Women, do you ever have trouble with urine leakage?

I have problems when I have a bad cough. Have you tried Kegel exercises? They can help if the problem is not too severe. It is very common.

Uhhh… yes.

I chalk it up to giving birth. It’s all become a mystery to me, down there.

No, I have not tried Kegels. I am waiting to see what my doc says about it, as I am also having trouble in another (close by) area.

Kegels.

Okay, so none of you have randomly just had it due to age?

Not unless I’m laughing hysterically at something but that hasn’t changed with age.

You have to strengthen your muscles. Kegel exercises are the the only way. It may also have to do with other pressures on those muscles so a thorough check up in needed.

If you have not had children or recent surgery or menstrual problems, or other balance problems (sorry, but MS comes to mind here) my mind tends to go toward nerve problems. See your doctor. At 46 THAT IS WAY too young to dismiss it for ‘age related’... press them for more tests.

Sometimes if I sneeze or cough hard.

Occasionally, but, what is REALLY BAD for me now is, after a life time of riding, I wet my freaking saddle when I ride. I wear a pad, which I HATE, but better than not feeling like you have to go and then, getting the piss pounded out of you at a choppy trot. lol
Getting older sucks!
Awhile back I made sure I didn’t have anything to drink for a few hours, went to the bathroom and as soon as I urged my horse into a lope I wet my saddle. I was SO mad!

I had this problem and doctor told me I had 3 options: Kegels, medication or surgery.

Are you obese? Have you had a hard delivery (childbirth)?

I didn’t have the problem terribly bad, but bad enough that I felt this was not something someone in her 40’s should have. I’d laugh, cough, sneeze and a few drops would come out. When my bladder was full, a few drops would come out. I would wear a sanitary pad and that took care of the issue but I felt it was disgusting. From what the doctor said, it was probably partly due to obesity and partly due to childbirth (tough delivery, 48 hours). Probably partly due to age, too. Around age 43 or so I had the sling put in. Great surgery, ambulatory, you’re in the morning and out by afternoon. I packed my stuff, put it in the car and drove to vacation two days later (4 hour ride). Painkillers post surgery: none. Results: 50% improvement.

A year later I had weight loss surgery. Improvement with urine problem after that surgery 100% gone.

Yes here to a hard birth years ago, the age factor, and while I have done kegels over the years it is impossible to do kegels while straddling a horse.
‘The physics just isn’t there. haha

Kegels is an exercise, just like any other. If you want to learn to run fast you do leg lifts to strengthen your legs. You don’t do leg lifts during the race.

@Dutchess_III I know, I just meant that regardless, when your legs are spread wide open and you have little control. haha

Actually, yeah you can do kegles on a horse! I could, anyway.

Tell me I’m not the only one doing kegles!

@Dutchess_III You’re not the only one doing Kegels!

At the very end of my pregnancies, I would pee a little if I laughed really hard. Kegels seem to do the trick.

Yes, i am quite overweight, so I am hoping that is the problem. I am working on that (yet again). But I do intend to press my doc until all other possibilities are explored. Thank you all for your candid answers.

@anniereborn: Not sure about how overweight you are, but if it takes a few years to lose it, it’s going to take at least that long to get rid of the urinary issue. That’s why I recommend weight loss surgery. Voila – problems gone pretty instantly, if the surgery is for you. I understand that it’s a big decision, a very personal decision and not something that is suitable for all.

@jca If my insurance would cover it (they won’t) I would consider it.

Why on earth wouldn’t they cover it??

Well for one thing I am on Medicare/Medicaid. I’d have to be suffering the effects of being obese. A friend of mine (in his 60s) basically had to have all kinds of related illnesses before they would consider it (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea). I am lucky in that I don’t have any of that. I need to get my ass in gear and manage my eating, while I am still “healthy”.

Wait, so you have to wait until you get diabetes before you can get the surgery. That way they can pay for on going management of diabetes for the rest of your life AND pay for the surgery? That makes NO sense.

@Dutchess_III You think the insurance companies/health systems make sense?

No, they don’t. Maybe your Dr. could come up with a medically sound reason why it needs to be done.

@anniereborn: I don’t believe you are correct. Just being at least 75 lbs overweight will qualify you. Plus you probably have a bunch of symptoms that are related to obesity which you did not think about (like stress incontinence as discussed above). I qualified and I was overweight but not diabetic, no hypertension, no high cholesterol. The goal is to have the surgery before those things happen, because once those things happen, the insurance company (which includes Medicaid) has to pay big big bucks.

@jca Well IF it is stress incontinence, that would be the only symptom. Was it Medicaid that paid for yours? I seriously would consider it.

This is what Medicare has to say about it.

and

This is what Medicaid says.

Sadly, that won’t cover me

I’ll have you all know I have been doing kegels all day again.
Maybe I’ll invent the maxi pad saddle for incontinent middle aged women. Inserts in your seat. haha
Hey….I bet I could be onto something here.

