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Original poster

Sudden incontinence?!

37 replies

AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 17:29

Um, so apparently this is happening. Very suddenly leaking urine today, not a little. Doesn't seem in any way related to coughing/sneezing/stress or even the urge to pee. Just happening. Luckily I'm home and nothing damaged (well, perhaps my pride), but wtf? No signs of a UTI, and though I've had bad sciatica in the past, all seems quiet on that front - apart from mild back pain, which my GP tells me is muscular.

DH "helpfully" tells me it's just my "body getting older", but I'm in my 30s, and haven't even had any babies, nor am I pregnant, and I've never had any reason to doubt my pelvic floor.

Is this something to worry about, or do I just have to send DH for incontinence pads and start doing more pelvic floor exercises?!

OP posts:
Anythingforacatslife · 04/04/2018 17:39

Back pain and loss of continence is a huge warning sign for something (that I can’t remember the name of) and you’re supposed to go straight to a&e. This was the advice of my gp in the past.

Anythingforacatslife · 04/04/2018 17:39

Maybe try 111, if it flags up in their checkbox system as serious they won’t hesitate to tell you.

sadie9 · 04/04/2018 17:41

Seems odd for it to suddenly come on like that. In the past few days, have you done any heavy lifting, any intensive exercise, dug the garden, pushed furniture around, lugged a suitcase, anything like that? Asking that in case it could be a prolapsed bladder, but that's far more commonly a problem after childbirth has damaged the muscles.
Much more likely to be a UTI, that'd be the first thing on the list. If it were me I would go to the GP because it's not an age thing at your age.

SloanePeterson · 04/04/2018 17:42

Agree to call 111, I’ve had awful back pain thanks to a disc problem, and was warned that incontinence was something that needed to be seen urgently if it developed.

Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 17:43

Thanks. I had that same advice back when I had my slipped disc and sciatica, but it was all very obvious then - numb legs and everything. Now it's just mild backpain that's been there for months, and it's not going down my legs. No numbness anywhere really. I don't want to hurry up somewhere and be told to just go home and do kegels... Blush

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IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 17:43

It does need investigating fairly urgently, there's a possibility it's a spinal problem (cauda equina). This is unlikely, but definitely call 111.

lettuceWrap · 04/04/2018 17:44

This is potentially a serious medical emergency. You need to be seen today.

IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 17:44

Which disc slipped previously, lumbar I'm guessing?

piercinggelo · 04/04/2018 17:45

Definitely get some advice/checked out ASAP

Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 17:45

In the past few days, have you done any heavy lifting, any intensive exercise, dug the garden, pushed furniture around, lugged a suitcase, anything like that?

Nothing like that. Just very normal walking and carrying shopping, nothing strenuous at all.

I guess I'll see how tonight goes and see what to do tomorrow. GP's surgery is luckily pretty good for appointments.

OP posts:
Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 17:46

IWantMyHatBack I don't know or remember, lower back? This was many years ago. I had an MRI and there was issue with two discs, but it wasn't bad enough to warrant surgery and got better eventually.

OP posts:
IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 17:47

It's not a wait and see kind of thing.. You should at least ring 111 and ask for advice, especially as you've had a previous herniated disc.

unicornfarts · 04/04/2018 17:52

DO NOT wait and see!! This is one of the things you NEED to get it checked. I don't wish to be alarmist, but as a pp said, you have red flags for a condition called caudal equine syndrome and just in case it was this (its not a definite), you would risk paralysis if you waited.

I really hope it's not, but either way, best to get a diagnosis sooner rather than later.

unicornfarts · 04/04/2018 17:53

sigh cauda equina, not caudal equine.

piercinggelo · 04/04/2018 17:53

I wouldn't wait and see either. At the very least call for advice.

Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 17:55

Ok, I'll call them.

OP posts:
PintOfCalpol · 04/04/2018 17:56

As others have said, if it is cauda equina then tomorrow could be too late. If you permanently lose that nerve you will be permanently incontinent. Call 111 now.

IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 17:56

It's one of those things that does need investigating as the consequences of ignoring it are so very severe. It could quite possibly be a urine infection or something else relatively minor, but a previous herniation of lumbar discs, combined with sudden uribary incontinence means you need to be examined.

Can you ring your GP surgery now and explain to the receptionist? They'll be able to examine you and advise.

IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 17:57

I keep x-posting

Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 18:28

Thanks all. I talked with 111 and their advice seemed to be to get it seen, too. Waiting for someone to call back to triage to see whether they want to go to A&E.

OP posts:
Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 18:29

*want ME to go to..

OP posts:
Original poster
AggroTanks · 04/04/2018 18:54

Just to update - they want me in A&E and not to go in a car, so waiting for an actual ambulance. I guess it's just as I didn't just send DH out for Always Discreet!

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IWantMyHatBack · 04/04/2018 19:00

It's great that you're going in, but try not to worry too much. Best of luck Flowers

colditz · 04/04/2018 19:01

I'm very glad to see they are taking this seriously

rainbowruthie · 04/04/2018 19:05

Sending you kind thoughts......