Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: NRGEE on July 10, 2019, 12:41:47 PM
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:( Have just had the unfortunate experience of having a little accident. Knew I needed the loo- but when I got there, the cleaner had just washed the floor and I wasn't allowed in.
By the time I got to other toilets- it was too late. Soaked my pants and trousers. Am not at home- so couldn't change :-\
Luckily my trousers are dark blue- so it isn't too obvious; but I am v self conscious.
I have had the occasional drip- especially when I get to my front door!! But never anything like this.
Can any of you kind ladies tell me- is urinary incontinence a symptom in perimenopause or of Femoston HRT( I don't have the information leaflet with me).?
I am going to bring a spare pair of knickers and trousers to keep in my locker in case it happens again.
Thanks for any useful comments
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Awww so sorry,how horrible for you,maybe invest in the Tena pants,they're so discreet nowadays,think I'd rather be safe than sorry.
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Laxity caused by a drop of oestrogen levels. Both Mums carried spare undies, it was never discussed but were found in various hand-bags when tidying up when they went into care ::).
Have a look-see at the 'Tena' range on-line - you may get some freebies ;-). Good supermarkets sell them too but the range is mind-boggling :D
No one else knows and we won't tell ........
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Hello,
I don't have this but DO have bladder issues (frequency/irritation etc.) I see a physiotherapist who specialises in women's physio. I am seeing her for a bad back BUT realised through her that physio can be a hugely helpful factor when it comes to peri or meno caused incontinence and other bladder problems. For urge incontinence they will work on helping you strengthen pelvic floor muscles, if you do a quick google search you will see it's a first line treatment for issues like this. I wouldn't resign yourself to Tena products for good, although obviously great advice for the interim. Get help. If they won't provide you with this on the NHS, if you can afford to go private.
I spent two years thinking I was just doomed to have a bad lower back due to the lack of funding and therefore poor physio on the NHS (some sheets of paper with instructions on it.) I am now seeing someone privately and I am finally getting better. I guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't just put up with it.
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Hello NRgee
It is most definitely a peri meno thing!! Ive been the same. Definitely hormonal. Ive a strong pelvic floor...but at certain times in month..omg.....its awful. At the momebt im same and im.on 8 weeks hrt and dont feel.its improved - welll as i said its ok tjen comes then goes...definitwly hormonal flucs. Im wonderinf if i need to up my estrogel to 2 and a half pumps so been.asking in the group for adv. At a bit of a loss at the min. Whilst i appreciate the ladies tena recommendations..
.its not sonething i feel.you should rely on...we can get better help....are you on hrt?
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Had you left it until you were really bursting? This has happened to me when I know I really left it too long and should have gone much earlier. If it is a one off don't worry too much. I have the bladder of an elephant and can go hours sometimes but other times not so long. It is better if you go as soon as you can when you need to. Easier said than done I know. You were not at bursting point then maybe do as the others advise.
Hope you are OK.
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Thanks ladies for all your replies. I am seeing my GP about my mood tomorrow and shall mention what has happened today.
I wasn't bursting for the loo- I just knew I needed to go.
Thanks for the mention re Tena free samples. Have just asked for a free pair of their knickers.
I don't do pelvic floor exercises- but perhaps I should. I have not had children- I know this can sometimes cause stress incontinence.
It was SO embarrassing especially as I was at work. Fortunately I wear a lab coat most of the day- so it covered the damp patch.
Now though- I am going to the loo every hour or two- in case it happens again if I don't. I know this is bad for the bladder and I am best to "go" only when I need to.
I haven't got burning and the frequency is just me going too often just in case- so I haven't got urinary tract infection( at least I don't think so- the GP may do a urine sample?)
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Yes- I have just started HRT. I have been on femoston for 15days
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Go when your bladder begins to feel uncomfortable but not when bursting. The bladder can become lazy ....... so don't go 'in case' but 'when necessary'. I always go B4 travelling even if I know there will be a loo when I get to the store. In case we get stuck in a queue of traffic ::).
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Hi NRGEE
I'm on femoston conti, and when I first started it about 17 months ago, i felt like I needed a wee when I was in bed at night...even though I'd just been. Felt like a uti coming on, but I didn't have it in the day time...which was strange. Then it just disappeared. .....lasted for about 3 weeks or so, if I remember correctly....havnt had it back since.
