It's crap and even crappier we seem to have to do them forever but see it as looking after your body which has given you a lovely child rather than something you're being told to do

There are free PF apps, have a Google. They really help but you need to commit to doing them for a period of time . Can't understand how they feel weird.

I am experiencing this and have no children. I plan to see a doctor.

Same as @RevolutionaryMode said above funnily enough - Femalephysioco. She is really great.

I had internal release (massage for your vagina basically) for my hypertonic pelvic floor and I was given a full plan on how to re-engage my core with my pelvic floor and eventually a guided return to everything I wanted to, in my case that was lifting weights.