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Original poster

Bladder weakness help

124 replies

Olivesandwine · 30/07/2018 18:43

I have never really had a real problem with wetting myself when I sneeze or cough, but about 6 weeks ago I wet myself a little bit when I was walking back from a night out. I was desperate for the loo and was laughing so just put it down to that. Then the same thing happened again 2 weeks ago, needed the toilet and whilst walking same thing happened. I was going to start doing some pelvic floor exercises but didn’t get round to it.
Then today at work, I needed the toilet and again a little bit of wee came out. I was/am mortified.
It’s as if my bladder can’t hold things in when I am on the move and need to go. Has only happened while I have been walking and on my way to the toilet so far.
Is this stress incontinence? I don’t know what to do. Do I start doing the exercises and see if things improve? Or go to the doctors first. I’m quite horrified and embarrassed.

OP posts:
Toofle · 07/08/2018 09:20

Peggy , have you seen the thread on Women's Health called Prolapse again..? That will tell you a lot about how prolapse feels.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 07/08/2018 09:24

Oh look... tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gusset-grippers

viques · 07/08/2018 09:28

Gussie has a video on you tube of her Edinburgh fringe show, can't remember the name but googling gussie,Edinburgh and pelvic floor will probably find it. She is very funny and explains the exercises. They are easy to do and do make a difference!

viques · 07/08/2018 09:29

Ps I think she won a prize for her show.

Verbena87 · 07/08/2018 09:39

peggy I’ve got a prolapse of my bladder and womb. I can tell because there’s a big bulge just inside my vaginal opening where my bladder has basically flopped down against the front wall of my vagina and collapsed it, and my cervix (feels a bit cartilagey like your nose, roughly cone shaped and has a little hole in the middle) is very low - about 1 knuckle in. My symptoms are heavy achy pelvis after a long day on my feet, needing to wee a bit more often, increased vaginal discharge and (most bothersome) feeling like there’s a tampon wedged in sideways and slowly slipping out. I suspect from your description you are prolapse free, but speak to your GP anyway if you’re not comfy.

olives have a look at the nhs Squeezy app for your pelvic floor exercises- it takes the guesswork out and helps you stay on track. If you’re on instagram @pelvicfloorpatrol is worth a follow. Good luck.

sockportal · 07/08/2018 19:45

I have bladder weakness and it comes and goes. On a good night I get up 3 times needing to urinate on s bad night it can be up to 20 times. I'm so miserable, it's ruining my life.

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 07/08/2018 20:08

Have you been to the doctors sockportal. What did they say?

This intense need to wee is painful. I know I don’t need to go because I haven’t had that much to drink. I managed 6 hours at work today without going for a wee but as soon as I get home it’s all change and I want to go every 5 minutes. Maybe it’s all in my head.

OP posts:
sockportal · 07/08/2018 20:50

@Olivesandwine I have been backwards and forwards to the doctors. I've had the urodynamics test done, and that came back "normal". I am currently taking medication and waiting to see the gynaecologist (no appointments until October). I also see a pelvic floor physio.

I'm really tempted to go private but not sure how much it will cost :(

Toofle · 07/08/2018 20:51

sockportal, that sounds like irritable bladder. There is an antidepressant , Duloxitane I think, that can be prescribed in a low dose to calm it. I know someone whose nights have been transformed by it.

sockportal · 07/08/2018 21:08

Ah thank you @Toofle I will mention it to my doctor. Sometimes it makes me feel like I am going crazy. It has taken moving to a different gp surgery to be taken seriously.

penguinsnpandas · 07/08/2018 21:29

Its worth doing the pelvic floor exercises, do need to do 30 a day and takes a while before they have affect but they do tend to work after a while.

For overactive bladder they normally try to get you to go less often so build up, could start at one hour, then 1.5 hours, then 2. Obviously if you've drank 1,000ml in one go you will need to go more often but if you've balanced your drinks throughout the day should be doable. You can get referred for tests but I've had 1 year of NHS tests and not really any solutions other than this, surgery has been mentioned but as they don't know what caused mine they don't know about that. There are some medications but I had a severe adverse reaction to one and it didn't help but they help some people. Other than that it is Tena Lady which is very depressing mid 40s but think its a lot more common than you think. Always worth testing for utis if there's any risk. Private is a lot faster if you have private insurance, if not its very expensive - I had bleeding and private costs insurance paid were over 2k.

