Anonymous wrote:Okay OP here. A year later, nothing has improved. I have lost 20 lbs and no impact. I go for 2-4 mile walks frequently and soak an entire bladder leak long/heavy flow pad, and sometimes even that can't contain everything. I tried 3-4 PT but I truly saw no path for improvement with cat/cow and basic things she was recommending.

I want to talk to my dr about surgery, and considering taking short term disability / FMLA to do recovery right (unlike a c section where I picked my 1 year old up within 2 days, which is maybe part of the reason why Im here?).

Has anyone had surgery and is HAPPY with the experience? I've read lots of negative things about mesh and slings. Or can someone detail their daily life wit a pessiary? Would just love insight on moving beyond PT into surgery options.

Thanks all.

You probably have a prolapse. I have one and pee all the time.

Do not allow yourself to think anything you did (or didn't do) caused it (I.e. picking up your child after a c section).

There's lots of research that shows prolapses are genetically influenced and have to do with your connective tissue. Did your Mom have vaginal births and have a prolapse?

Don't do the mesh sling. Yes, there are doctors that will still do it but it has @ 15% failure rate and when it fails the consequences are dire and irreversible.

Bulkamid worked great for me. It's like a filler in your urethra. Dr. Shobha Sikka in Friendship Heights was honest with me about the options and reality of outcomes. It all sucks but you should be able to make it somewhat better. How much? That just depends on your body.

Also, don't let these other people or doctors send you around to invasive pelvic floor PT. With the severity of symptom you're experiening, it's not going to help.

I atleast can now run 4-4 miles (wearing black pants/shorts solo and outdoors) and do a 45-60 minute workout class without drenching myself. And I just leave immediately and shower after. I'm happy with the compromise.

Schedule a visit with a urologist who specializes in female urology. You don't have to live with Thai, you have medical, surgical, and therapeutic options.

Forget PT and get the surgery! Geesh.

Yes to pelvic floor therapy and you can start by looking up PFT yoga exercises.

I learned a lot of helpful pelvic floor exercises from the Buff Muff founder! I subscribed to the most basic level of her app, but in hindsight I could have just watched most of her free content on her youtube channel and website

https://www.buffmuffapp.com/

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a new doctor. This is no way to live, this one has blown you off for a year, go see someone else, tell them the non surgical options have failed and you aren't living like this any more.

Yes you need a new doctor. There are many ways to address your problem. I second the recommendation upthread for Nicolette Horbach.

I think you need a new doctor. This is no way to live, this one has blown you off for a year, go see someone else, tell them the non surgical options have failed and you aren't living like this any more.

Okay OP here. A year later, nothing has improved. I have lost 20 lbs and no impact. I go for 2-4 mile walks frequently and soak an entire bladder leak long/heavy flow pad, and sometimes even that can't contain everything. I tried 3-4 PT but I truly saw no path for improvement with cat/cow and basic things she was recommending.

I want to talk to my dr about surgery, and considering taking short term disability / FMLA to do recovery right (unlike a c section where I picked my 1 year old up within 2 days, which is maybe part of the reason why Im here?).

Has anyone had surgery and is HAPPY with the experience? I've read lots of negative things about mesh and slings. Or can someone detail their daily life wit a pessiary? Would just love insight on moving beyond PT into surgery options.

Thanks all.

Anonymous wrote:Pelvic floor PT

Yes ask for this specifically. If they suggest kegels, you know you are talking to someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

I would start with pelvic floor therapy before jumping to surgery. If you’ve got a good PT, she will be able to assess how she can and can’t help and refer you down the line as necessary. Also, for PFT, you won’t be asked to jump up and down without your pants on. That would be a dealbreaker for me! She will be able to assess the strength of your pelvic floor and figure out if your posture and glutes/core/legs need strengthening. She’ll figure out if you’ve got tension in your muscles that is adding to pelvic floor dysfunction and teach you how to release those muscles.You’ll be asked to keep a diary of how often you go, what you’re eating and drinking, and how often you leak. PFT is a great idea for any woman who has had a child and has related stress or urge incontinence, even if additional interventions are also needed. You’ll learn to understand so much more about what your body is doing and responding to. There can be long waiting lists, so get on one now!

I got the sling surgery 12 years ago and have had no problems. I suffered for 7 years with docs saying just do Kegels. After my hard final vaginal birth, I would full on pee my pants and not even know I was peeing. It was the pits.

I mentioned my urgency issues to the dr, who said it may be bc of the amount of caffeine I ingest daily. Caffeine stimulates the bladder. I stopped caffeine yesterday, so I can't give definitive results, but it sounds like a good, simple place to start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re sling surgery….. wasn’t there some horrible lawsuit about those surgeries in the mesh they use? It’s something done differently now?

There was a lawsuit, they were outlawed in fact but somehow they are still doing them. My mother had one and was in agony thereafter - once it is in there it cannot be removed.

I have a friend who had this done years ago and is now having issues with the sling material poking out and causing her to bleed.

soooo much they can do now

botox, other injectables, sling - they have some kind of thing you insert that does kegels for you, laser - i could go on.

Pessary?