I'm so sorry to read what happened to you, you must have been traumatised.....never mind honey, these things are sent to try us. Bet it happens all the time to people....hope your ok now...xxxxx
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Hi NRGEE,,
I am not on anything but did start to need the loo when I needed it as opposed to thinking I should go and being able to wait awhile. I had had constant UTI's for a year and also do have a very bad back and felt my bladder had become lazy so knew I needed to do something. I phoned the GP and she suggested I self refer (which we can here) to the Women's Health Physio. I had to wait a bit but when I went she was amazing. I was with her for an hour and a half. She got me to pull in and out and checked how strong it was. I now do an exercise three times a day sitting down which takes no time at all and I will go back to her in September to see what improvement there is. Have to say that after a month I can already feel an improvement when I need to go. Hopefully your GP will suggest this for you too. Good luck tomorrow
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Aw blimey,
Yep has happened to me a lot!! We were laughing at work the other week about graduating from sanitary towels to TENA ......
From what I gather it is pretty common.
I don't know how it happens ( well I do) but one minute your plodding along next omg i've Got to go.... now.oh too late.
Mine has got better recently - upped my oestrogen as well as the Femeston.
GP said over active bladder - well ye , I know that........the wisdom baffles me sometimes.....told do pelvic floors 🙆♀️Ffs, mine are so good they snapped the spec on my last smear🤢.
VA didn't seem to even occur to GP- if it hadn't have got better I would have asked for the ‘gel'- but it comes to something when you have to sort out your own treatment.
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Vagifem helps with night time wanting the loo, so maybe will help anytime,can you try this
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Sgtvhilts - hi. Do you think the increase in estrogel helped youre bladder? How many pumps did you go to.....from? X
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Sgtvhilts - hi. Do you think the increase in estrogel helped youre bladder? How many pumps did you go to.....from? X
Hi,
Now that is the million dollar question. I certainly feel better all round since I upped it, but of course it could all be by suggestion. I might just be that I think it has made it better 🤷♀️. I am not on gel. I am on Femeston sequi 1mg ( for progesterone purposes) then 75mcg sometimes 100mcg patch as well, which equates to about 4 mgs of oestrogen- no wonder I feel better.......
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Thanks birdy. How are you? Inwas thinking of upping my estro to 2 and a half pumps this morning.....been low..tired sore left breast and bladder been awful ..and soo tired. Still bleeding too..4th in 8 weeks of starting hrt...alternate utro but was ok....just last fee days been poo. Any advice.re.upping my estro see if helps x
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Had hysterectomy to “cure†prolapse and forward 5 years or so all symptoms back and incontinence issues. So very upsetting. Got an inflataball pessary to help with prolapse and it cured the incontinence issues - not saying this will help you but possibly something to consider along with hrt and excercises.
completely changed my life - didn't want another op due to mesh etc issues. Worked this out from own research .
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After a week of frequency and urgency I contacted my GP who asked me to bring a urine sample. urine sample was dipsticked at the practice and showed no urinary infection present. BUT blood was found in the urine. I am not having a withdrawal bleed and no spotting on pantyliner or toilet paper. I have 3 more progesterone tablets in my Femoston 1/10 Pack left to take- so am expecting a bleed next week.
GP has sent sample to lab for further analysis. All the other dipstick tests were normal ( glucose/protein etc)
After looking at reputable google sites- I am worried at some of the causes of haematuria(blood in urine).
Have appointment on Monday with GP
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Please don't worry,yes, I know,easier said than done.9 times out of 10 I have traces of blood in my urine when tested and I've had so many examinations done including camera up urethra and nothing,it can just be the slightest of things,including a teeny weeny stone being passed,so please don't think the worst,this has been ongoing for me for 15 years
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Samples often show traces of blood. Good that the sample has been sent away. Get some VA treatment?
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After a week of frequency and urgency I contacted my GP who asked me to bring a urine sample. urine sample was dipsticked at the practice and showed no urinary infection present. BUT blood was found in the urine. I am not having a withdrawal bleed and no spotting on pantyliner or toilet paper. I have 3 more progesterone tablets in my Femoston 1/10 Pack left to take- so am expecting a bleed next week.
GP has sent sample to lab for further analysis. All the other dipstick tests were normal ( glucose/protein etc)
After looking at reputable google sites- I am worried at some of the causes of haematuria(blood in urine).
Have appointment on Monday with GP
I agree with Jaypo on this. I have had microscopic traces for several years. A couple of years ago I had a cystoscopy and then the stress of waiting for a nephrology referral but nothing of concern was found. At that time I didn't know much about VA and the doctors didn't mention it as a cause of haematuria but now suspect that it . I have never had any visible (to me) blood in urine.
