Ovestin but still bladder problems

[Turningandturning]

Menopause long time over but Ovestin every day helps with vaginal dryness but not bladder problems. I’m not incontinent because I don’t drink anything, from waking up, if am going out of the house. Otherwise drink one decaf coffee& lots of waterDoing a very sad search for incontinence pants, must be disposable, which are best Also wondering if GP can help as Amazon is selling pills it says help
sorry for format, copied and pasted as kept losing message.
Any help or advice will be so gratefully received as I can’t hardly drink for 2 weeks.

Why would you not drink for 2 weeks?

Can you explain what the problem is?

Ovestin helps with frequency and burning (it helps the bladder lining to grow back rather than being thin).

There are many types of bladder issues including stress incontinence and over active bladder .

If you have stress incontinence, you can see a women's physio to assess your pelvic floor and do exercises.

Look up women's physio Gussie Grips.
She has lots of info online that might help.

Thank you jingling.
I think I have stress incontinence. I can be fine but once I need to go I need to go now.
I saw a gynaecologist privately to get the Ovestin. She told me to take it every day for 2 weeks then once every 3 days.
That didn’t help enough so I use it everyday. I buy extra online which the GP doesn’t know about.
I really need to not drink at all if going out that day which means on holiday will only be able to drink a little water in the evenings.
I really don’t want to use incontinence pads and don’t know anything about them except have seen Always in TV ads.
various pills like Jude bladder care supplements are sold on Amazon.
If I knew about any treatment I could ask my GP but have to be very careful as they think I’m taking too much Ovestin at their prescribed one every 3 days

Ah, you need expert help!
You can either refer yourself to a women's physio or ask your GP to do that.

Please don't reduce your fluid intake. This is bad for all kinds of reasons. The first is you'll end up dehydrated which is bad for your kidneys and also your bladder will end up irritated with the small amount of very concentrated urine in it and it will become used to not being used and hold less.

You need a proper assessment. Not being able to wait at all can be treated with meds for overactive bladder (from your GP) or you may be able to control your bladder with exercises.

Have you ever done Kegel exercises? These improve the muscles of your pelvic floor so you can control your urine.

There's loads online and I mentioned Gussie Grips.
Do a search for women's physios in your town.

You don't have to live with this or buy pads as there are ways to treat it.

OP it sounds like you have urge incontinence.

It might be that kegels/pelvic floor physio helps you, it might be that you have a prolapsed bladder and need surgery. You might just need a bulking injection in your bladder to help the incontinence.

There's loads that can be done. I recommend. Kassie Dewitt on the socials. Gussie grips is funny but I don't find her description of kegels at all helpful.

Its taken several sessions with my physio to achieve a helpful kegel.

You should definitely not be not drinking you will cause more issues.

OP i speak of what I know, I have stress incontinence that's come on with menopause but in my case it's caused by a prolapse bladder and urethra.plus a prolapse bowel.

And despite all that, my pelvic floor is getting stronger with consistent kegels.

The squeezy app is useful to remind you.

Thank you both.
I’ve downloaded the Squeezy and found a woman’s NHS physio. I can self refer if I get a form from GP.
I’m really not going to stop drinking and get dehydrated. Usually I drink 1 decaf coffee and lots of water which seems to help.
I don’t really know how long this has been going on, probably getting worse around 3 years.
As I rarely go out, have other health problems, it’s not too difficult but I was really panicking about the holiday, which is a big one which was originally cancelled due to Covid, and not wanting to spoil it for DH.
Have also ordered some supplements from Amazon, all natural stuff, which get good reviews so with your help hope to be a bit improved in 3 months.

@Turningandturning i would say use your money for an initial private physio instead of supplements.

The supplements won't work if you have prolapses.

The squeezy app won't work if you have prolapse.

Go and see a private physio as soon as you can. The NHS ones are not brilliant as you don't get many appointments and it can take ages to get an appointment.

I came on here two years ago to say I had urinary incontinence. Everyone recommended squeezy.

And after seeing private physio and private gynae I realised no kegels would help as my urethra was prolapsed which was causing the incontinence.

Its really scary but you can make a difference here but not with Amazon supplements.

There are medications that can help but the GP should provide those. Can you do an econsult and get an appointment?

I think my point is that you need to know what you are dealing with ASAP. Because it might be fixed with a bulking injection and physio. Or you might need surgery.

Or best case you can change your habits and do physio.

@Droolylabradors Prolapse doesn't always cause incontinence. Sometimes prolapsed bladders cause urine retention.

I agree that @Turningandturning should see a private physio as the NHS waiting list can be ages. Most private hospitals have women's physio or private physio practices. Costs vary but it might be around £70 for an appt.

@Turningandturning Herbal type supplements might reduce your urine output (dehydrate you) but they don't work in other ways.

@JinglingSpringbells yes of course that's a good point. I was being blinkered by my own experience!

My private physio was £85 for first hour long appointment and then £65 for 45min follow ups.

If you are skint it's a lot of money but you will know what you are dealing with ASAP.

For info op, the physio does a very gentle exam with their fingers internally, it doesn't hurt at all.

They will also take a full history from you. It's not like a Dr appt where you have to chuck all your information at them in ten minutes, it's a calm and supportive environment and they have heard and seen it all before.

My physio room is super warm, smells of lavender and I feel like I'm at a spa for an hour.

Always pants are just for small leaks, not if you cannot hold your bladder.

Amazon.co.uk: Drylife: Lady Pants

These work and are black color also so look like normal pants

Hope this helps

I have incontinence issues - autoimmune related and I’ve also got interstitial cystitis, diagnosed aged 14 now 43. Please get a referral to a urologist - there are medications and things they can do. I felt sad reading your post, please get some different incontinence pads to try - I like Tena lights long for most days as they’re soft and very discreet and non irritating and if I’m going far from home I use always discreet - they are much more absorbent. Don’t put your life on hold for the sake for wearing pads. No one will know. And make sure you drink, lots. You don’t want to end up with UTIs or kidney issues because you’ve not drunk enough, it can cause you all sorts of horrible issues.

My own experience of urologists @Pigeonqueen was they were hopeless.

Gynaecologists are usually better for women, and especially urogynaes, or women's physios.

I hope you have had successful treatment.

It's only my opinion of course. And I think that the OP should start with a women's physio and take it from there.

I don’t think there’s any harm in seeking help from both.

I could write pages and pages about my experiences here but won’t bore everyone but ultimately it was only seeing my very good (female) urologist that I actually got any real help with things. I was actually able to completely stop the daily long term antibiotics I had been on since 14 with a combination of things she tried with me. I still have the incontinence issues but I can somewhat live with that because the pain and overall discomfort is much improved.

Worth mentioning I am also under a gynaecologist and menopause specialist (nhs) as well as urology, rheumatology and endocrinology. I am very complex (!)