Incontinence/Bladder Control: Causes & Cures

[honeybee]

Sorry for the inconvenience if it has been started already.

My problem only happens once a month when I am menstrating.  For the past 3 months, I have had a problem with muscle control over my bladder when I am on that time of the month.  I have to stick close to the bathroom as I do not get very much warning when I have to pee.  It is like I am losing all sense of feeling in that area.  And it only happens during my time of the month.

Does anyone know what may be causing this and how to cure it?

Thank you

Honeybee

[ShabbyChic]

Kegals?

[honeybee]

I have been trying them, but to no avail. 

I am also doing pilates every morning.  The only thing that has changed for me lately is the pilates and inroducing a lot healthier diet.

Honeybee

[healthnut]

I have been trying them, but to no avail. 
Honeybee

Ditto 

I've heard that it means they aren't being done right, but its kind of hard to figure out what your doing wrong. 

[healthybratt]

I have been trying them, but to no avail. 
Honeybee

Ditto 

I've heard that it means they aren't being done right, but its kind of hard to figure out what your doing wrong. 

I might be able to help with this one.  If you don't know how to do a kegal, you should sit on the potty and begin to pee.  Then stop.  Then start again and stop again until you have pinpointed the muscle that controls this.  After a few practices on the potty, you should be able to find the muscle and do them without having to potty first.  As the muscle begins to strengthen, you'll be able to feel the contraction very high up the canal.  I had no idea what a kegal was 20 years ago but read an article that said to learn by using this method.  It worked for me.

[mexmarr]

How many and how often should we do these?  I have a little bladder, and it leaks.  I'd like to get motivated to do kegals.  Right now I think about it once or twice a weeek, and do them, but I don't think that is enough to count for anything.

[AgainstTheGrain]

According to my midwife do AT LEAST 10 sets 0f 10 every day FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!

HB is right on how to find which muscle to use. My midwife also said that you want to think of it like an elevator. Start at the bottom floor going up (squeezing) for a count of 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, then slooooooowly back down for another 5 second count. At first you may not be able to do the slow count back down ( I couldn't , and it's still hard), but you'll work up to that.

Hope that helps!!

[cjanderin]

Hmmm ... never heard the word 'Kegal' before.  It's a lot easier than what we call them in NZ - pelvic floor muscle exercises - oh so original!!

They do need to be done a lot.  It helps if you get yourself into a routine of doing them ... here's a couple of ideas -

Every time you stop at at the traffic lights
Every time you walk past the toilet door
Every time you open the fridge
Whenever you are hanging out the washing
During every set of ads on tv
etc etc

They are so good for that part of your body - they make night-time activities better , they help out with labour (because your muscles are stronger they are better at pushing out baby!), and they help with bladder control.

To help you remember to do them ... choose what your "reminder" will be ... eg. every time you hang out the washing ... then put a note or a big letter K (or PFME  ) on the washing line to remind you.  Or inside the fridge ... or on your dashboard in the car ... on the tv ...

Good luck!

[healthybratt]

How many and how often should we do these?  I have a little bladder, and it leaks.  I'd like to get motivated to do kegals.  Right now I think about it once or twice a weeek, and do them, but I don't think that is enough to count for anything.

Once you get the hang of it, you can do them anywhere, anytime.  You can sit and do as many as you can while reading in WTM.  Then when someone says what are you doing?  You can answer "I'm exercising"   

[seekingtruth]

I think it is very helpful to Post "K"'s around the house, the back of my hand, the steering wheel, the computer screen to remind myself.  It may look silly but is a great way to develop the habit.  A small act with multiple benefits.  Since I am expecting #5 I have been trying to get back in the habit myself.  Thanks for the reminder.  Tammy

[keeperathome]

Hello,

I am wondering if anyone out there has had bladder incontinence and if so what was the remedy?  My sister has just been told she has bladder incontinence and will need to see a specialist to see if she needs surgery or some sort of spling to hold up her bladder.  I am under the assumption that this could be cured with Kegal exercises.  She leaks only when her bladder is full and she can feel her bladder "falling through" although she can push it up too, it just doesn't stay.  That is why I think that if she just strengthens her muscle, then her bladder will not fall through anymore.  Is there anyone out there that has had this problem and than worked it out with kegal exercises? 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

[4myhoonie]

How many and how often should we do these?  I have a little bladder, and it leaks.  I'd like to get motivated to do kegals.  Right now I think about it once or twice a weeek, and do them, but I don't think that is enough to count for anything.

Once you get the hang of it, you can do them anywhere, anytime.  You can sit and do as many as you can while reading in WTM.  Then when someone says what are you doing?  You can answer "I'm exercising"   

LOL!!! HB you're a scream!  i need to do these, can't do much physical activity if i have to go at all.     or i have just a bit of a leak.   

