This subject pisses me off (pun intended)

dmcpage

Brief synopsis of last night's conversation with my husband after I get home from running/walking.

Me: I ended up doing sprints at *insert lightning fast pace here* tonight......

Hubby: Wow, that's freakin awesome!

Me: .....and I managed to piss myself.

Hubby: Oh.

Me: Yeah. Running so fast again and I tried to hold it in but I couldn't. It was bad. I need to go shower now because I'm pretty sure I have urine that is drying into my socks.

Hubby: You should really get that checked out.

Me: Gee, ya think?

*End Scene*

Here's the deal though, Stress Urinary Incontinence is a very real problem for a lot of women, not just me. I can't do many jumping jacks or jump rope before I have that "oh crap" moment that comes right before wetting oneself. It doesn't always happen to me, but the majority of the time it does. It doesn't happen when I normally run, it only happens when I sprint. I had to bow out of a jump rope contest a few years ago that I was clearly winning because I didn't want to accept my medal in piss-stained capris. I also managed to pee my pants when jumping ONCE in an inflatable house at a party. I've even thought about wearing liners or whipping out a Depend now or then. I'm 29 and childless and I pee my pants from time to time. *sigh*

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about SUI: it's involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. It is the loss of small amounts of urine associated with coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising or other movements that increase intra-abdominal pressure and thus increase pressure on the bladder. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners.

I have yet to bring this up to my medical doctor (though I have been meaning to since I was about 14). I just haven't gotten around to the "hey doc, I pissed myself" conversation since I have other weird medical issues that seem to take precedence or an easily excitable bladder. So why am I writing this on MFP now? Basically I want to know if any other gals have (or admit to having) this problem, and if they have ever sought treatment, and how they are now? I know a handful of women who seem to have this, and no one has done anything about it. Most of them have had children and aren't as active as I am, but still active (just not the point where it could become a problem).

Bottom line: I need to have this conversation with a doctor. It's getting to be a bit beyond ridiculous to train for middle-distance races or compete in cardio tests and have that nagging fear of pee meets spandex. I feel like I should be wearing a shirt that says "You're in Trouble" (get it, Urine Trouble).

Please feel free to commiserate, empathize, or point your fingers at the strange lady who smells a bit like pee. Chances are I'll point back.

Supermel

I have this happen, the week before my period is due (things must be swollen in there i guess?) when i do jumping jacks or other jump training in my Jillian MIcheals circuits. It really sucks and i end up putting on a pad thru the workout. Somtimes if i pee right before i start, and then pee after the first circuit i can get thru without incident but the closer to day one of my period, the worse it is. I was going to mention this to my Dr. My mother and grandmother both have (had) continence issues or incontinence or whatever.

I would skip the tshirt but funny play on words haha.

cdavis1126

Are you kidding? When I have to go, I run for the bathroom. It was worse 76 lbs ago though I have to say. The more weight i lose the better i feel, though I still have to run. The dr tried putting me on some meds but it just blocked me up the other way. Now I make sure that I pee before I get on the treadmill. I went to the bathroom before leaving the house today, drove 20 minutes to fedex and begged them to let me use their bathroom and then drove back 20 minutes and had to go again. This is what happens when you are attempting to drink 12 cups of water a day. I plan out my routes when leaving the house making sure wherever I'm going isn't to far and it has a bathroom, and I know where that bathroom is. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

Jry0318

I've never had this happen before, and i hope it never happens. But if there is an easy remedy to the problem, why not talk to your doctor about it?
If that would have happened to me, I would have made an appointment to see the doctor that day! But I have no shame, and not easily embarassed about things i discuss with my doc, thats what they are there for!

xtina11179

I have a similar problem, but I have chalked it up to being on a diuretic (for HBP). I get the WORST urges sometimes, I'm not even sure I can make it to the bathroom. Maybe it is a combination of both!!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to pee! :laugh: But no, seriously....talking about it, I really have to go!!

