Ladies loo problem

[Deleted User]

so glad to hear that other ladies have leaky problems,i have only just started running and thought maybe it was just me.i am 43 and have had 3 children.will carry on the pelvic floor exercises.

[Deleted User]

Thanks to everyone on this thread sharing advice and experiences. I started running again 6 months ago and have been having problem with soaking since then.

I used to run when my boys were little with no problems but since birth of daughter 3 yrs ago plus 2 surgeries for kidney stones when a stent was put in my bladder, I have suffered. I wonder if this damaged me somehow? It takes 6-8 months to get appointment with urologist so don't think I'll bother asking.

It is ToTM related. 3 weeks out of 4 I'm fine but one day I'll set off for my run and within minutes I'll be soaked. I can never predict exactly when that run is going to be so I dread finding out in a race situation. Ordinary sanitary pads are soaked through easily. Does anything bigger work any better?

Glad to know I've got such good company.

[Deleted User]

Thank God...! I get both urge and stress incontinence - I thought it was just me, oh how shamed I was...

[Deleted User]

I have really enjoyed reading everyones experiences and agree that it is so reassuring that I am not alone! I gave up on pelvic floors, read one comment that the problem is better after weight loss, I found the opposite to be true, but I was under weight and the muscle tone was reduced.

That said there is an apparent link with the cycle for sure, the nearer I am to coming on the worse it gets.

My cure - dont want surgery or drugs, so I do always do the pelvic floor exercises, just incase they are helping, andincontinence pads. Am I allowed to advertise? Tena are great. And they dont show up even under lycra shorts.

They have saved me from any more embarrasing situations. having to run home having peed yourself is not the greatest experience is it.

Hope that helps

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the advertising Clueless. Can buying incontinence pads be any more embarrassing than having to run home and get changed 'cause I'm soaked in pee? Guess I'll find out soon. I just wish I could predict when the floods were coming!

[Deleted User]

Well one thing is for sure jen - the floods always come the day I think I am safe and dont bother with my wadding!

[Deleted User]

I dont get embarrassed buying them, because I have prepared 'oh musn't get nannies shopping mixed up with mine' routine for if I get funny looks in the supermarket. I got more embarrassed buying my hair colour when my son's football teacher seved me!

[Deleted User]

I had problems with stress incontinence to the extent that I could not run on the treadmill for more than 30 seconds without having that leaking feeling!

After consulting a gynaecologist I had a TVT operation and haven't looked back since. The op was just an overnight stay in hospital and no problem.

Since then I have started running with a friend and have finished a 10k and 5 mile race and did Race for Life Ipswich. We are regularly out on a Saturday morning at 7.30am in all weathers.

I thought I had to live with my 'problem' not realising it could be sorted so easily!

[Deleted User]

oh my god, i have just reaised that i may be vagely normal! i too have problems with stress incontinence(esp.when running) & thought it was just me!!!!! this thread is a revolution to me.
have tried the physio & cone things with little success & have long since got over my embarrassment @ buying tena ladies!
would be grateful for any advice with this specific question: i normally wear an inco pad whilst running, but i want to do a triathlon in sept. obviously can't wear pad in water & don't especially want to lose time changing clothes etc in transition, but i can't run padless (would be soaked in seconds). all suggestions gratfully received.

Roobarb

Have just found this thread. Don't suffer with leaks and so on while running but has anyone suffered from something similar to cystitis? I woke up the other morning with a pain in my lower stomach and then had all the symptoms of cystitis for a day although I was well hydrated - my wee was nearly clear even the first time I HAD to go. I couldn't understand why this had happened. Can anyone shed any light on it?

Thanks

Ye Olde Dragon

Could still be cystitis Debbs- sometimes it is just a low grade infection with minor symptoms or none! I suggest getting your wee checked anyway.

[Deleted User]

melsbluegirl, just had a really stupid idea. They sell water proof nappies for babies and toddlers dont they. Would one of them help in your triahalon ventures! Really insane i know but thought I would menthion any way. My thinking is that they must be designed for extensive absorbation over and above the norma amount of pee a baby produces.

I cant remember what they are like because it is so long sine we used hem.

Roobarb

CdK
Think it is cystitis - getting some symptoms - going to see the quack.

Thanks anyway.

Viv M

Isn't it alarming how many of us are suffering? I wonder how much research is going on in this area to help us. Can anyone tell us?

