I Have NO Bladder Control!

There are Physical Therapists around who specialize in Women's Health issues, including bladder control. As mentioned, it involves more than just Kegel's!

Someone else asked this question. I asked my midwife when mine got really bad and she recommended pilates. I started some simple exercises and it has almost gone away completely. I'm still working on it as my youngest is only 20 months and she's my third so there was a good deal of damage to repair. Mine had gotten so bad that I'd pee myself every time I threw up when I was sick or if I didn't get to the bathroom fast enough. It's now so rare and I expect it to go away soon if I can find more time to do my exercises LOL

I'm going ot copy and paste what I typed because I've run out of free time ;)

Everyone is going to tout Kegels as *The* solution and actually they are not. That is only part of the solution. Trust me on this, after 3 kids and doing all the Kegels in the world it wasn't helping at all and was really bad after my third, I would have to change clothes sometimes or wear a panty liner because of the leaking. Pilates. Even a few simple moves. You need to strengthen the muscles inside and out that got stretched out due to the weight of pregnancy and everything being pushed out of place. It isn't because of a vaginal vs c-section birth. You can get it after a c-section too because it has to do with 9 months of baby stretching and pushing things around.
The most basic exercises to pick up are your basic squat. You need to strenghten your gluts which hold things up. The up side to this is you're going to get a more toned bottom. You want to "strengthen your core". The easiest move for this is "The plank". Pelvic tilts works as well to help pull things together.
After years of never getting better, and actually getting worse, doing Kegals by the millions I took up a few simple moves of Pilates as recommended by my midwife and finally I'm not peeing every time I cough, sneeze, lift up my kids etc.

kegals is the key! =D

Julie:

Go see a urologist. You may have to have a bladder sling inserted and it will stop.

It's not just about the kegels - this is about what child birth can do to a W.'s body. I just had a bladder sling done and SOOOOOO happy that i did it! I had it done in conjunction with my hysterectomy on the 7th - and I'm doing GREAT!!!!

DO NOT take meds for this!!! This will end up messing you up even further!!!

See the urologist - seriously - he/she will examine you - ask you to cough and/or sneeze if you can and they can look to see what your urethra is doing...it could be twisted, bent, etc.

Koegels didn't help. I tried those medicines---that didn't help either! Then last year I got the bladder sling operation! Hallelujah!! What a dream!! LOVE it!! Wish I had done it earlier. In fact, I was with a woman who is 7 years older than me the other day---she kept going to the bathroom (went 4-5 times) and I decided I better go one time before my hour drive home. She asked me, "How can you DO that?" I told her about the operation. It's awesome! You are in Wisconsin and I am in AZ. But look up urologists and get your operation scheduled. About 3-4 day recovery. No big deal and WELL worth it!!

This may sound funny, but there are actually physical therapists (and some occupational therapists) trained in women's health needs, including urinary incontinence. It is beyond kegels. Those trained have chosen to pursue this, as it is beyond what we learn in PT school, and are very comfortable addressing this area. It is more common than you think. Get it checked out by an MD first, and then if it's not a medical issue ask for an order for PT (or OT depending on your area) for incontinence. Our therapists have had a VERY successful program! Helping women avoid meds, decrease the need for using extra pads, etc.

I had a problem after I had my first child. I was able to get a medication from my doctor that helped. Tell your doctor. They is also a procedure he can do to help you or refer you to a urologist.

I had a very strong bladder all my life, could go for hours on end without a problem. Then 58 came along and things were not what I expected, it was a real shocker for me. I went to a Urologist and had a bladder sling done. It has been absolutely back to normal again. I am so happy to not have an accident, as if I were 2 or 3. Good luck. It was an outpaitient surgery and I would recommend it to any woman who has this problem. Good luck.

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Sometimes its because of medical reasons. I would talk with your dr me i have to be careful on sneezing or coughing and those exercises don't always help :( meds may not help either its different from person to person

You aren't pregnant?

If you are... well we've all wet ourselves in that situation I bet. lol

But if you aren't go to your doctor. There is pry something wrong with part of your tract. Maybe a med or surgery, excercise can help. But I'm very sorry you are going through this. I'd be mortified too and so upset. I hope they can do something for you.

You need to go to the doctor and get it checked out. Since the birh of my baby a year ago I've had similiar problems. I finally went to my OB last week with this complaint. I chose to go there first as I felt it had to be related to having babies.
I thought he would say that I need to do my Kegels as well, but in fact he said Kegels wouldn't help at all. The floor of my bladder is in tact and in it's position. It's the top part of my bladder that is very loose and the muscles are relaxed and not tight. I don't feel the need to urinate until my bladder is really full. He said I need to make sure I'm emptying my bladder. He also suggested I take Dandelion Root, which acts as a diuretic and is supposed to help with the muscles. I'm going to try this out first.
So, point being, go to the doctor to get some answers. I'm 40 yrs old and know this is horribly difficulty. I feel I'm way to young to be having these problems!

You should get examined by your doctor to diagnose the source of the problem. If it turns out to be a weak pelvic floor there are physical therapists who can help you with this. I went to PT for a few weeks for my pelvic floor and it made a world of difference! I still do many of the exercises to this day. It's more than just Kegels.

Twice a month is not bad... i cant cough, laugh, sneeze, jump...without leaking. I am thinking of having the bladder sling operation. I would ask your dr what they think. I really dont think kegels help :(