Bladder weakness help

[Olivesandwine]

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.

I didn't realise you must be my sort of age, Olives. Don't hesitate to ask why you aren't being prescribed Vagifem pessaries - easier to use than creams - to improve your fragile tissues. It's HRT but topical - applied where it's needed. Without it I wouldn't still be having sex and my vulval area would be unbearably uncomfortable.

The other thing is some kinds of antidepressant. I'm on a low dose of Sertraline for anxiety. It helps, and it has also calmed my irritable bladder a lot.

Sorry for not mentioning these things before.

No problem Toofle. I'm nearly 54 but don't think I mentioned it. I am definitely going to ask about it after my scan and tbh I do think I also need antidepressants as I do suffer from anxiety and need to calm down . But that's a whole different story!
Thanks Cestlavielife. Its given me a proper lift now that I have options to suggest.

Olives you dont need to wait for scan to ask for vagifem.or Ovestin. It won't change th e scan results if in fact it's something else !
You could be using something now that may help...
Why wait???

What cestlavie says. Why wait? I was well into my teens when you were born btw.

I should go back shouldn't I? I don't know what's stopping me. I think I wanted to have the scan results before I take it further, to have more ammunition in case they refuse. Also, I don't think my symptoms quite fit with vaginal atrophy, which is what vagifem is prescribed for.

I had a bladder prolapse (no leaking) but speaking from that experience of the nether regions. I had an operation but I still get twinging of the urethra and needing to go varies hugely from day to day.
The ligaments holding the bladder get more lax after menopause due to lose of hormones. This laxity may vary from day to day giving the slight variations in the position of the bladder. Also what affects it can be amount of exercise you had that day or the day before. If you were on your feet all day/driving etc. If you carried a load of shopping, you might notice it worse that night. The position of the bladder may change as the day goes on. If you haven't had a poo that day, the pelvic space may be cramped and pushing on the bladder. That's why you can be fine one day and bad the next.
Do not do any running, deep squats, lunges or any sit up type stomach exercises and those will push down on the pelvic organs. Walking is fine. Divide shopping into smaller bags, use a trolley instead of a basket at the supermarket, don't carry more than 6kg and be strict with yourself about that.
Best advice is go and see a specialist's women's physiotherapist who deals with Pelvic Floor issues. They will show you how to do the exercises effectively and monitor the leaking issues with a bladder diary or similar. The exercises may take a few months to work but hopefully will make a difference.

Thanks seaweed. I’ve had no leaking (touch wood) for 5 weeks now, just the feeling of needing to wee. Good advice and interesting about the position of the bladder etc.

Wtf!!

It could only happen to me. Just rang hospital to chase up my scan and they haven’t received the referral. Just as well I rang up or I would have been waiting forever. Currently waiting for my gp practice to ring back but I suspect they have cocked up. However that doesn’t help me because the hospital won’t care and will just process it in the usual way when received. So another 5 or 6 weeks to wait then.

Just having a good cry coz I’m fed up ☹️

Keep on harping but ask for Ovestin to try in the meantime
It won't harm and might help !!

Just waiting for their lunch break to be over then I shall be back on the phone to find out what's going on.
Its awful when you have to make a nuisance of yourself to get anything done.

Doc forgot to do referral. Marvellous. So going to have to wait another 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, I've made an appointment with another gp to discuss vagifem etc. Not till 26th though but she is apparently trained in women's/ gynae stuff so might get sorted.

That's crap Olives. Bet you are fed up.

Good news and bad. I managed to get a cancellation and have had scan. Was told all looks fine. However, they scanned my bladder whilst full and then after I'd had a wee and said it wasn't fully empty. Might only be a small amount, I didn't ask.
They said it could be because it was very full beforehand or it could be normal for me and the doc would decide whether to follow up. Wish they hadn't said anything tbh then I could have discussed the results with my gp.
Well, me being the stress head that I am, I'm totally over thinking this as usual and coming up with all sorts of conclusions!
Is this a BIG problem or quite common? Had a quick consult with Dr Google but had to stop as I was scaring myself.

It could be a cystocele, which is fairly common. It's a result of a bladder prolapse and as I understand mine, it's like an extra pocket that has developed in the bladder. When I've had a pee, I'll often need a second one a short time later.

I also had a rectocele, a similar sort of pocket in the rectum which makes it hard to empty it properly. I had the rectocele repaired successfully about seven years ago ( no mesh ) but was told there wasn't enough of my tissue left to
repair the cystocele.

It's a nuisance but bearable. I've had four babies with complicated births , long ago. The cystocele is internal - it's not flapping in the breeze or anything.

If that's what yours is, really don't panic.

How is that diagnosed Toofle? Would it have been obvious on the scan?

I think the fact that your bladder hadn't emptied properly makes it seem likely. I don't know exactly what would show up on whatever scan you had - was it a urodynamics scan? There's a bulge in my vagina which is the 'pocket' protruding / intruding a bit.

No it was a pelvic scan. But because of the uti symptoms they did the bladder emptying thing. No noticeable bulges when I had my internal exam by gp.

Yes the bladder not emptying fully might well be a slight bladder prolapse thing. It's annoying and inconvenient but doesn't put you in any danger.
With a bladder prolapse, it's really about person's quality of life and symptom management rather than fixing something just because the bladder is out of position by a couple of millimetres.

Just to update, went to gp to follow up from scan results and she gave me vagifem.

Big mistake! Id been feeling better symptom wise although very anxious about stuff, and we never really discussed how things were progressing. Gp never asked, just bunged me the prescription and rushed me out.

Used it last night and now I'm on fire. Been up all night weeing and now I'm burning and sore inside the vag, as bad as I've been since this all started. Think I've had a bad reaction to it and I'm hoping things calm down again over the next few days.
Can't bear the thought of trying it again.

Wish I hadn't tried it as things were moving along nicely but I didn't think it would do any harm. It could only happen to me!

That's awful. Of course you mustn't use it again - get another appointment with some urgency. You've waited long enough for this and it's clearly quite wrong for you.

Thanks Toofle. No I'm not even thinking about using it again. And wouldn't the cream just be the same?

I'm going to have a break and see how things go. I've been so preoccupied and anxious about this, and other stuff, I just need to step back and think about something else. I do think a lot of my problems are exacerbated by anxiety. Easier said than done mind.

I'm going to get a message to the doc though and let her know.

Sorry to hear that. What dosage of Vagifem was it? Hope it settles down for you.

It was the 10 something or other.

Thanks. Fingers crossed it settles soon.