[Deleted User]

glad i am not alone,t-o-t-m rings bells too, i wondered if it was my waist water bottle banging on my bladder.absolutely no control over the pelvic floor muscles but luckily had water bottle so used that pour the water over the head technique too.hasn't happened since but make very sure to have been for a [often wild] pee before starting a race or sometimes during a run [if not race situation.]
hope it doesn't happen again, pelvic floor exercises top of the pile etc.

[Deleted User]

Thank you all soooooo much for being honest and infomative! I'm quite a newbie and am trying to increase my distance with the view of some quite long runs in the not too distant future (before I feel my age catches up with me as I'm nearing 40). The way forward I have seen is to keep on with the increased distances and redouble the PF exercises. I also have the ammunition to return to my dismissive GP should the other not work.

Thanx once again - HAPPY (if damp) RUNNING!

[Deleted User]

Has anyone tried using a tampon whilst running. It was adviced given to me by a physio after pelvic floor exercises didn't seem to be working.It works but not at the ToTM when I just don't run anymore. Apparently it works by supporting the uterus muscles (that have become weakened after giving birth to two large babies!)and so supports the bladder too. Maybe a bit like the device from contiform that was mentioned in another post.

[Deleted User]

melsbluegirl - my idea, not tried out, but I see your problem. I realise that changing in the transition area isn't great, but could you not put a pad in some cycling shorts (with mammoth cycling padding it is unlikely to be noticed) and just yank them on quickly before the cycling stage? Yes, this will add a couple of seconds but if it is your first triathlon then getting round will be the first priority, no?
Alternatively, you come out of the water wet, keep yourself wet with the occasional fling of water over self in a "cooling" manner - so you could soak yourself at T2 in preparation and hopefully have water to hand when loo problems surface?

[Deleted User]

I can't tell when i am going to need my Tean Lady either, I always go for a pee before running from home and always cue for the loo before a race, sometimes I come back soaked, sometimes as dry as a bone - I try and wear long tee shirts to cover up the embarassement - but I have noticed if I try and run faster than my normal rate I nearly always have the "oh no not again". I have 3 kids, normal deliveries and no scar tissue, just a complete lack of self control!! As I am now in my early fifties I was putting it down to age, so nice to know that it might not be!! :-) Might get a round to the gp one of these days.

[Deleted User]

Melsbluegirl,
Good luck with your triathlon.Its just a suggestion but try using a tampon as a bladder prop,avoid caffeine 24hrs pre race,get some patterned/dark short tights,vaseline your inner thighs to stop chaffing and abandon the pad which may well ride up when you move from bike to run and just accept you will be wet but heck no one is going to worry except you and if you can complete a triathlon you have achieved something to be proud of- concentrate on that rather than 10secs of embarassment.I don't do triathlons but run and race regularly with no bladder or bowel control due to other medical problems.I have tried all of the gadgets mentioned on this thread with varying degrees of success but now find best to relax not worry about it,knowing that in 5yrs of racing with wee hitting the tarmac not one fellow competitior has ever made a negative remark and only one spectator (and I ran past them so fast they will never recognise my face or my bottom again!well thats my theory!!)For my own peace of mind I always carry a drinks bottle and if I notice the floodgates have opened I just carry on running but tip some water over my legs - occasionally one of the guys I tend to be surrounded by in races will point out my drinks bottle is leaking and I just thank them and continue.Pouring water down your legs also helps reduce any wee induced burning of the chubby thighs as well.
Keep on running girls just think of the advantages - if you pee on the move you dont lose minutes in the loo queue half way round the course like the guys do!

[Deleted User]

Having read this, I feel I tshould share some info withh you all. There has recently been a new drug approved for Urinary Stress Incontinence. Its called Yentreve (Duloxetine) and it will help.

O Check it out with your GP - IO am not sure which countries its available in yet (is approved for the EU), but ladies, you need not suffer anymore. I hope you are still looking at this site / page! If you need any more info, go to the doctor and I'm sure he should know about it. If not, post on here, and I will do a bit more research to find out more.

