Ladies loo problem

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  • Yes, definitely Kegel exercises. If you aren't sure how to do them correctly get your GP to refer you to the incontinence physio at your local hospital, She will test the state of your pelvic floor muscles with a willy-shaped, condom covered probe attached to a computer programme, This shows on screen the strength of your muscle contractions and it really does work. Both your fast twitch and slow twitch muscles will be tested and you will get exercises to strengthen each sort. Mine are getting stronger but it is a bit bizarre, I have to say.....
  • Thought I'd just add as well, that I sweat so much down there, that it might as well be pee! V embarrassing wet patch, but hey who cares - think all the girls I used to row with were sweatty betty's so no one takes any notice, luckily I only really pee when I do star jumps and it's been very easy to give up those!
  • Hello all.

    I've been following the debate with interest as I have a similar problem - I seem to have a bladder the size of a thimble and can't get through any race without at least one dive into the bushes. However, it's not too bad really as long as I get there in time! But now I haven't run for a few days (not like me) because of a new problem: sudden threatened leaks from, er, the rear. It's terrible! The first time I had to stop and walk a couple of miles back, and only just made it back in time. I thought it must have been something I had eaten, but then on the next longish run I did a few days later I was about half a mile away from home and it happened again. It's very distressing and has made me not want to run for fear of a repeat. Can anybody help???
  • Some days I get this, where I do have to run for the toilet as soon as I get back, but I can never quite tell what the cause is as sometimes it doesn't happen at all. So far it's not been a major problem, but I think from other threads the advice is to use immodium, or make sure you've been before you go as it were.
  • Thanks Kinsey.

    I'm always careful to make sure I'm running on empty, as it were, so I don't know why this has suddenly started happening (I've never been troubled before). I'm not doing anything differently.

    And of course, now I'm anxious about running in case it happens, and anxiety doesn't do great things to my tum... Aargh!!
  • That's okay - hope it turns out just to be a blip
  • I am 31 years old, have not yet borne child....and occasionally get a bit damp whilst running. It is deffo worse for what reason i dont know, when the painters are in. My solution has been to do my pelvic floor exercises and always wear dark cooured running shorts! I do feel sorry for my fellow runners in white and pink ect, with huge wet bits between their legs! No offense meant btw.
  • I am 35 and have a leaky problem when running. After 3 children my pelvic floor muscles have seen better days. I found wearing a tampon when running has helped, but as I have increased distances so the wetness has returned. I now run padded up, but after reading these messages I will pluck up the courage to go the my GP. It can't be any worse than having a smear.
  • As many have said, a big phew to know others in same boat. Sara, I want to find out about the device that was discontinued - can you remmember who sold/made it?

    Btw, Ventreve is the exact same drug as an antidepressant - can't recall which one, just type Ventreve into Google and you'll see - apparently there have been doubts over its safety, including some suicides among testers, issues re withdrawal (which presumably means you can get addicted). I came home with my Ventreve, all excited (first person my GP had prescribed them to) to read this - I wouldn't take anti-depressants for depression, I run instead, so I'm damn well not taking them for this!

    Have been referred to bladder physio so we'll see. Mine has got much worse in last year or so - youngest child now 5 - suspect it may be to do with coming off the pill and having a coil but going back on the pill didn't help - maybe I need to lose the coil?

    Racing tomorrow so will try no caffeine, tampon, black shorts, Tena... also thought of top tied round waist as if too hot to wear it (covers the back if not the front. Does anyone know if serious medical type pads are any better than Tena which you can buy at the supermarket?

    Thanks for making me feel better about this!
  • After much research, have found a device which sounds similar to Sara's (Contrelle continence tampon) and a place to buy it:

    http://www.desmitmedical.com/intra_vaginal_devices.htm

    Read the 'research' (who knows how impartial) here:

    http://www.adhesions.org.uk/webboard/messages/46/46.html?1050161220

    Have placed an orrder for a starter pack (I assume of different sizes) at about £7 and await with interest! Hope it comes in plain packaging when my children are out!
  • Thank you ladies!
    After today's Alsager 5 I had almost no problem!

    No caffeine, tampon.

    That must be the reason, what a difference! And to think I almost didn't run!

    Life just got a whole lot better!
  • Snail's Wife actually.
    A relief to find I'm not alone. I have the same problem but never on morning runs, only evening, and then not always. Doesn't seem to make any difference how little or much I drink and giving up caffeine had no effect. Realise it may well be linked to TOTM after reading this thread.
    Black shorts take away the embarrassment factor but it's still very distressing and damned uncomfortable especially in this freezing weather.
    Caroline, has your starter pack arrived yet and is it any good?
    Thanks everyone.
  • Hi Snails wife,
    Yes it has arrived, there are 3 sizes of things you use a bit like a tampon, only once obviously, and they did seem to help a lot so i ordered a pack of 30 (about £50). The odd thing is they don't always do the trick, finished speed work almost without a problem (which is usually what makes it worst for me) a couple of days ago but today not that good after a 1 hr steady - but much better than a few weeks ago when almost vowed to give up altogether. Have been referred to urologist and specialist physio so will wait to see if that helps