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 08/08/2018 07:13

Off to the docs in a few hours. Feel a bit sick tbh but I'm going to write some notes so I don't get all stressed and forget anything. I hope they don't just dismiss me and put it all down to anxiety.
Currently lying in bed and the urge to wee is hardly there. Maybe its because I'm lying down and there's nothing pushing on the bladder? Done a urine sample which is chilling in the fridge - nice eh.
I'll report back later.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 08/08/2018 08:06

Good luck olives! Definitely take a list of bullet points - your symptoms but also what you’ve tried yourself and what you’d ideally like to happen next.

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 08/08/2018 10:39

Well back from docs and I have an infection. Took a urine sample with me and doc tested it and straight away said I had an infection which I’m surprised at tbh, so I’ve got antibiotics to take then have to go back in 2 weeks for a pelvic exam, because of the weeing myself bit.

Got to do a bladder diary for 3 days, measuring everything going in and out and carry on with the pelvic floor exercises. So at least the ball is rolling and I suppose referrals will be made for further tests if necessary.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 08/08/2018 14:32

Oh you poor thing with the infection, that’s gone on too long! Hopefully antibiotics will kick in soon and you’ll notice a big improvement.

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 08/08/2018 14:56

Thanks Verbena. In not sure I’ve had an infection that long tbh. The only symptoms I’ve had, apart from weeing myself, has been the constant feeling of needing a wee which has only been for the past week. Very strange.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 08/08/2018 15:00

I get that constant need a wee thing with cystitis. In your shoes, I’d be fairly hopeful once the antibiotics do their stuff.

If you’re prone to cystitis, taking d mannose tablets does seem to help keep it at bay.

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 08/08/2018 17:18

Thanks. This is my first ever uti and I’m in my fifties so that quite good going. I just thought I had the beginnings of urge incontinence. Maybe I do and this infection is a nice little extra.

But yes fingers crossed this sorts things out and if not, at least I’m on the right path.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 08/08/2018 17:37

You’ve done really well to avoid it so far! I’d be prepared to bet things get a lot better when the infection goes. No harm in getting on with your exercises as well though. Dry knickers and better orgasms are well worth a few minutes a day of feeling a bit weird, in my book!

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 09/08/2018 14:39

I suppose I have Verbena.

I was feeling pretty good yesterday after only one day on the meds but today I feel worse with the constant urge to wee back again and I’m a bit achey now too which I wasn’t before. I’m drinking more water but I’m trying to hold off going to the loo too often. That’s a challenge.

I’m trying to distract myself, because I’m positive I’m making things worse by thinking about it all the time.

Please excuse me being an idiot but my anxiety is playing up big time and I’m doubting everything.

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 09/08/2018 16:14

You’re not being silly, it’s bloody miserable! Sometimes you need to try a couple of different antibiotics to find what works, so don’t be afraid to go back and say you still have symptoms if things aren’t better tomorrow: the ache and urgency are classic cystitis symptoms for me and in my experience (have had it fairly often especially when I’m run down or stressed), if I’m in any doubt as to whether I feel totally better, I need more/different antibiotics.

I promise you’re not being silly. And if it’s an infection there will be antibiotics that’ll help. Brew

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 09/08/2018 17:28

Thanks again "Verbena*. I'll finish this course and maybe give them a chance to work before I start panicking. I'm too impatient and want everything sorted.

Doesn't help that I have a chart to fill in and have to measure everything I'm peeing out. That's not helping to take my mind off things!

OP posts:
Peggyandkitty · 10/08/2018 07:02

Was there any blood in your wee?

Original poster
Olivesandwine · 10/08/2018 07:23

I don't know. The doc never said. Would she have sent the sample off for testing if there was? Because she didn't.
I'm getting a bit worried now. I would have thought the antibiotics would have started working their magic by now but its only been 2 days I suppose. I'm scaring myself reading too much on internet and jumping to conclusions Sad

OP posts:
Peggyandkitty · 11/08/2018 08:25

How's are you feeling Olives? Are things improving?