Advice needed. Incontinence

[Stressyweewee]

Hi

Firstly unsure if this has been posted in the wrong place.

(Will be seeing a Dr soon as I'm out of iso)

I need help with incontinence.
I've always had a weak ish bladder, in the sense of always needing to go.

I've had one baby by c section. So not even a vaginal birth. 7 years ago.

Why am I always leaking urine?
Sneezing, coughing does it.
(Currently have covid so the cough is making it worse) today alone I've been through 5 tena pads. And currently using 2 doubled up. Mortifying.

I also do drink A LOT of fizzy drinks. A little overweight. Not by an enormous amount.

I've heard that this can make it worse. I want to know if people have tried losing weight and giving up the fizz has helped.

Just for added info

1 child, c section.
Non smoker for 8 years
Almost 38
Barely touch alcohol (think a few times a year)
Not a strenuous job.

I didn't think this could happen without a vaginally birth.

Any advice is helpful.
Even sympathy at this point. I'll take it all

Do you do PVE? All women should do daily PFE, regardless of if they have had children or not. As we age oestrogen drops and causes PF muscles to weaken. That’s why so many older ladies suffer leakage. Caffeine, spicy food & fizzy drinks can also cause problems.

The link is from a women’s physio who is passionate about helping women. She gives full instructions on how to properly do PVE (squeeze your bum hole not just clenching your vagina) if you download the nhs squeezy app it gives you reminders on your phone to do them. Aim for 3 times a day to begin with.

www.gussetgrippers.co.uk/corona-virus-and-pelvic-floors
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DRINK
Caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and citrus or spicy foods can all irritate bladders. Try cutting down on the number of coffees you are using to keep awake and see if that helps your leaking symptoms

I second the Squeezy app. You need to be doing pelvic floor exercises consistently three times a day. Losing weight and cutting out the fizzy drinks Weill help. I also don’t drink caffeine. Ask your GP to be referred to a women’s physio. It’s the weight on your pelvic floor that’s the issue OP so women who had sections still have issues.

It is so upsetting to have this problem I have had help with my bladder leakage for many years.
Ask your GP to refer you to a specialist for treatment he could possibly do a small operation to tighten the neck of the bladder it is an easy and quick procedure.
I now have botox injections to my bladder wall every 12mths which stops the leakage it is an embarressing 20min procedure but works well for me.Before I started having this treatment I had to know where every toilet was for quick usage when ever I went anywhere it was such a chore.

Do you do pelvic floor exercises?
Your GP can refer you to womens physiotherapy who will assess you and explain/help you learn how to do them (I thought I knew how but I learnt more!).

Also you mention pregnancy and not having had a vaginal birth - being pregnant and carrying the extra weight of baby, placenta,
Amniotic fluid on our pelvic floor muscles for 9 months in itself weakens the pelvic floor muscles (actually more so than a vaginal delivery).