Bladder incontinence

[stillvicarinatutu]

Can anyone advise - I'm 49 and I'm finding this a real pain

Never been this bad ever. Two kids meant a bit of a ropey bladder at times
But this is awful!
I walked home from a party last night - 20 mins walk and I was soaked when I got home . So embarrassing. I had absolutely no control and I was wearing a pad but this was more than a bit of stress incontinence

My gp has been useless, saying it's just a sign of getting older .

What if anything can be done? I'm single and it's knocking my confidence to even date !

Appalling attitude from the GP. Ask for a referral to a women’s health physio. They can help.
www.positivepause.co.uk/all-blogs/menopause-how-a-womens-health-physio-can-help

Hiya
I really feel for you - this has become a big problem for me post menopause and I never had kids to blame l. What I have found helps : never leave the pub without a final pee :-) Avoid mixing water and coffee and most importantly try vaginal oestrogen. The incontinence is linked to changes in the vagina and bladder not pelvic floor weakness and can be helped. Good luck!

I feel your pain. I get bad when I have a cough or cold. More recently I need to go when near running taps water.
I once tried to talk to GP but got sidetracked with only 1 thing discussed per appointment, he obviously thought discussing my tablets was worth a full appointment but not my lack of bladder control.
When I spoke to the nurse, when having a smear test, her response was -well you've given birth 6 times. That was very useful. I will remember to say that to myself when I am leaking.
I believe the medical profession really don't want to know apart from churning out leaflets about pelvic floor exercises. Can't even feel them most times I try.
Good luck if you go to a GP and do get help. I know this is one of those hidden secrets that nobody in real life wants to admit to or talk about.

The loss of oestrogen after menopause is what causes the incontinence Puppy

Oestrogen is important for keeping the ligaments of your pelvic floor (Pelvic Floor article) strong and elastic. When the levels of this hormone drop, the ligaments that hold your bowel, bladder and womb in place become thinner, weaker and less resilient

Control over the urinary sphincter is either lost or weakened. Urinary incontinence is a common problem that affects many women specifically after menopause.” As we enter menopause due to dip in oestrogen levels and age-associated muscle atrophy, pelvic floor muscles can grow weaker

You want to get the doctor to prescribe vagifem, there may be other types as well.

@stillvicarinatutu you need to ask your gp for a referral to both a women's physio and a gynaecologist who understands women's pelvic floors.

It's true that leaking can occur more with loss of estrogen BUT all the estrogen in the world will not help a bladder prolapse where the urethral outlet has fallen down so there is no support.

The solution to that if it's what you have, is surgery (NOT with mesh), or bulking the urethra with a filler to stop it lying too low.

All of this needs assessment with an examination.

Go back to your GP and don't be dismissed as this is a common issue but it can be sorted.

@stillvicarinatutu are you on HRT ? I was exactly the same, even just standing up or walking but since starting HRT it is 95% better , the odd little leak if I run for the bus or sneeze but that I can cope with whereas it was making me really depressed before , I saw an improvement in the first week

[quote itsalldramaramarama]@stillvicarinatutu are you on HRT ? I was exactly the same, even just standing up or walking but since starting HRT it is 95% better , the odd little leak if I run for the bus or sneeze but that I can cope with whereas it was making me really depressed before , I saw an improvement in the first week [/quote]
HRT can help although for bladder issues it's usual to try vaginal estrogen first.

However, it really won't cure a more serious physical issue.

If things have sagged beyond a certain point, only lifting them up again with surgery works.

The OP needs an assessment to see what's going on and if she needs something more than estrogen.

I have had two amazing physios. One gave me a wand that helped me actually locate my pelvic floor muscles (I have not given birth) and one gave me some more tips on how to do the exercises properly. I have worked up from not being able to find the muscles to being able to hold them for 10 seconds currently.

The first I saw after referral from the GP and the second I was seeing for a hip issue anyway.

I am fairly sure HRT has helped too but this issue predates full menopause (possibly peri-menopausal though).

(The gynaecologist was no use by the way. Just suggested it was normal for my age - mid-40s at the time).

Are you on Instagram, OP? Gusset_grippers is a women's physio (who is also hilariously funny) and posts a lot about pelvic floor health.

Tha is I'll try and tackle the gp again
Pretty sure there's no prolapse or anything.
I started HRT patches in August but didn't get on with them - just about to try the tablets .

God I hate getting old !