Bladder weakness - embarassed and feel crap about it

[goingpearshaped]

Hi,

I am too bloody young for this but have bladder weakness that is getting worse. Have had some appts and they confirmed that my pelvic floors are there (just!) but super weak. I am so hoping that them showing me the exercises will help improve things but this weekend has been awful. Not told DH but we are on hols in around 5 weeks and it will be obvious due to san pro use. I am too embarassed to let him know. He would be fine but I would hate it. We are not getting on great as it is.

It's really getting to me and I feel so down about it. I don't know what else to do about it. Switching to decaff and drinking the right about amount of fluids etc so doing that too. Anyone had similar and had an improvement? I am praying someone says yes.

Have you had children OP?

Yes, they are to blame apparently!

I have the same problem, but I am probably older than you. The exercises do help, but you have to stick with it - tedious I know, but that is the only way.

I wear pads, and can vouch for the fact that they do work really well if needs be!

I am lucky that my OH is fully aware of what is happening. It is concerning that you do not feel able to talk to him about this and this must simply make things worse for you. You need to be able to support each other through life's ups and downs. You say he will be fine - maybe you should give him the chance to show his best side, especially if things are not so good between you at present.

Tell him - and have a good holiday.

I have not let this problem stop me enjoying life - it is just one of things - and life is full of them!

I tried pelvic floor exercises for over a year with no improvement. I'd leak hearing the shower running, on the dance floor, trying to run, etc. I even peed slightly a few times on the walk home from a night out

However, since about March I've been using a pelvic floor trainer (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-PFE-Pelvic-Floor-Exerciser/dp/B01HMSSA3G) morning and evening and now I can jog gently on the spot, do burpees and tentative jumping jacks at the gym, dance, etc. I'm not ready for a trampoline or going for a run, but I reckon it'll happen in time!

Download the Squeezy app - free and NHs endorses. Then squeeeeeeeeeeze for all you are worth. 10 slow and 10 fast at least three times a day...
The exercise should feel like "winking" your bum and "zipping up" your front, your abs shouldn't noticeably tense up.
On the plus side this can definitely be improved - apparently you can start to feel improvements in a couple of weeks

Thanks for the reply people. No improvement as yet but only two weeks in. Contemplating the trainer you mentioned coffeecuppa. Is it really easy to use? I am still feeling really about it all so would not want it to be found. Ironic since I was with friends this weekend and they were taking the piss out of this type of thing happening. Totally reinforced me feeling crap about it (they don't know of course).

Stuckfinks, I could not find the free NHS squeezy app although found a paid one. Will look again as that woudl help. Have been doing the exercises as required though.

The exercises might take a couple of months to really work well, so stick at it. If you haven't already, you could see a specialist women's physiotherapist who would check you are doing the exercises correctly and monitor you and check your progress every often.

Thanks sadie9, am sticking at it. I know I need to lose some weight too and maybe that will help. It just feels so embarassing and make me feel crap about life.

You sound exactly like me. My next step is to have Botox in my bladder said the urologist. I’m not sure to do it or just to keep to the Phsyotherapy for now. But I’m not seeing much improvement tbi. Hope it works for you.