wet days

[Frickle]

Just when you think you can manage with the pain, fatigue, dizzy spells and cramps, Fibro throws you a curve ball. Welcome to 2024, your new years gift is incontinence. I can be happily sitting at my desk typing when, oops! Or walking to the car and oops! Best one, sleeping in bed with my partner and oops!. Has anyone else experienced anything like this. I’m 41 this is not ok. I seriously can cope with most things with a smile on my face but honestly this one has got to me. 😩

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Morning Frickie, I quite understand it’s not okay😩what has your doctor said about what’s causing this ?yes Fibro throws enough at us then something else comes along , I am hoping the doc can get too the bottom of your problem, in the meantime sending hugs xx

[Frickle in reply to Yassytina]

Thank you Yassytina. I have an appointment on Tuesday. We just can’t seem to grab a break. Happy new year x

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Might not be fibromyalgia causing this - and there are treatments available to help. I wear an incontinence pad as mine is still mild enough not to need medication

[Frickle in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you Hazel_Angelstar. It just seems to be one thing after another at the moment x

[Southport-beach]

Hi Frickle,I had a total hysterectomy in my mid 40's. The operation was long and very difficult. The surgeon was brilliant and managed to remove a very large fibroid but to so she had to move my bladder and warned me that this may result in incontinence. I did have problems following surgery but my Doctor referred me to a physio who specialised in pelvic floor and other exercises to help regain control. They did work and I generally have control now. The odd accident does happen as when I need to go it very quickly becomes very urgent....then I need to avoid coughing, sneezing, laughing.....

It may be worth you trying specialist physio to see if strengthening your muscles in the area will give you at least some control back.

[Frickle in reply to Southport-beach]

Thank you Southport-beach. I also had a radical hysterectomy 3 years ago for endometriosis and was warn of the risks. I haven’t experienced any problem until recently. I will request the specialist physio, thank you. Xx

[Southport-beach in reply to Frickle]

Good luck! It's certainly worth a try!

[healingspirit]

it’s the opps ever mornings

[Smilesalot]

I know exactly what you mean Frickle!.It started in my 30 s. With me.

I'm 56 now and doubly incontinent😑. But not constantly. I sure know I don't like these frequent surprises.

The muscle weakness fibromyalgia and all else makes not worrying a fiction in my life.

I get no help from my Dr. Everything got worse all at once n found myself spending a fortune on incontinence bedding and extra clothes and wipes.

I hope you get listened to and get help with all that!

See an occupational therapist I don't think therapist is the right word brain fog.

I'm waiting to get an assessment.

Good luck sweetie.

I really hope you get help😊

[Horselover82]

Hi this is a new thing for me too 😞

[Sarahvit]

Hi Frickle,

Yes I have had that experience at age 34 a few weeks after I had my son. I was married to my children’s father living out in Wyoming US. Cold country with lots of snow and very rural areas we had just bought meat from a meat truck. I was writing the check while the salesman and my husband were going through the meat. He had just got back into the truck when my husband asked me “did he give us the 🍗🥩?” So I go outside running to catch up to him..oops! Not just a few 💦but a gallon..oops! Yes I know stress incontinence is common during/after pregnancy but not in that amount of volume. I was tested for interstitial cystitis 10-15yrs later after having got to go got to go issues. The test consisted of filling the bladder with 🤔…🧪🧂some liquid (I think containing salt) because it burned like crazy. Sorry this is so long. Yes fibromyalgia likes to invite other conditions to join the party in on the body but I have also discovered that the other conditions will come and go. I have had stress incontinence and woke up to a wet warm feeling in the bed in the last year or 2 but in the last year haven’t experienced any oops. 🙊 Fibromyalgia is a very complex disease with not enough research done on it and just treating symptoms but lately (not sure why) poor chronic pain control treatments for it. I have had this for over 30yrs and seen a lot of changes in my health with fibro and a turning of doctor’s approach to treating it. I did not mean for this long of a post. The bladder oops may improve over time. At age 41 it is not normal (or okay) to have the bladder oops. I suggest talk to your doctor about it and see about a referral to a urologist. Worst case scenario (as my pain doctor would say) there is a bladder stimulator they can test to see if you are a good candidate for. I had one for a few years but my body kept pushing out the leads and the surgeon would have to do a revision to put the leads back in the right place so it wasn’t working well for me. I later learned that implanted things like drainage tubes caused a lot of pain for me but once they came out pain went away. They have medication that also helps with the bladder and also the Kiko exercise seat that strengthens those muscles to stop bladder leakage. I have seen adds on TV at the stay dry center hear in the US.

