I’m sure some of you have experienced this and can give me some insight. Around Thanksgiving, I started having some occasional urine leakage, just a few drops at a time and usually within a short period of time after I had gone to the restroom (not while coughing or sneezing though). Mid-December, I had a bladder infection, went to the doc, got antibiotics, did a follow-up urine test 14 days later and it was all clear. I’m still having some leakage, although not as bad as before. Wondering if this is a “chicken and the egg” thing – did the original leakage start because this bladder infection was brewing or did the infection occur because of the leakage? I mentioned it to the doc when I got the antibiotics and she suggested seeing a urologist. (Ironically, one of the first commercials I saw on TV after this was for some medication for this very problem!) I should also note that this bladder infection is only the second one I’ve ever had, with the first one being probably 15 years ago, so I am not prone to these. Going to a urologist involves getting a referral, going to a different office, paperwork, etc etc., so I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do to try and stave this off. Suggestions?? Cranberry juice? Kegel exercises?
A woman at church was sharing that she suffered quietly for years before she was told about that medication from the TV commercial. She said it helped her tremendously and gave her back her active life. She was encouraging us to spread the word!
Kegels certainly won’t hurt, try this for a while and see if it helps.
Kegels may help, but it depends on the exact cause of the incontinence. Medication (muscle relaxants) may also help, but again it depends on the cause of incontinence.
Instead of going to see a urologist, you should probably see a uro-gynecologist. This is a gynecologist who has specialized in the treatment of female pelvic floor dysfunction. A uro-gyn will be more familiar with the types and treatments for female urinary incontinence than a urologist would be.
Not sure if I read about this book on CC or elsewhere but The Art of Control: A Woman’s Guide to Bladder Care by Leslie Parker is fabulous and addresses this issue. She is a physical therapist specializing in women’s incontinence issues which I didn’t even know was a specialty. I now know there’s a PT in my area that specializes in the same that I’m holding in reserve but following the suggestions in the quick read book, so far, have been enough. So, my advice is to read the book and/or seek out a PT. Although perhaps you need a referral for the PT (?) in which case you’d need to see your PCP, gynecologist or uro-gynecologist first. Good luck to you.
Adding: the book I reference suggests two exercises, one of which has three components to it, one of which is a kegel. Thus, according to Parker, kegels alone may be helpful but there is a more comprehensive movement that she believes is better.
Pun intended??
^^lol, wish I could say yes!!