[Whiterock]

Hello,

I am wondering if anyone out there has had bladder incontinence and if so what was the remedy?  My sister has just been told she has bladder incontinence and will need to see a specialist to see if she needs surgery or some sort of spling to hold up her bladder.  I am under the assumption that this could be cured with Kegal exercises.  She leaks only when her bladder is full and she can feel her bladder "falling through" although she can push it up too, it just doesn't stay.  That is why I think that if she just strengthens her muscle, then her bladder will not fall through anymore.  Is there anyone out there that has had this problem and than worked it out with kegal exercises? 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

I have a few thoughts on this subject that I have not researched but...

I know for certain that when I'm having a Candida flareup I have problems with incontinence - when the Candida is under control, I don't.

Also, I believe that in some women it is a structural thing, because the bladder walls are week and are not holding up like they should. In this case, I've been wondering if a low carb diet and elimination of all vegetable oils (other than olive and coconut) and trans fats / hydrogenated oils would help.

Research on other subjects has shown me that certain oils and fats severely compromise cell walls, but saturated fats make for strong yet flexable and permeable cell walls.

Saturated fats provide the appropriate stiffness and structure to our cell membranes and tissues. When we consume a lot of liquid unsaturated oils, our cell membranes do not have structural integrity to function properly, they become too "floppy," and when we consume a lot of trans fat, which is not as soft as saturated fats at body temperature, our cell membranes become too "stiff."

Quote from HERE

How this affects the various organs and systems of the body is what I need to look into but my assumption is that if the cell walls are "floppy", the organ's muscle wall will be weak (seeing as it is made up of cells) -- or if the cell walls are too stiff to properly function and reproduce, then the muscle wall will also not function properly and may be thin and "structurally" weak.

And from other reading I've done on strengthening the stomach and intestinal walls, I learned that a low carb diet triggers the body to produce more growth hormone, which brings the muscle walls of your internal organs back up to their proper thickness.

This new muscle-mass would need to be exercised but since the bladder is not exactly a "lazy" organ, so I would think that would happen naturally.

Just my

WR

[khix]

Does the need to urinate frequently go along with incontinence?  Are the symptoms related to one another? 

Will kegals help frequent urination as well?  (and not just leakage?)

[mykidsmom]

Does the need to urinate frequently go along with incontinence?  Are the symptoms related to one another? 

Will kegals help frequent urination as well?  (and not just leakage?)

I've not ever heard of urge being related to leakage.  When you have the urge to urinate do you produce urine or is there basically nothing but a trickle?  If it's just urge you may want to look at the Interstitial Cystitis thread.  If you're actually urinating frequently you might look at your blood sugar numbers and see how they are.  Frequency where you actually produce urine can be blood sugar related.

patti

[khix]

  If you're actually urinating frequently you might look at your blood sugar numbers and see how they are.  Frequency where you actually produce urine can be blood sugar related.

patti

Hmmm, ok, that makes sense.  High blood sugar could be an issue.  I will look into that.  Thanks!

[Julie G]

Sorry to jump late into this conversation but I'm having serious issues. 

A few weeks ago, I ran a 5K and seriously....I had wet my pants down to my knees.  I didn't even realize it  until I got to close to the finish line.  I was mortified!   So, I decided to schedule an appointment with the urologist to see about getting surgery, (the Kegal thing just doesn't work for me - I've tried believe me!)

So I go in, he prescribes me Detrol just to go through standard protocol.  He said he didn't think it would work but we have to go through these steps to see if it does - probably because of insurance. 

Now let me say I hate taking medication!  I am so opposed to them but I figured I'd take the Detrol just to get to the goal, (surgery and a better bladder).  The very next day, the urgency was gone.  Completely gone!  I was shocked and disappointed in a way.  My bladder felt numb, (I say numb because I've always felt sensation & aware of my bladder - I can't explain it but with the Detrol I felt normal rather than how I always use to feel).

I'm so sorry this is long....I still leak when exercising so I do think there are "structural"  issues since the birth of my kids.  My whole life I've had incontinence issues, as  kid I wet my pants many times and was so embarrassed, it's always been an issue with me.  I don't want to be on Detrol for the rest of my life, but you have no idea the difference it has made....I feel so much better! 

Does anyone have ANY information on herbally treating incontinence?  I've also read that Detrol will make you lose your hair....I don't want to take this medication but it is such a relief to not have the urgency I've always had.

Suggestions?

Also, I'm on a low-carb diet, we eat very healthy and exercise A LOT!    What gets me is that this has been happening to me since I was VERY young.  I don't understand why.

