www.incontinentsupport.org

Hey all,

I have somewhat good news to report. After thinking about it, I decided to myself that there really was no reason why I couldn't do the pelvic squeezes like every other day, at my own convienence.. without any real follow throgh..more so as a means to ensure that I'm maintaining some level of control. The good news is, my incontinence seems to be less.. not sure how to describe it.. I think i use less diapers, but im not 100 perecent sure. I'm able to hold it in longer and say no.. however, i still remain incontinent because i cannot hold it for more than say 20 minutes after the urge strikes.. correct me if im wrong, but a continent person can hold a comfortably full bladder up to an hour or more.. so, I can delay the flow of urine, but I cannot stop it altogether. But, I'm not celebrating yet, because i don't know how long this will last. I still do have yet to go a day wtihout having some sort of spontaneous leakage.. I would have to go for a week without wetting AT ALL before i consider myself on the road to continence..

Peace out!

Rob

Rob, that is very good progress. Although Kegel exercises will not make the urge go away, 20 minutes should give you time to find a rest room. If you can delay loss of control for 30 minutes or more that would be excellent.

Early on, I was doing about 200 Kegels per day, then moved to a lesser number but for longer holds. I also performed Kegels and Trans-Abdominal exercises in different body postures and while walking and going up stairs. Walking and going up stairs are particularly risky for leaks for those like me who are bowel incontinent as any time the legs are separated it is difficult to maintain a contraction of the sphincter muscles.

Keep at it!

--John

All impovement is to be welcomed. From being able to delay voiding,
to being able to use fewer diapers per week. Even if total control never returns,
to use less diapers save money. And that's worth it...
Wish you all possible success.

Not sure if 20 minutes is an accurate figure.. shrugs..maybe more like 5 or 10 minutes..but i am able to hold it back some of the time after the urge strikes..if i get advance warning..sometimes I don't get warning at all before I start wetting...

Rob, I do understand. Progress is progress, however small. Although I have had good success with the Kegels helping me with my bowel incontinence, I still am having problems holding with my bladder incontinence. However, the Kegels do help.

--John

Sorry for asking what may be a daft question, but how do you know if you are doing kegel exercises properly, and do they help enormously in regards to the output of urine?

I am no expert on this, but a Kegel exercise uses the same muscles that cut off the flow of urine or clinch the muscles of the sphincter. Some therapists advise to verify the use of the correct muscle by doing just that when at home - stop the flow of urine while at the toilet. This exercise will help you make the most of whatever muscles you have left and, hopefully, will enable you hold urine or stool longer so that you have enough time to make it to a toilet.

Re Kegels, research will indicate that there exists considerable disagreement among medical professionals about the recommended number of sets, number of repetitions, the length of the hold, etc. However, what most agree on is that when initially building pelvic strength a LOT of exercises are necessary and that it takes time. You may see some small improvement in a manner of days, but it may take months to reach your peak. Afterward a smaller number of Kegels are necessary for maintenance.

A closely related exercise is the trans-abdominal which additionally tightens related pelvic muscles to strengthen the overall pelvic floor. This sometimes is called a "soft Kegel." Trans-abdominal exercises are of particular value to those of us with weak pelvic floors and pelvic prolapse. This exercise, benefits the overall pelvic floor which affects both urinary and bowel incontinence. I found it easy to do Kegels, but considerably more difficult to identify and control the muscles for the trans-abdominal exercise. That is why I jokingly mentioned my embarrassment at having to demonstrate this exercise while a therapist had her gloved finger up my behind to detect whether I was doing it correctly .

Perhaps someone else can do a better job of explaining this.

--John

Hey all,

Even with the exercise regimen done sporadically, making it to the toilet is still a crapshoot, with most of the urine ending up in the diaper when im out in public. However, i seem to have found motivation to try to use the bathroom at the bus garage after every run.. and 2 out of 3 times, it ends up in the diaper...

Does this happen to anyone else? You are holding it just fine until you get into the bathroom then suddenly you cant hold it anymore and suddenly release? This happens despite my squeezing.. no matter what I do, if my bladder wants to go.. it goes .

Kinda of where I am at SG, if I get the urge, and can make a toilet in 3-5 minutes, no big deal. Today was out and about doing errands, got stuck in a 10 person line-up at the post office, and in a Gov't agency building on an extended phone call... SO glad I wore, I knew I would be out for a bit, but never expected the waits and line-ups I ran into today... pays to forecast, but wish at the same time I was normal and could just wait like everyone else. Guess that is why I wear, so I don't live life based on where the next toilet is... gets old fast though. Puffy

Rob, part of the time I am the same way - if I am distracted and build up more urine in my bladder than I intend, then after I get up it sort of "hits" me and I have to rush to the toilet. Some times I do not make it in time and it just starts on its own. Other times, as I get up, it is so obvious that I will not make it in time that I just stop fighting it and let myself go in the diaper. Less frequently I will find myself peeing while I am sitting at my computer working. That is puzzling as I probably could not voluntarily pee while sitting if you put a gun to my head!

During the mornings, after my preventive enema I can expect to be safe from bowel accidents. During that period I try to exercise my urinary control by wearing only a pull-up, with no plastic pants, compression pants, or onesies, so that I can make it to the toilet and be ready to pee quickly. Even so, I do not make it about 1/3 to 1/4 of the time.

Rob, I have ramped up my Kegel exercises as I had some indications that I needed to do so to strengthen my pelvic floor some more. As the exercises can be somewhat tedious - let's be frank, BORING, I have some apps on my iPhone for various routines of Kegel exercises. That breaks up the monotony and encourages me to work out a little more than I otherwise might. I probably do that 4 days a week. On the other days my exercises are informal - while washing dishes, walking around, driving the car, or watching television. The details of the length of the Kegel and the exact number probably are much less than just trying to do as much as you comfortably can fit into your lifestyle.

As I indicated in another message, I will be asking my doctors about the value of pelvic floor exercisers with bio-feedback for home use or some more formal bio-feedback therapy. At this stage I am not sure what my insurance will cover as I had that about two years ago for bowel incontinence. Perhaps if it is justified this time as for urinary incontinence it will go through.

--John