    Let me know if you find anything else to try!
  • Thanks Fraggle! Am going to read it now
  • easy tiger!easy tiger! ✭✭✭
    been to specialist physio, it seems the pelvic floor exercises have to be done once an hour to work! Have done this for a month, definite improvement, now maybe 20% of the problem I had before.
  • I was so relieved to read this as I was beginning to think it was only me who had this problem :o( .... Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel as last week I also had the TVT procedure as I had come to the end of my tether with the 'problem'... I had tried everything everyone has suggested on their posts and surgery for me was the last resort. As it stands at the moment it is too early to tell if surgery has worked as I can't resume proper excercise for about six weeks, but early indications are positive.... hopefully I will post back with good news when my training starts up again :o)
  • Fingers (and legs!) crossed for you L-M

    I still have the odd incident, mainly when I'm racing, am trying to do the Pelvic floor exercises, but not sure how much good they're doing...
  • By the way, gave up on the Contrelle things as don't stop it reliably and sometimes I can feel it working its way out. Have been too busy to do PFEs lately but I know they did work, if not totally, but they can take 6 months to get best results. Still not running anyway after post FLM injury which I'm also too busy to do the physio for! (i know, I could get round to it if i got off my bum)

    Been to urologist who said have a TVT but there are risks, 1 in 10 get an irritable bladder leading to urge incontinence, may be so effective you can't wee at all, small chance of a hole in the bladder, and they've only been doing it for about 5 years so no-one knows what the long term effects might be. And only 85% will be dry or appreciably better and it's not unusual to still have leaks afterwards. So, I don't think so, actually. Must press on with the PFEs, remember at least 5 x a day to do any good.

    Good luck all!
  • Update: it's been 7 weeks since my op and I have just started to begin my running sessions again... only a short distance so far as I seem to have lost my fitness levels :o(..... I had no need to worry about all of the side affects and horror stories of the tvt op as so far it has been a 100% success, pain is more like a bit of discomfort and scars are teeny and neat.... Hopefully I will start to increase my running distance soon and only time will tell to the real success of my op.... fingers crossed.... (but not legs.. no need to no more...lol)
  • Interesting to see about this TVT op? Just wanted to say that early on in this thread I stated that PFE's were a waste of time for me, but after incurring an awfulinjury marathon training earlier this year, I was given some core stability exercises that have been a great help inso much as they have definately improved my control while out running. That said, I still go strapped to my trusty incontinent pad, wont leave home without one, well when running anyway. Will keep you posted.

    Glad your op seems to have been a success L M. I have had some other ops in recent years so am very reluctant to have another while I can try a non surgical route. But much respect to you hope it continues to go well
  • I was very interested in all this as I am a plodding but happy runner and am also TVT post operative. I started running last week after a 4 month lay off (the TVT was one of three gynae procedures) only to find nothing cured and now I have blood in the urine so I'm facing a cystoscopy to see what's going on. As you can guess I'm despondent that if I ever get back to running I will still be the Tena Lady altho it seems we could form our own running club! How have others fared
  • i would be interested to know if anyone has a problem with loose bowels as soon as i do speed work for any length of time i have a real problem i cant hold on it is very upsettin and i may give up because of it . I really enjoy my running please help .
  • hello leaky ladies. I've just found this forum and find it very consoling to know so many of us have similar difficulties. Generally steady running is ok but I'm still afraid to wear anything other than black as there are times in the month when muscles in general are weaker and there have been times when I was glad I was running in the dark. But if I need to go, I can't hold on and run at the same time. I gotta go! I look longingly at all the lovely bright coloured running shorts in the sports shops knowing I will never have the courage to run in them. These cold days are hell too, especially on a long run. Liquid runs through me as I'm not sweating much and I had 2 pitstops on sunday in the course of 16m despite not drinking at all. Luckily I was in the forest and had a choice of trees. Hopefuly as the weather improves, so will my bladder!Race starts are a nightmare as I'm always thinking will there be a loo available close enough to start time. The more you think, the worse it gets. But NEVER give up running ladies, its too good to miss.
    Marion, sorry can't help there. That bit of me seems ok. Maybe you're eating too close to a hard run? Have you tried taking lighter meals on speed days and eating more afterwards?
  • Now in my forties with time on my hands I have re-ignited my passion for exercise but my bladder doesn't seem to share the same idea. Having gone from totally out of breath after a 5 minute warm-up in fitness classes I can now manage the whole hour but with this comes the embarrassment of knicker wetting. I want to start running to increase my stamina but the thought of incontinence pads is sooo depressing. I've also found that I restrict my water intake to limit peeing but end of with wet patches and a headache!! Am interested in the TVT op but am not keen on waiting for months on NHS - how much to go private?
  • Hiya Lisa

    Sorry you are having problems, to have the TVT done privately it will set you back about £4,000.....
  • Plucked up the courage to see my lady doctor about this and she said I was a complete mentalist to have put up with leakages for so long. Is referring me to urodynamics team urgently - so fingers crossed (or should that be legs until I see someone??!!).
  • Hi Lisa
    Go for the urodynamics but push them to do ambulatory ones as sometimes the static ones don't show the runner's problems. Mine were only on running not star jumps, coughing or sneezing. Also discuss the TVT stuff with the consultant as I've just had mine taken out less than a year after it was put in as it caused bleeding and rubbed. I'm now waiting to be reassessed but maybe I was just unlucky, a friend hasn't had any problems at all since hers went in.
  • Hi Liz,

    Thanks, will make sure I do that. Sorry to hear your TVT not successful, I'm trying to do as much research as I can but mainly the reports I hear aren't great but hopefully that's just because the people whose were successful are out running and enjoying the sensation of being "dry".
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