Wetting the bed - what can I do?

Thank you for your kind responses. I'm not taking any medication and it's not really been a sudden thing - I've had leaks and a little trouble holding on since the birth of my second child. I haven't had until recently all these night time accidents and wetting myself without any sensation - but I guess it is just playing up a bit more than usual.

I spoke to my GP but it was a new one i don't know and he said that this is just normal after childbirth and if I keep doing Kegel exercises it will improve. Is it cheeky to go back and ask for a second opinion??

Hi Izzy,

1st please don't panic about this and try as many alternatives to surgery as you can-

Unfortunately childbirth-although natural- does change us.

The loss of sensation sounds like some nerve injury - but of course i don't know what your labour involved or how long it is since your last baby - but your body can heal.

Remove all foods and drinks that contain caffeine and bladder irritants.

As earlier said and confirmed by Kegal - please speak to a sympathtetic incontinence team first - your GP can refer you to them - but i think you can also self refer. I did try a 'urethral tampon' which worked really well - 'FemSoft' - which the bladder and bowel team can give you a prescrition.

I just want to to say that i feel that surgery must be your LAST resort - and try to find a sympathetic female practitioner if that's what you finally choose.

Hugs

Thanks for the surgery advice - the idea of it totally freaks me out! I'm worried about the Idea of nerve damage, it sounds really serious. My last baby was 19 months ago and it was a normal birth with no complications (although quite a long labour).

Hi Izzy, The GP is right, but the trick is getting the exercises right. If you go back to your GP and ask for a referral to a womans Physiotherapist they will be able to examine you and tell you where the weakness is. They should be able to guide you in exercises that sound simple, but if the floor is weak - which your's is - you wont feel the muscles to move them. It's a catch 22 situation.

Shout to your GP, get a referral, and do the exercises, it will work out. You have to be proactive n your recovery for this and it is your pelvic floor 'crying out' for attention.

Your alternatives?

Ignore - you could/will probably get a prolpase, it will not get better on its own, you have to be proactive in your recover here.

Medications - they wont strengthen a weak pelvic floor, and the side effects can sometimes be worse than any benefits.

Surgery - listening to your symptoms, this is not a surgical matter, but if you down the surgery routs you will be backto square 1 with a weak pelvic floor and the prolems associated with a pelvic floor surgery.

The Physio assessment can tell what damage you had during the births of your children, but you also have to manage your weight, correct your posture, do pelvic floor exercises, take Vitamion D, and tackle constipation if you  have it.

You'll be an expert at the end of this - but you'll also be physically and mentally stronger!

Good Luck!

Thank you - I agree that waking up doesn't work. I read this on the NHS site, but it doesn't seem to make a difference for me. Most of the time I do wake up needing to go, but then I often don't get to the loo in time. A few times a week I'll wake up not having felt anything and I'll be wet through. Today on the way home from work I had a little snooze on the train and when I woke up I realised my trousers and the seat were soaked through. This was in spite of wearing two pads. Some poor person probably sat on the seat before realising too - I felt sooo bad!

Oh Izzy thats awful.?

My worst moment came when i was shopping. I was walking round Tescos veg section basically weeing myself...i couldn't get to the loo quick enough. I wanted to cry. I then decided enough was enough. I was fed up with being fobbed off with tablets. I needed more...Know one should have to put up with what most of us put up with.

Pad yourself up with whatever you feel is right for you. Hold your head up high n wear long tops!! 😉 lol (cover your bum area!!)

(Sorry Izzy i'm not making light of our situation but sometimes you've gotta laugh about it if not you'd cry)

Good luck x x

Oh, how awful! So sorry for you :-( Good tip about the long tops, I will bear that in mind. 

Do you mind me asking, did you ever find that you just wet yourself without even feeling an urge? This happened to me twice - once when I tried to pick up three bags of supermarket shopping at once and once when DD bounced on top of me (she is a fairly hefty four year old, mind you!). It wasn't just like a little leak, it was like I started properly weeing but I didn't feel any urge beforehand and I couldn't stop it coming out once it had started. I don't know if that makes any sense at all! The GP I spoke to said it's definitely stress incontinence and nothing to worry about, but it seems weird to me.

Hi Izzy....oh yes well sort of!!

I get a little teeny warning n then there's no stopping it. Thats why i'm padded up 24/7. The incident i said about was a prime example. I just about know n then there's no stopping. Mine is urge incontinency. I've never had children so my pelvic floor should be brilliant!!

I would deffinatley go back to your doctor. It's a horrible embarrassing problem that needs sorting. I can only comment on what i've had but i've found that the botox n acupuncture worked for me.

Hope you get sorted Izzy x x