Bladder training for urge incontinence

[Oppy]

Hi, I'm seeking success stories about bladder training for urge incontinence. I need some support!! I've always experienced "urge" to pee whenever I go near a bathroom, ever since being a child, but in the past 18 months the urge has become productive, sometimes quite prolifically productive. This is horrible when I'm on shift (I'm a ward nurse) and I'm with patients, especially if I'm helping them to the toilet...
My gp has recommended bladder training. I'm a few days in. It's so hard and I'm determined to give it good go but would love to hear that it might work. I'm 52, had one vaginal birth 16 years ago and a caesar 13 years ago, I'm slim and in reasonable shape. I was in much better shape prior to Covid. I have been on HRT for about 7 years - estrogen/Mirena/Testosterone gel. xx

@Stopsnowing

I found a perifit really helped

It helped with the urge? (ie not stress?)

Oppy the dose in pessary or cream is much lower than in gel tablets but if you wanted to be disciplined you could

load the Ovestin applicator with the right dose
then squeeze a bit onto finger to put on vulva
then put remaining cream in vagina with applicator.

Hope that makes sense?

@Oppy: I have to take the medication all the time otherwise the effects are lost. I haven't experienced any side effects. I DO think that I should explore the cause of the problem in greater depth though. I've had it for 20 years ffs!.

In my case, the problem seems to be urge, not stress. Not sure if pelvic floor is an issue at all.

The urge issue is compounded by irritation/ pain - feels like a UTI but isn't. Going too often makes it worse somehow.

I think it's probably atrophy.

Modibidi sounds interesting, a great idea for when in training!

20 years and pain etc sounds like an investigation would be in order. Are you taking HRT? Or are you not that sort of age yet? M

@Oppy You should try Ovestin/ Vagifem.

It can work wonders.

It may take 3 months or longer to really help fully but give it a go.

The dose is TINY. I've said this before, but using it 2 x a week for a year is 1gm estrogen- the same as 1 daily tablet of estrogen (HRT.)

@Oppy what ever happened? What helped for you? I have practically the same as you in terms of frequency and volumes. I am going for a urodynamics test next month. I tried Betmiga but it’s didn’t suppress the urge. I can hold initially but then it grows and grows and I’m practically sweating with discomfort and sometimes it’s almost 300 but mostly it’s around 250ml. And sometimes I’ll leak a little and if left too long it’s the whole lot. I’ve been trying kegels three times a day with diaphragm breathing but I’m not sure anything is improving.