Incontinence: Ask the Expert

Urinary Incontinence and weak, uncontrollable bladder? I have been on medication for my bladder problems for several months and I am not seeing any improvement. Even when I was within my normal weight range  I still had these problems, granted now, I have gained about 100 pounds since then and am  putting more pressure on my bladder and can't seem to lose the weight by any means. But one would think that a prescription medication would at least help "SOME."

I am wetting myself when I sneeze, so now I try to hold back the sneezes which now cause headaches if I do, I constantly am running to the bathroom, even getting up in the middle of the night to use it. Today, at my neurologist's office, I used the restroom 3 times, just in the 1 1/2 hrs I was there. And I used the bathroom once while I was at my PCP's office today for the hour I was there, no, I didn't ask him about this problem, I forgot, I have memory loss.

Any advice anyone could give me aside from losing the weight and doing kegel exercises would be nice, I do kegels all the time and when I do those, I leak too!

Thank You!

Nicole197698

The effect of childhood abuse on bladder function in adults is relatively unstudied.  Recent evidence suggests that there might be an association between overactive bladder and a history of sexual abuse.  

Since you have tried many of the first line therapies for urinary incontinence; Kegel exercises, medications and weight loss, and still have not seen any improvement, I would suggest that you ask your primary care provider for a referral to someone, such as a urogynecologist or female urologist, who specializes in bladder control problems.  In addition, if you have not received therapy for your history of sexual abuse, you should also address this issue with your primary care provider who may be able to refer you for help with this as well.

Your Total Health has an outstanding Sexual Abuse Healing board that you might want to visit, also: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhsexabuse