Stress incontenance

[Harry19]

Can lupus cause stress incontinance ? Suffered for years but since my diagnosis wondering if it’s related . Never mentioned it to my Rhumatology team as pain and fatigue were the main issues . But think I will mention it next time we meet xx

[Spanielmadlady]

Lupus can affect the kidneys.write down every thing you can think of to tell your rheumatologist even if you dont think its relevant as it may mean something to them

[sarahsch]

Hi Harry19,

This and a number of other papers suggests it can;

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I had long suspected it. I have incontinence on and off which I never suffered before, even after the children were born, although I also have features of Scleroderma.

One cause, the article suggests, is a thickened bladder wall which I have. Found after a week of peeing large quantities of blood.

I don't think there is much to be done about it unless it becomes very severe. I try to keep the pelvic floor muscles as strong as I can. Won't help to have a second problem in the area.

Hope this helps.

Sarah x

[Singing_fairy]

Hi Harry19,

I’m a pelvic health specialist physiotherapist - so I treat incontinence daily. Stess incontinence is caused primarily by weak pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor are muscles susceptible to fatigue like any other muscle. They are also the only muscles that need to work at about 30% of their power at all times to ensure you maintain continence.

There is research to suggest people with lower vitamin D levels are more susceptible to stress incontinence also so it is important to ensure you are having the correct levels.

As regards treatment - I would suggest you speak with your GP and ask for a referral to a pelvic health physiotherapist who can ensure you are performing the exercises correctly and guide you through improving them, whilst you wait though you can

start some pelvic floor exercises.

I’ve attached a website which contains leaflets produced by the pelvic health physio organisation to help you get started. I hope it helps.

80% of patients who do regular pelvic floor exercises find a resolution to their symptoms and don’t require any further treatment. So it is well worth starting.

There is also an app called NHS Squeezy. It’s £2.99 to download but it will guide you through the exercises and help keep you on track. Their is a male and a female version so please download the correct version for you. As the anatomy is slightly different 😉

pogp.csp.org.uk/information...

All the best

[GERY in reply to Singing_fairy]

Hi Singing_fairy I am taking water tablets could this be the cause of stress incontinence

[Singing_fairy in reply to GERY]

I highly doubt it. There are two main types of incontinence. Stress caused by weak muscles, and urgency which is often a disfunction with the bladder’s sensory mechanism.

Urgency and frequency occur when the bladder senses it’s full before it is at it’s capacity. Water tablets mean you produce more water so if you have urgency and frequency symptoms you will experience these symptoms more often simply because you are producing more urine and therefore more need to empty your bladder more often.

If you are experiencing bladder symptoms I would suggest you speak to your Gp and ask for a referral to a specialist physio or urogynaecologist or urologist depending on who best suits your needs and the local geographical NHS policy.

Hope that helps

X

[GERY in reply to Singing_fairy]

Thank you Singing_fairy I will take your advice

[Harry19 in reply to Singing_fairy]

Thank you so much this is really helpful xx

[CecilyParsley]

Hi Harry, I was never incontinent before my diagnosis but it has got progressively worse with stress and urge incontinence. I have tried medication, been to a continence physio, bought a Kegel 8 but it is a huge problem for me. I am so sorry that you are suffering too.