[healthyinOhio]

What gets me is that this has been happening to me since I was VERY young.  I don't understand why.

Undetected allergies could be a cause of your incontinence. Kegals never worked for me, either, until I purchased a v*ginal weight.  It made my muscles stronger in that area.  Here is more info:
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,2219.msg207508.html#msg207508

[savedbygrace]

A few weeks ago, I ran a 5K and seriously....I had wet my pants down to my knees.  I didn't even realize it  until I got to close to the finish line.  I was mortified!   So, I decided to schedule an appointment with the urologist to see about getting surgery, (the Kegal thing just doesn't work for me - I've tried believe me!)

Now let me say I hate taking medication!  I am so opposed to them but I figured I'd take the Detrol just to get to the goal, (surgery and a better bladder).  The very next day, the urgency was gone.  Completely gone!  I was shocked and disappointed in a way.  My bladder felt numb, (I say numb because I've always felt sensation & aware of my bladder - I can't explain it but with the Detrol I felt normal rather than how I always use to feel).


Does anyone have ANY information on herbally treating incontinence?  I've also read that Detrol will make you lose your hair....I don't want to take this medication but it is such a relief to not have the urgency I've always had.

I know the feeling of always 'feeling' your bladder. Ive also had problems like this. I can walk for exercise but no way I could run that much without peeing myself. Before I trusted in Jesus, I drank a lot, and inevitably peed myself. Ive had a weak bladder since I was a child. Now my little girl has it! I am also looking for natural remedies for this. Ive been told silica but haven't looked into it too much yet. If anyone has anything, please let me know

[savedbygrace]

Ok, I found something! Here goes:

Compounded Plantain/Buchu
A Urinary Incontinence Formula

CONTENTS

Fresh Plantain Leaf and Corm (Plantago lanceolata), African Buchu Leaves (Barosma betulina), Fresh Corn Silk (Zea mays), Fresh Horsetail Grass (Equisetum arvense), Fresh St. Johnswort Flower Buds (Hypericum perforatum), Fresh Arnica Flowers (Arnica latifolia), Fresh Thuja Leaf (Thuja occidentalis)

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

The herbs in this compound act to strengthen the musculature and tone the membranes of the urinary system. The soothing and restorative properties of these herbs relieve irritation and weakness of the urinary tract.

INDICATIONS

This compound is specifically indicated for urinary incontinence in both children and adults. Also may be used as a restorative tonic to strengthen the musculature of the pelvic organs.

USES/DOSAGE

Add 20-30 drops of extract to a small amount of warm water and take 3 to 4 times daily for up to 2 to 3 months. Children's dose should be lowered to 5-15 drops 3 to 4 times daily and taken for 1 to 2 months.

CONTRAINDICATIONS/CAUTIONS

This compound should not be taken during pregnancy.

[herbalmom]

What gets me is that this has been happening to me since I was VERY young.  I don't understand why.

Undetected allergies could be a cause of your incontinence.

I second allergies ESP since now your DD is having the same issues. Have a ELISA done- most likely you will find that you rate high on something you eat everyday. Check mykidsmom's posts for a crash course all about the ELISA test. She's the WTM expert on it. 

As far as the additional problems since childbirth- there could be structural issues as well & for that you might want to look into the v*ginal weight that HiO mentioned. HTH Blessings ~herbalmom

[blessedmama]

Savedbygrace where does one get this stuff at?  Thanks

[mykidsmom]

Sorry to jump late into this conversation but I'm having serious issues. 

A few weeks ago, I ran a 5K and seriously....I had wet my pants down to my knees.  I didn't even realize it  until I got to close to the finish line.  I was mortified!   So, I decided to schedule an appointment with the urologist to see about getting surgery, (the Kegal thing just doesn't work for me - I've tried believe me!)

This is EXACTLY what happens to my son when he gets dairy (or even eats beef because dairy comes from beef).  And he will have no idea that he is wet.  Somehow, when this allergic food is eaten it completely cuts off the brain/bladder connection.  Sometimes it takes my DS a week to stop it, sometimes a month.  Depending on just how much dairy he would have gotten (we make absolutely every attempt to make sure he gets none because, how embarrassing for a little boy). 

I would suggest you quickly cut ALL dairy ( including butter) and see what happens in 30 days.  Then eat some dairy and run again and see if this same thing happens.  I'm pretty sure I can predict the results for you.  Would recommend you get an ELISA test done also. 

IF you have some minor bladder prolapse (I do - kegals never worked for me either) there is a great book called Saving the Whole Women.  It will likely help put things back into place naturally.  But it won't take care of an allergy.  Those are two separate issues.

patti

[healthybratt]

http://bulkherbstore.blogspot.com/2009/07/bladder-spasms.html