Running with bladder weakness

[Cantdoright1]

Hi all.since having my second child I have quite bad stress incontinence. I wear a pad all the time. I pee myself if I have to suddenly run after my 2 year old. Im on the last week of c25k and have done it at home on a treadmill. I really want to do park run but sometimes the pad doesn't hide all of the leak. I can tie a jumper round my waist to hide it and wear several pads. I go to the loo just before I run but that doesn't stop it. I think there's hormone involvement as the severity changes throughout the month but haven't figured out the cycle yet. Im so uncomfortable weeing or needing to wee when running I've given up a few times. I've done pelvic floor exercises and have an electronic insert thing to try which I havent done yet. Im looking into new laser techniques but they are too expensive at the moment. Gp is no help. Im not interested in the net surgery as it's ok if I don't run.any advice on how to manage the running aspect?

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

You really don't have to live like this.

I would second this. If your GP is being useless then try another GP. There are treatments available so don't just put up with it.

[Verbena87]

Physio, Pilates/core work, definitely try the electric zapper and don’t rule out a pessary.

I’m continent but prolapse-riddled and use a ring pessary and evb shorts for running.

[AnotherOtter]

Echoing the advice about getting proper professional help from a physio or equivalent about pelvic floor exercises. They seem so basic but done correctly and consistently make a huge difference.

Also, all pads aren't made equal. Are you using actual incontinence pads or sanitary pads? They have different technology (as what they are absorbing is different) and incontinence pads can absorb a lot more liquid. Sanitary pads are pretty useless for urine.

[TableSalt]

Keep running and it will help! I was the sameby the time I finished C25K, but it's much better now, a few months on.

[FusionChefGeoff]

I use contiform which I got after referral to women's physio via gp. But you might be able to buy OTC on Internet.

Mine is definitely worse closer to period - physio explained it's the weight of uterus pushing on bladder.

[truth4568]

Stop running and go to a women's health physio for advice on strengthening your core muscles and pelvic floor. You are likely to be doing yourself more damage by continuing to run and you'll regret it when you hit the menopause. You can improve things with time and go back to running when your body is ready. Good luck!

[Wingbing]

Ask for a referral for a women’s Physio. They can give you excercises to do which will help enormously

I thought I was doing pelvic floor exercises correctly but I wasn’t.

[BiscuitDrama]

Have you seen that running downhill puts more strain on your pelvic floor, so avoid that?

Do you absolutely have to run? My women’s physio said it’s not the best thing for most women who have had children, unless you are really desperate to.

I found yoga (squats specifically) really helped. I’ve also been doing Jillian Michaels yoga for a low impact but hard and sweaty workout. There are a couple of jumping jack type bits that you can miss out if they seem like a bad idea.

[Frazzled2207]

I totally hear you, my youngest is now 3.

Agree that a tampon helps enormously.

[PhillyJoe]

I have similar issues but youngest is now 4 😳 I'm fine for first two weeks of cycle then more likely to leak from ovulation to period. I definitely have a prolapse which is worse at that point of my cycle as well. It had definitely improved over time and there are some good suggestions above. I hope you find something that helps.

[EverardDigby]

I found putting a tampon in when I ran stopped it.

[PlugUgly1980]

How old is your baby? I was like you, but gradually over time it improved. When baby was 4 months old I wet myself at a race (but black leggings no one really noticed!). 12 months later I ran a half marathon with no pad at all. It was just a slow and gradual improvement with time.

[TheRedRoom]

Mild... Not mold!!

[TheRedRoom]

Have you seen your gp and a women's health physiotherapist about the problem?You really don't have to live like this. It may be that you have a mold prolapse that's contributing to the problem. A physio can help ensure you're doing your pelvic floor exercises effectively and there are a range of options to help, including pessaries as mentioned above. Running may make the problem worse (which may mean more intervention in the long run) if you're not also working on your pelvic floor and core strength. Using the pads etc in the meantime helps with the leaks but it's probably better to work on the cause.

[Dotte]

Pilates and yoga have helped massively, but you can be referred for physio by your doctor.

I hate running with a pad because I find it so uncomfortable, instead I have running trousers that wick the moisture away so any mishaps dry super fast and because of the colour they are no one notices anyway. I just sit on a towel if I need to drive home.

[YeOldeTrout]

Have you stopped drinking all caffeine?

[mylittlefidget]

I've been using Contiform, which is a pessary you insert yourself. If hasn't fixed the problem but has made it better. Make sure you get the trial pack with all three sizes initially if you decide to go for it.

[pontiouspilates]

Weekly Pilates classes sorted this issue out for me.

[dangermouseisace]

How is your core strength OP? And your glutes? I found that as I got stronger it helped with the weakness, but I still wear a pad just in case.

I find that running focusing on using the glutes helps (like you are holding a 50p between your bum cheeks), and running at slower speeds is easier to control wee than at higher speeds.

[sleepismysuperpower1]

would you consider trying incontinence pants rather than a pad? you can get ones specifically for exercise here link (they look like normal knickers)