Musings on Urinary Incontinence

[paean]

I was okay after Monkey except when I ran with a full bladder. But after Pigeon my ability to retain pee was pretty tenuous for a while. Eventually I got to the surprisingly absorbant panty liner stage, and then to the point where I didn’t regularly leak. On her second birthday I decided that I was recovered enough to just quit wearing pads, and even started thinking I might post something about it getting better just with time.

2 weeks later I got the flu and by day 3 of the cough I was going through my back of the cupboard left over postpartum pads at the rate of a pad every 1-2 fits of coughing. This is despite using the toilet about twice an hour to try to stay completely empty. I was even waking up at night to change my pad repeatedly, although lying down was somewhat helpful.

I’m thankfully back to no cough, no pad. But vaginal wetness freaks me out in a way that was never an issue when I knew it was just vaginal. Now I’m always wondering if I peed my pants, and second guessing my decision to forego extra layers. I also wear almost exclusively black pants.

If I had more time and commitment to doing the exercises, I’d do some pelvic floor rehab with a physical therapist. But it’s just not enough of a priority right now. So for now, it’s good I’m back to regular underwear, and I will just keep crossing my legs when I sneeze.

Comments

[deirdre_aithne]

I envy you. xD I don't have to question, I know I peed a little every time I cough. Or sneeze. Or laugh. Or the wind blows in my direction...

[paean]

I feel you. No one ever told me when I was growing up that women’s pelvic floors get old long before the rest of the woman does.

And cold wind does me in every time too, I’m just really good a bundling up.

[dragonlady7]

You know, I remember as a kid my mom complaining about this, and blaming it on giving birth and me feeling kinda guilty about it, but as a nulliparous woman (and i mean, never even a scare, never so much as had an IUD, nothing has ever passed thru my cervix except shed linings, man) who just passed 40, let me tell you it's not just the kids, it happens anyway. D-: Not as badly, probably, but it's definitely a thing. Colds are fucking miserable in a way they weren't at 35!
Sigh. I should work on those pelvic floor exercises too, but I have a suspicion that it's just. sort of. a thing.