Koshie

I sometimes have this happen when jump roping or jumping on the trampoline but never sprinting. Though I must say I only sprint to the fridge and back to catch the show starting again :P No but seriously I did see a documentary about this once and there is a surgery that they can do, Its a part of your body pressing on your bladder so they go in and they lift it off your bladder. I cant remember what part of the body is causing this though

BeautifulScarsWECHANGED

I've heard this before from women....I've heard that Kegels help strenthen those muscles.

You do need to have the "hey doc, I find myself pissing all over myself" conversation. LOL!

And screw it! You should just have the tee-shirt say "Urine Trouble" and let them try and figure it out. LMAO!!

Let us know what the dr. says.

pmaria10

I have heard that kegal exercises help, here's a link:
http://www.kegel-exercises.com/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2049126_do-kegal-exercises.html

TickledPurple

I've got kids, so yeah stress incontinence is no stranger.... you need to tighten your pelvic floor muscles - it'll improve your sex life too, trust me!

Google 'pelvic floor exercises', and get practicing! Its definitely worth trying this for 6 months or so before considering anything drastic like surgery

Laceylala

I too have had some squirting issues when I've tried to run on the treadmill. Sometimes mine is better and then it happens at a totally random point when I sneeze or something and then I feel like I should have really listened to the saying about carrying a pair of undies in your purse so in case you get in a wreck, the paramedics don't have to see you in dirty panties. Um...does it apply to when you just accidentally piss yourself too?

My OB told me that I could get a surgery for it but its quite painful. Kegels are supposed to help but I forget to do them.

mmtiernan

I have been doing Kegels for years - no help. I had the talk with the Dr. and got put on meds that didn't help and were $60 month after insurance!! Not worth it. It is so very, very, very frustrating - I can not do jumping exercises and sneezing without wetting takes a tremendous amount of concentration and leg crossing!! I'm ready to go to a urologist about it.

aphroditespalace

lol amazing post, your situation isn't funny but the post was funny as hell lol

I hope the Doc can help you, and you are right you definitely arent alone a lot of women have this issue.

jenbar

yup, after having 10 and 11 pound children, my days of not having to worry about that is OVER! I don't do jumping jacks just for that reason! LOL, gotta love it!

cbirdso

Happens to me just about everytime I take a power walk. After a couple near misses and some embarrasing accidents in publc (no less), I got smart. Love those incontinence pads!

skerjenn

I'll add my confession to the list: I "leak" (as my bf so affectionately refers to it) when I sneeze. I've gotten into the habit of crossing my legs to sneeze or cough - just incase. I'm also twenty nine, moderately active and without children. My grandmother had "the surgery" (whatever that involves) twice in her lifetime... and I've never brought it up with my doctor... partially because it's never on my mind when I'm in her office, and partially because it's something I forget about until I find myself having to change my underwear, again. Boourns to incontinence! You're not alone!

bjerkins

Had uterine fibroids and a cough, sneeze, or laugh would bring on the urine. I had to have a hysterectomy. No fun but I no longer have the problem unless my bladder is ful full full. I don't suggest this as a solution though. There probably is a solution. Go ahead and talk to the Dr.

TickledPurple

yup, after having 10 and 11 pound children, my days of not having to worry about that is OVER! I don't do jumping jacks just for that reason! LOL, gotta love it!

You too huh? My son was 11lb 8oz!
Although I have to say it was worse after my smaller daughter.

