Jolt!

[anneimall]

Kid number one did it to me too. About a year later, I took a conditioning class and ended up on a trampoline leaking with every bounce. My black pants hid nothing and I finished the class with a dark circle approaching my knees (very embarassing to say the least). But, I loved the trampoline and just kept going and going. I'm sure my son would be mortified if he were old enough. But that's the luxury of being a mom I guess.

You are definitely not alone ...

[trekin']

A good friend of mine (and biking buddy), mother of three, was going to have the pubo vaginal sling surgery, but she got a second opinion and was told about a procedure where collegen is injected in the bladder area (I suppose around the urethra). She had that done instead, it was done at the hospital's day surgery, and she hasn't regretted it. She was told it might last only a couple of years, or it could last longer. She's in her 50's, and would rather not have the surgery until nothing else works.

Another option for those who are seeking solutions...

[DrBadger]

my mom actually had real problems with this for a while, but saw a PT who specialized in incontinence issues and is doing a TON better. I asked her to write up the exercises that she does for you all, so I am going to attach it here, and try to attach the images of the sheet with exercises from her PT, but if that doesn't work and you want it PM me with your e-mail and I will send you the pdf.

From PABadger's mom:
I was referred to a physical therapist by my doctor; the therapist specializes in treating incontinence issues. She examined me and taught me the correct way to do Kegels, and reevaluated me after 4 or 5 weeks, when I showed marked improvement.

This was a repeat of the sequence of events from a few years back, but I had stopped doing the Kegels regularly and so had suffered from a much worse situation. On my follow-up appointment, when I had shown improvement, she told me about a new series of breathing exercises that would supplement the Kegels and in some cases even replace them.

I now do these breathing exercises for 20 counts morning and evening, just before arising and just as I go to bed. It has been life-changing—and I don’t even do the Kegels regularly any more. (Every couple of months, if I begin to feel less confident, I will do Kegels for a week or so.) But I have gone from being afraid to walk the dog in the evening without wearing protection AND carrying something that can be wrapped around my waist just in case….to not having to think about it.

The exercise:

Lie on your back, feet together. Inhale, and turn your toes out. Exhale, while moving toes back together.

That’s it!! These breathing exercises target the muscles along the pelvic wall, from hip to groin, which support the bladder (that’s how it was explained to me). There are four exercises listed in the program but I have not needed to do anything other than the simple breathing.

I highly recommend finding a physical therapist who specializes in this issue and discussing the “Beyond Kegels’ program with her. Good luck.


exercises001.pdf

[Laterider21958]

Sounds like you need to do pelvic floor exercises. These can be done anywhere at any time. The muscles you need to build are the ones you use to let go when you urinate. To make sure you are working on the correct ones you begin to pee and then stop mid-stream. (This is only to work out what muscles you need to use - it's not recommended to stop mid-stream all the time!!!) Now that you can do it, do 10 muscle contractions, holding each for about 10 seconds. Repeat this several times a day. Simple. Oh, I believe one added benefit is improvement in your sex life. Double bonus

[pooks]

This is all great info. Thanks!

(And that trampoline thing -- oh well, I guess my bike shorts aren't hiding anything, either!)

PA -- thank your mom bunches.

And I had a girlfriend when I was in high school who would "lose it" if he laughed too hard, and if you know teenaged girls, you know we would collapse into giggles over anything -- especially her protests, "No, no, don't make me laugh --" at which point we would all laugh hysterically, including her. Ooops.