[Gulfstream_Maggie]

Yep I have the odd ’accident’ now and again. Although I know my pelvic floor is really strong - get told that every time I go for my smear test.

I’m ok most of the time then all of a sudden there’s a feeling of “ letting go” which comes completely out of the blue.

Coughing, laughing, sneezing can sometimes cause issues as previously mentioned. But coughing/sneezing can be unavoidable with post nasal drip. I’m on lansoperazole and nasal spray for that condition!!!

[Bacaloca]

There is a support group called Bladder & Bowel UK. It is worth looking at their website, and you can send for information from them. It sometimes helps just to know how many other people have the same problem, and you can also send for a card to gain entrance to toilets that are not usually open to the public in emergencies.

[Blueoxo]

Hi Frickle, I have a similar problem, dare not cough without crossing my legs. After my third child I found out I had a slight prolapse. I don’t have any obvious external symptoms but my cervix/womb has dropped slightly and now rests somewhat against my bladder. It doesn’t seem to bother me all of the time but going regularly to the toilet and wearing a pantyliner had helped in regard to managing things. Pelvic floor exercises seem to have made the most difference but I forget to keep them up and things relapse before it reminds me to do them again. I hope you find this helpful and good luck in getting to the bottom of what’s causing the problem.

[saj01]

Hi Frikie... I was going to write in about the same thing! I have had frequency problems before I had fibro - as in, when you've got to go... you've got to go, and have been wearing 'tenas' for ages. I was also doing the pelvic floor exercises the clinic recommended and changed to decaf everything and it seemed to settle a bit., but since fibro, more recently it's getting worse so much so there's hardly any warning and often as not I don't make it to the bathroom!! I'm having to wear thicker wider pads as well. So I can understand your concerns. I'm going to have to speak with my GP again and get some medication for it- If you have a look at the incontinence .co.uk website it does say there's a connection between fibro and urinary incontinence... joy of joys. Hope all goes well at the dr's, .

[Fibroplus]

hi I have fibromyalgia ME CFS and about 6 years ago began leaking and each day wearing liners As the years have passed it’s got worse just coughing sneezing etc gushes just comes away from me and I have to go through phases of wearing Tena pants as it’s embarrassing I’ve never related it to any of my illnesses and to embarrassed to tell my dr I will watch your posts see how you get on and try building up the courage only because my dr puts anything and everything down to fibromyalgia Hope you get sorted soon

[LouBea in reply to Fibroplus]

Hi Fibroplus ... I'm not embarrassed anymore. I'd rather wear the pull up pants and protect myself from accidents being obvious. I do my pelvic floor exercises every day however they don't stop the incontinence ... but it's not all the time. Very weird. Sounds like to need to see a different Doctor and keep a diary of when it happens to show them how regular it is. Best of luck.

[Fibroplus in reply to LouBea]

thank you for the advice it seems happen more when my tummy feels bloated and a heavy bearing down feeling I always feel as if the Tena pants are visible shape wise when wearing them It’s just self conscious I think Hope you get sorted soon

[LouBea]

Hi Frickle. Yes I experience incontinence at times. There's no rhyme or reason to it, it just happens. I do my pelvic floor exercises daily but this doesn't make any difference. And when I get a cough or chest infection, oh my goodness, I wear the adult pull up pants all day. Don't know why it happens ... I haven't mentioned it to my GP as there are a few other health issued being investigated right now. I'm sorry that you feel so down about this ... is it all the time? If it is, speak with your GP as there may be something else going on. Best of luck xx

[Frickle]

Good morning all, wow thank you, I wasn’t expecting so many reply’s. I’m comforted to know I’m not the only one experiencing this but sadden to learn that so many others are affected by this or something similar.

I saw my GP and I have been referred to a neurologist, urologist and a gynaecologist. I believe my GP is unsure of the course, so making it someone else’s concern. I will keep you all updated but the NHS waiting lists are very long. Lots of love to you all xx