Don't be embarrassed about going to the doctor... they've LITERALLY seen and heard everything!

dmcpage

I've been doing kegels for 20 years. I still pee. :-P

igmom

I know someone with this problem, except mostly when she sneezes. She wears Pull-Ups. You know, the things that are used for potty training. They make them for up to a 125 pound person. I swear, I can't tell she's wearing them.

redbedhead

This happens to me all the time! I have Overactive Baldder and Stress Inconteince issue. The best thing that ever happened to me was getting a kidney stone. WHAT? you might be saying, but that Kidney stone forced me to go to a urologist when I was 23 to find out why I had stones so early in life. As a part of the exam they asked about Overactive bladder symptoms, and gave me a prescription for Detrol LA. Now, 14 years later, I only have to worry about Pee accidents when I have a cold or forget to take the pill.

slieber

Happens to me too. I haven't had kids but it still happens. *sigh* I wear sanitary pads for this reason.

ican♥and♥iwill

Ok, I confess, I too piss myself from time to time.

Nothing major like running down the leg kinda thing. More like, oh ****, I'm wet now kinda deal. Like someone else mentioned, it mostly happens with Jillian. (Effffing skinny *kitten* and those jumping jacks!!) Occasionaly when I sneeze too, but I blame that on carrying a child for nine months and 2.5 hours of pushing the monster out. I'm not much of a runner, but when I do attempt it, I've never had that a wetting issue, well, at least not that I notice. I'm usually soaking wet in sweat by the end of my "runs" so, if I do piss myself I don't feel it and just blame the wetness on sweat, which is still a possibility.

I'm no doc, but wouldn't kegals help with this issue? I know it improves your sex by strengthening the vaginal walls, but since the the whole flexing of the kegals feels like you're holding in your pee, I'd think it were all some how related. (Then again, ignorance IS bliss and I'm probably just pulling a whole lot of nothing out of my booty!)

Anyway, I love your sense of humor in it all.

Pants Pissers UNITE!! )

leavinglasvegas

First off, let me just say I love to read everything you write. You are awesome!

Yes, I have to deal with this also. After I had my daughter I tried jumping rope to get back in shape..... I would wear my grandmas special pads for this. Never failed, by the 6th jump, Id pee. Never even felt it coming on. Sometimes to this day, I don't actually feel like I have to go untill its too late. I just make sure that I go every time I finish a glass of water in case it sneaks up on me. Actually, I find that drinking water helps me feel more, if that makes any sense.... I also "leak" in bed. Thankfully just leak, I actually wet the bed till I was 17:embarassed:

Since I started reading this, I've had to go pee twice, lol. And I leaked on the way there.

I have another suggestion related to kegals. Hope this doesn't offend. I used to sell "adult" novelty items at house parties. (Fun job BTW) One thing we sold alot of was these things called Ben Wa Balls. Heres the deal. They are little metal balls both equal in size. You insert them in your area and hold them in as long as you can. Many of the women who purchased them had this problem and they were recommended by their OB's. They are actually for strengthening the kegals, just a tool to let you know just how you are doing. If they fall out, you have a ways to go. If you can keep them in while you mow the lawn, you're golden. I had an office manager that used to put them in and continue working... It was a bit TMI for me, but then I started selling them and understood a little better why she seemed so much happier after wards, lol. (They also have other benefits, sexually, but I won't get this thread shut down, so if you want, you can see here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1797652045459470473#
Don't worry, its not actual video of someone using them, just an explaination.) You can purchase them where ever you buy naughty items.


Now I have to pee again.

Laceylala

Sob I had this really witty post all typed up and then hit something on this ipad to make it disappear.

Ben wa balls huh? I will most def check out the vid tomorrow when I'm bored at work and need a break. Thanks!

Following my first post on this thread I worked out and considering my allergies and drinking water at the gym was pretty dern proud of myself for NOT pissing myself while exercising. Then As I was getting in the car I had a "oh **** I'm gonna snpee (my own term) and my legs are too far apart to cross them fast enough" and ended up driddling as i sat down.

I can only pray that as I am in the downward facing dog tomorrow night I don't snpee myself so hard that i have to leave the room!

jcm214

I started Jillian's 30 Day Shred 2 days ago and can barely do the jumping jacks. I'm 28 and no children. They make me feel like I gotta pee. I had this same problem in bootcamp 8 years ago. But once then I actually did pee myself. Can you imagine going through military training and peeing yourself. Ugh!