I’m not very ‘pro’ weight loss surgery. But I think there is hope for anyone who truly wants to lose weight. Keep moving and use food to respect your body, not comfort emotions or reward yourself. The small movements needed to work on your pelvic floor to strengthen your muscles should be very manageable, regardless of your size. Keep moving yourself. Walk instead of drive when ever you can.
The only time I had trouble with peeing and sneezing was after my son’s birth and sometimes, after a really bad UTI I can have problems ‘holding’.

@anniereborn: I had regular health insurance, not Medicaid or Medicare. What I recommend if you are interested in it is to see a weight loss surgeon (a good one who does many surgeries, specializes in WLS and is a Health Grades Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence) and they have ways and ideas as to how to get things approved and expeditiously.

I don’t (not yet anyway) but it is very common. Especially common right after delivering a baby vaginally. Some women get their continence back after a few weeks or months after the birth.

A lot of women only have trouble when they cough, sneeze, exercise, laugh, etc.

Sucks.

Try kegels.

I figure orgasms possibly help too, but that’s my own made up in my head, I have no idea if it’s true, idea.

Out of curiosity, which of these do you not meet?

BMI (body mass index) of 35 or greater – What’s your BMI?

At least one co-morbidity – This is a serious illness directly related to your obesity.
i.e. sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

You must have documented evidence that you’ve been obese for the last 5 years.

Documented participation in a medically supervised weight loss program. Typically, you must show that you have participated and failed more than one program.

A letter from your physician recommending or supporting weight loss surgery.

Passed a psychological evaluation.

All other treatable medical diseases have been ruled out as a possible cause for your obesity. Adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid screening tests have been completed and are normal.

(Pretty sure orgasams = Super Kegels, @JLeslie! :)

*At least one co-morbidity – This is a serious illness directly related to your obesity.
i.e. sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

*Documented participation in a medically supervised weight loss program. Typically, you must show that you have participated and failed more than one program.

*A letter from your physician recommending or supporting weight loss surgery.

*Passed a psychological evaluation…
it’s not that I haven’t “passed” it’s just that I’m not sure who is supposed to be doing that, or what it entails.

@anniereborn Sounds to me like you need to treat this like a test that you need to study for.

1. I’m sure your doctor could track down at least one co-morbidity issue.

2. Take the time to participate in a supervised weight loss program. I don’t know if Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers would count.

3. Get a letter from your doctor, who, BTW, is the one who needs to refer you to a psychologist for an exam.

So you have hoops to jump through. Jump through ‘em!

1. How is my doctor going to “track down” something that isn’t there?
2. I do not have the money for a supervised weight lost program like WW or Jenny Craig.

But have you looked into other weight loss programs? I don’t know what all is out there. I’d also call the insurance company to ask what they considered “supervised,” and explain your financial restrictions too. They may have an idea for you.

Frankly I don’t enjoy hitting my head against brick walls. Beyond anything else, my doctor can NOT make up some serious illness related to my weight. I think I’d rather spend that time and energy working on my diet and exercise .

Just tryin’ to help.

@anniereborn

If you talk to them nice enough I’m sure the state will make a special exception and bend their rules just for you.

I wasn’t’ suggesting that at all @Darth_Algar. I was suggesting that she talk to them to get specifics on what they mean by a “supervised” weight loss program. They’re also used to dealing with low income folks so there might be a program out there for low income folks. Or call your local welfare department to find out what is available.

You don’t know if you don’t ask.

As someone who’s “Been there, done that” when you go to the weight loss surgeon, believe me they hook you up. You are not on your own trying to figure out the system or what needs approval and where you get tests done.

The WLS (Weight loss surgeon) office refers you to a psychologist. Typically this psychologist is someone who works with them, knows what the insurance companies are looking for and gears the test results toward what is needed.

I had no comorbidity but I did have the BMI and I also talked to the WLS’s nutritionist about past diets I have been on that failed. There’s no proof required. Nobody says if you don’t have receipts showing participating in Weight Watchers you don’t qualify. They take your word on it.

Like I said, insurance companies know that you may not have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure NOW but you WILL in the future if you keep it up, and the insurance companies would rather pay 10 to 30 thousand for pre-surgery, surgery and post- surgery rather than a lifetime of treating you for diabetes or something with the amputations, medications, hospitalizations, sleep apnea treatments, etc. etc.

You don’t need to study for anything and you don’t need anything more than to go to a qualified weight loss surgeon and his office staff will guide you through your insurance (in this case, Medicaid/Medicare) requirements. That’s all you need to do. They want your business and they make things as easy as possible for you.

If anyone has had weight loss surgery while ONLY on Medicare and Medicaid and no serious weight related illnesses, I’d be happy to hear from you.

It’s nice to say the insurance companies will work with you, but I’ve seen from friends and family of mine how inflexible the state can be.

But it’s worth a try.

I, too, feel it’s worth a try, instead of saying “they’re going to be inflexible.”

Geez, you two, stop hounding the woman. You’ve said your piece now back off.

Hounding? Who’s hounding? To me, hounding is saying “are you doing it? When are you doing it?” Nobody’s doing that.

@jca You and @Dutchess_III are hounding her. You said your piece six times in this thread. The OP stated why that wouldn’t work for her, and you two just won’t let it drop. That’s hounding her.

@marinelife Thank you. Seriously. I thank everyone for the suggestions. But, please let this drop now!