Dipstick tests are unreliable and even the lab tests can fail to detect an infection.
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I was sent to a consultant re bladder issues a few years ago. Generally I was OK but if I left things too long then there were a couple of occasions when I wet myself :-\. My pelvic floor wasn't too bad when she checked, but her big question was regarding caffeine. I had to give it up completely plus no more fizzy water.... who knew that it is a bladder irritant? Just mentioning this in case you are a big consemer of either of those things.
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I don't have this problem. But I presume those who do are taking local oestrogen ie. vaginally? It's supposed to keep everything all tickety boo down there! So far, so good for me..... I'm using an estring and a bit of Ovestin on the outside.
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Tnx for sharing.
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If you're going down the panty liner route, take a look at Natracare.com as they are plastic free. Better for the planet!
Some other ladies have great advice with the pelvic floor excercises. These work and can do when watching tv or at desk etc. X
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I have this occasionally. It is not about holding on too long. I can go from thinking it might be a good idea to go to the loo with no real need to full deluge in two or three minutes. It started in peri when I was on the pill, not quite getting to the loo in time, during the no pill weeks so definitely hormone related. Then I had two major accidents - one before starting hrt and the last one before hrt+vagifem.
If I have a problem, then I stop drinking tea and coffee, and drink plenty plain water over a day so that I get a good full bladder (need to be a day when near a loo :-X )
Sometimes I drink a litre of cranberry juice first which is supposed to be of no help whatsoever, but it seems to help me - cranberry tablets didn't. If it is psychological, then that is fine by me.
It happened again recently, and I eventually realised that I had not been using my vagifem sufficiently frequently and once this was sorted, I was back to normal.
The trouble with wearing pads etc is that they make you sweaty and irritated which doesn't help and for me the disasters are so infrequent that it is not worth using them. Same for 'vesicare' - sure that is not worth the side effects.
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Lab tests for blood and UTI came back as " normal- no further action required ". I am relieved.
GP thinks it may be psychological( please see my 1st post of what happened) or I may have overactive bladder.
He prescribed a low dose of oxybutynin- to help relax the bladder. So far(its early days) it hasn't helped.
My psychiatrist thinks it is more likely to be a psychological problem and bladder retraining should help.
I am trying to increase the time I go to the loo from every half hour to every 40mins and build up gradually until I am going just once in 3-4hrs.
I can't believe it is all in my head. I told the psychiatrist this. He was v sympathetic( as was my GP) and said the brain is complex.
Just wanted to update you ladies and thank you for your comments on this topic :)
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Good news re the blood test etc 😊 please let us know how you get on though trying re train your bladder.my friend had an overactive bladder,she was the same,going for a wee every half hour and up about 5 times through the night,exhausting.anyway,good luck xx
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It's a bad habit which can be grown out of ;-). Put me on the slip road towards a UK Motorway and my bladder shrieks even when I've been B4 travelling ::). Then the brain focusses on needing a wee and needing it now! Put me in an unexpected Q of traffic >:( ::).
I bought a shewee contraption 3 years ago: it is still in the packet :D. Re-training in the day when you are near a loo is a good idea. A few more moments between each bathroom visit will re-educate the bladder not to be so irritable. Do drink plenty in the day and don't restrict evening intake as the kidneys will work harder.
Worrying makes the bladder over-active ::). Catch 22?
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Lab tests for blood and UTI came back as " normal- no further action required ". I am relieved.
GP thinks it may be psychological( please see my 1st post of what happened) or I may have overactive bladder.
He prescribed a low dose of oxybutynin- to help relax the bladder. So far(its early days) it hasn't helped.
My psychiatrist thinks it is more likely to be a psychological problem and bladder retraining should help.
I am trying to increase the time I go to the loo from every half hour to every 40mins and build up gradually until I am going just once in 3-4hrs.
I can't believe it is all in my head. I told the psychiatrist this. He was v sympathetic( as was my GP) and said the brain is complex.
Just wanted to update you ladies and thank you for your comments on this topic :)
It may not be in your head at all. Have you read recent articles about the unreliability of urine tests and persistent bladder infections? This is closely connected to frequently needing the loo. I can post you a link from FB if needed.
Also my night time loo visits have gradually improved/reduced since using Vagifem. I started it with aim of reducing UTI's but improved sleep has been an unexpected by product.
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My UTIs weren't :-\ - fortunately.
I leak sometimes when I cough or occasionally laugh. Bugga ..........