Anyway, I'm glad to find out that other women have this problem and I'm not alone. I hope we can all figure out ways to deal.

Ms_Natalie

Hey guys, I havn't really experienced this, although I feel I have the "Urge" type of needing to wee...luckily though, I can safely make it to the loo or hold onto it for a little longer.

I have read something about pelvic exercises that can help tighten the muscles around the bladder and these can be done sitting down at the computer...it's more difficult to do when standing up. I don't really know how to explain them but when you do them...it feels like your bits are tightening up a little...as if you were clenching around a tampon :flowerforyou:

If they really are affecting your lifestyle, I would take a visit to your GP...there is a small innvasive (but not huge) surgical operation they can perform to tighten up the bladder muscles.

BTW...I love how people on the forum are so open about personal problems...if the whole world (espscially the British) had this approach to "embarrasing" problems, many of lives little problems wouldn't be so big at all. (btw, I'm british...so it's a subjective opinion)

All the best guys :flowerforyou:

kelly_a

I am 44 and have had this for many yrs....after having 2 children, 8 1/2 and 10 lbs. Mine only occurs just before my cycle....when I cough, sneeze, jump, jog, squat, etc....I also go to the bathroom just before exercising, and right after I'm done. I will be having my well woman exam next week, so I am gonna ask her about this. Altho I don't consider this a real problem for me, I am interested in her opinion. My MIL takes Detrol for this, but she still has problems...I see her dash quickly to the bathroom a lot.

Thanks for posting this! Wishing you all well!

LotusF1ower

You are definitely not alone on this, I loved your posting too, great sense of humour :laugh: !

I've had a weak bladder since I was 13 years old and laughter would bring about the worst! If I run for the bus or when I used to run on the treadmill, that would make it happen too.

Ironically, when I was 25 I did go to the doctor and told him about this, he was quite surprised that I had had this problem since I was 13 and as, at 25 I had not yet had children he thought I should go to see a Specialist and maybe have an operation to sort it.

Unfortunately, the day before I was due to go and see the Specialist, I found out I was pregnant and I never did go back.

It's a pain though isn't it, especially if you get caught out and need the loo immediately, but there isn't one anywhere! :embarassed:

vhuber

I absolutely hate it!! Saw a specialist in April and was told to have a bladder sling installed, would not be able to lift anything over 25 pounds again and would probably need another reinstalled within ten yrs. and I was to afraid to ask how much the surgery would cost. I have been told most women whom have had children and or large babies which both mine were over 10 pounds have this problem and if you have it before children it is likely to be WORSE after child bearing!! Yes I wear a pad for different occasions and alcohol seems to make it even weaker!! I hope you ask your dr and he finds something that will work for ya, you are way to young for this. Mine has just gotten bad in the last couple of years of starting menopause (that sucks too)! God what we women must endure!!!

deasourus

I have heard that kegal exercises help, here's a link:
http://www.kegel-exercises.com/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2049126_do-kegal-exercises.html

I had this problem bad right after the birth of my baby. And keagals seamed to do that trick for me. I couldn't even to crunches without pissing myself. I had to put off starting a workout routine till like last month when the problem finally diminished. Sometimes i still feel like I'm going to pee but it's a lot less often. Give keagles a try, they really strengthen those muscles down there

deeann1459

I started Jillian's 30 Day Shred 2 days ago and can barely do the jumping jacks. I'm 28 and no children. They make me feel like I gotta pee. I had this same problem in bootcamp 8 years ago. But once then I actually did pee myself. Can you imagine going through military training and peeing yourself. Ugh!

Yes, yes I can... It was the funniest thing I've ever seen. I thought the T.I.'s head was going to explode.
I still tease my friend about it, and he still makes fun of me because he had to help me keep my pants on during low crawls. He always said it was the first time he was trying to keep a girl in her pants =P