(P.S. sorry, if I make a mistake i n typing, I can't correct it, my keyboard is doing odd things!
let mey

[Deleted User]

I've recently found a device which is like a TENS machine. It comes in a nice little box with a nice shaped cone pop it up and it sends electrical impulses to the old pelvic floor muscles! Feels kinda weird in a nice sort of way but I must admit I've noticed an improvement and I've only used it three times. It has programmes for stress, urge and pelvic floor. It's about £60. Found it on a UK website . It has uses for other area but I won't go into those...ha ha. :-)

[Deleted User]

Karen, such a tantalising message!! You found it on a UK website - perhaps the name might be handy. I suspect that the company will get a rush of orders from distressed runners! If it's allowed, could you possibly post the name in a reply here? Hope your improvement continues! Happy running!!!!

[Deleted User]

Just been reading the thread. I suffered for years with leaking but decided to carry on running regardless, no-one ever seemed to worry about it and in fact probably didn't ever really notice.

A few years ago I had a hysterectomy and they fixed the incontinece at the same time, (apparently no amount of exercises would have helped my particular problem). I do exercises now and for the most part it's fine but I still get times when there's no control and I just don't worry about it anymore.

Keep running ladies!

[Deleted User]

This is my first entry and I am afraid to admit it but I have been having this problem fo about a year now. I noticed it training for my first marathon last year. I shrugged it off because it was so minimal. I am so worried because I play soccer as well and now when I take a shot on goal or sprint really hard I leak. I wanted to cry at the end of my game the otehr night because I knew if I take another shot on goal then I would have a big leak.
My husband asked why I was holding back and not playing as hard as I normally do. I broke down and told him. I was so embarrassed. Thankfully I have such a loving husband and he said that he had a similar prob when he was fatigued studying in school and playing sports.
Recently I have been working full time and studying for major exams to get into med school. I have had a lot of stress and this is only making things worse. I am in really good shape...I run at least 4-5 days a weeka dn play soccer on the other days. I am making an appt with my doc. Should I really consider hodling back from my activities? I don't think my stress level could handle eliminating sports.
Thanks for letting me express my experience.

[Deleted User]

Laveta
Don't hold back from your sport you will need it as stress relief at med school and afterwards as a Dr (speaking from experience on that one!!)besides it will make you stand out from all other applicants on your CV!! Get yourself down to GP who should be sympathetic and start doing some pelvic floor exercises,cut out caffeine as it irritates bladder as does alcohol esp red wine and beer. MOst areas of country now have continence advisors working with GP or in hospital and often you canself refer to these GP/practice nurse should help with that bit.If all else fails get on with it and accept you may be wet but at least you will be fit and if 22 women on football pitch at least 3 others will be wet as well.Good luck with med school and your running/football

[Deleted User]

Ladies, was just looking around (its friday) and would just like to say that as a bloke and I have been running for 30 years not one bloke I have known has ever passed comment on the state of others men or women at the end of races or training runs. We all have problems of one sort or another. I have seen people with blood, urine and the old brown stuff running down people legs and not one comment. Same goes for triathlons and duathlons. I am on the GB duathlon team at the moment and trust me people at all levels have the same problems.

My point is that yes try to minimize it for comfort sake but really dont worry what 'the other people' think.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for that comment Peter.
Good luck in the duathlon team.

[Deleted User]

Hi, I have just come across your thread. My gynae in SA put me on some tabs called Detrusitol 1mg 2 x per day until I got it under control, and then I went to 1mg 1 x per day. They are available here in Ireland and the UK and my Irish GP has just scripted them for me so you are saved all sorts of yukky tests and honestly male doctors have no idea relly. That does not mean that I dont have to go to the loo often just that its a whole lot better controlled. They are also not that expensive either and protects your modesty as S.I. is not limited to sport. So chat to your med practitioner. Good luck

[Deleted User]

Well I was refered to a Specialist Physiotherapist by my Health Visitor as I was still leaking on runs 4months after having my baby and she had some interesting information for me. She said that 70% of Olymic female runners have incontinence (mild-severe). But then she told me to give up running for 4 months and concentrate on my kegel exercises or else I could be incontinent for life. Endorphine junkie that I am and also because I've been doing PBs 6 wks after having my baby obviously I couldn't comply and just worked extra, EXTRA hard on my kegel exercises. I'm OK now (6 months post-birth). Oh by the way I tried one of those vaginal electrodes as it came along with my birthing TENS pack but I couldn't get on with it. Your exercises can be done anywhere doing anything including looking after my 2 little ones etc.

Good luck everyone