Bladder control ....once upon a time I had control

I've been noticing for the past 3 years that my bladder was not working like it used to. If I coughed or laughed to hard, I wet my panties. I went to my pcp who gave me oxybutynin (Ditropan) It helped, a little, until recently. Now I have No control over it at all. If I lay around in bed all day, not moving much everything is fine. But when I have to go out and move a lot, out shopping, out to work, out running errands that's when things get wet. When I feel the urge, I head straight for the bathroom, I'm holding my pelvic muscles as tight as they go and still I feel the warm tingling sensation going down my left leg. and I haven't even made it to the bathroom door. This is killing me. I am 37 years old and I had my TAH in Sept 2001.

I also have Lupus (SLE) Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Hypertension.....I'll make an appointment but in the meantime what should I do? Has anyone gone thru this 9 years after a successful abdominal hysterectomy?

Cyn--

Did you see your doctor about this incontinence you've been having? I hope you read about the different kinds here in the Glossary at the top of the forum. There are several different options you can try to help with the problem. There are also things you can look for to see what exactly it IS you have.

Hope you have gotten some insight into your specific problem.

S.......

Cyn...

I've been having 'leakage' for a couple years as well. I am sincerely hoping that my TLH last month will take care of the problem. (uterus had shoved bladder up and out of the way). A couple suggestions for you while you are waiting for the Dr to figure out what the problem is.

1) Wear either panty liners or pads. For me, most of the time it was about 2 tbsp. of leaking. Occasionally much more. I found the liners gave me a bit more time to get to the bathroom.

2) 'Go early, go often'! Hit the bathroom as often as you can. before leaving the house, when you get to the restaurant, before you leave the restaurant. It won't fix the problem, but waiting till you feel like you need to go is too late.

3) Kegels. Practice, practice, practice. It may not fix the problem, but it will help a bit.

Hopefully your Dr will be able to figure out the best solution to your problem. But definately make an appt with your Dr and get a referral to a urologist for an evaluation.

Good luck!

I saw my Primary for this issue and she thinks it is Prolapse, but I need a urologist or a Gyno or both for further help. So I am in the process of finding one that can help me with this issue but I would like to find a Urogynecologist and there is none within one hour driving distance. I'm going to keep searching and if I can't find one by the end of the next few weeks I'll try to get in with the closest. I refuse to be this way for the rest of my life.

Thanks for the help