Stress urinary incontinence

So glad to read this. Funnily enough I used to have this issue when I was younger but not now I'm older! I have no idea why this is but long may it last!

I have stress incontinence - but not so much that it bothers me. I use pantiliners daily- Just back from holiday . I dispose of them in a sanitary bin, if provided, but on my recent holiday in West wales, there wasn’t one provided. So I just put them in nappy sacks and put them in the bathroom bin. I certainly won’t subject myself to an operation.

I should have emphasised that the bulkamid treatment isn't surgery - a simple day procedure.

I am fortunate in that I don't have stress incontinence. I am pleased your Bulkamid procedure has had such a positive result. I your situation I would most definitely ask my GP about it. Great news for you it will transform your life!

Excellent result Farmor.

I am waiting to have this procedure and am delighted that you have had such good results, so pleased for you, and hopefully me😀

How long does the gel last?

Apparently it's not broken down in the body so should last, but can have another dose if needed. It seems to have been available for more than 10 years but doesn't seem to be that well known.

Have you been given an appointment date, Nanny?

Yes end October, when back from my holiday

It didn't work for me so on waiting list for surgery. Apparently it works in 50% of patients.

I just hope there will be more success with this than there has been with the 'mesh/tape' surgeries that promised the world but only delivered constant pain and other more severe consequences for some women. This procedure was also a day case under GA.
I had a 'tape' procedure done 7 years ago, and I have had severe sudden intermittent pain ever since. Sometimes I will not have pain for months, other times I will have pain once a week. Of course my story, and that of many others are not believed, and the incontinence is still present.

Has anyone tried the Jude supplement that is supposed to help with incontinence? I am seriously thinking about it.

I have been using Jude for several months and it has been a life changer. Read the information on the Jude website and give it a try

Totally agree withZak3 about Jude tablets. Have been taking them for 18 months now and haven't had to use pads for ages. It does take a few months before they're effective but worth it in the end.

I used the Jude supplement for almost a year and it didn’t make a difference to me unfortunately.
I’ve had a referral to the continence service, have had a phone appointment and will have a scan in October. My problem isn’t severe but I hate it when I have a cough or sneeze. I also have a bit of ‘key’ incontinence. Only when I come home and it’s so urgent. But nowhere else which is strange.

I’ve heard quite a lot about the pain that women have had with the mesh/tape procedure. I must have been one of the lucky ones because I had the mesh/tape bridge procedure about 20yrs ago and it has been brilliant. No more leakage when running, coughing or sneezing and certainly no pain

This is a really useful thread and great news for Farmor15, but does the procedure work for another type of incontinence- urge incontinence? I suffer from this type where I feel a sudden need to have a pee and I can't always delay it enough to get to the toilet! I've tried lots of things to deal with this - pelvic floor muscles, trying to switch my brain to thinking of something else but nothing really works. It really does effect everyday life and going on outings. Any advice from anyone?

Mrsdof I am with you on this. Had surgery 2009. The mesh was life changing after years of misery. No pain or problems either

Mine has got worse over the last few years particularly going up stairs. I wear a pad everyday which is a pain but I am terrified of accidents if I can't get to a toilet in time. Haven't been to see my GP as he is not very good. I think this can also be improved with oestrogen cream (again something I couldn't discuss with my GP) but I have found going to the gym and cycling on a fitness bike has improved it so I am hoping that this will work long term. Still try and do pelvic floor exercises daily. This is one of those issues that is not really discussed much so thank you for raising it. Much is discussed post-menopause but not for anyone over sixty. I really wish there was a clinic system for older women like the sexual health clinics.

jools1

This is a really useful thread and great news for Farmor15, but does the procedure work for another type of incontinence- urge incontinence? I suffer from this type where I feel a sudden need to have a pee and I can't always delay it enough to get to the toilet! I've tried lots of things to deal with this - pelvic floor muscles, trying to switch my brain to thinking of something else but nothing really works. It really does effect everyday life and going on outings. Any advice from anyone?

I'm the same, although after having 10 pelvic floor repairs I am now rather 'disordered' down there!

It was determined that I had an 'unstable bladder' in 2010, that is also just over half the capacity of a 'normal' bladder (has anyone else done the 'TILT TABLE TEST'?? I wear pads 24/7 for a slight constant 'drip'.

My issue now, along with all that is that I also have a massive abdominal hernia, (think 8 months pregnant) so as soon as I stand up, my guts literally bounce on my bladder and I need to go NOW, and the pads are no use for that, any of them! . Sometimes rather than pee all my way to the loo leaving a trail behind me, it's easier to dive out onto my patio than cleaning the floors all through the house and strip myself off there. In any case when my loo blocks & floods I have to use the garden regardless, and I always have to use plastic bags for the other because I don't have the £700 (maybe more now?) to repair it, existing as I do on disability benefit, which shortly they'll be trying to take off me.

It's a wonderful life ...

Some interesting comments here - glad I started this thread! There have been some threads previously on the topic, but most replies just focused on doing pelvic floor exercises, which don't work for everyone.

There are different kinds of incontinence - stress and urge are the most common, also mixed. What works for one type, may not work if yours is a different type. The Jude website mentions urgency and frequency but not stress incontinence.

If you get referred by your GP to a specialist or a clinic, (some hospitals have nurse/midwife-led clinics to deal with incontinence) you will most likely be sent for urodynamic tests. These are somewhat embarrassing, but designed to test your level of incontinence and what type you have. They also test bladder capacity and whether you empty completely when peeing. If you have urge incontinence, ("key in the door syndrome!") they may be able to measure involuntary bladder activity. In my case, it was definitely established that I had stress incontinence, so the Bulkamid treatment was appropriate. I'm not sure how well it would work for the urge type, which jools1 mentions but I don't have.

Before the procedure, I would go the toilet pretty often, as if I had even a partly full bladder, even walking could cause me to leak. Since the procedure, I don't have to pee nearly so often as I don't go "just in case".

Seagull72 - despite saying your GP is not very good, you should be able to ask for a referral to a specialist - it's usually a gynaecologist who deals with women's bladder problems. And some hospitals do have special clinics, but I think you have to be referred.

I was nervous about surgery, due to all the horror stories about mesh, but glad to hear it has worked for some of you at least. And that the Jude supplement has worked for others.

I was writing my post at the same time as MadeInYorkshire so only just read about your really bad situation. Surely there must be some help for you - medically and toilet-wise? Maybe someone else here might be able to advise.

I had the mesh op many years ago. The kead up to the procedure was awful - drink until the bladder us full hold, then empty in front of a name gynaecologist! Shaming and embarrassing.
The pro endure didn't work and I wear pads daily, and heavy duty pants if I get a cough!
Couldn't bear the thought of those horrible tests again so ticked the boxed that said "no prob" and kept funding Mr Tena!
Never heard of Jude or Bulkamid so maybe time to do some more research. Thank you.

I had a total left hip replacement almost 6 weeks ago. I have had almost total urinary only incontinence. I was completely blindsided by it. On research, as you do, I found it is quite common, post this surgery. Post menopausal women and post total hysterectomy appear to be more vulnerable. I was prescribed Oxybutynyn which helped a little bit but not enough to continue. I will be progressing with my GP over coming weeks. Have looked at Jude supplements but cost is a major issue. I definitely don't want mesh surgery. It is very demoralising and upsetting.

Im just a bit wary of their 'new' treatments for it, as they stuck me on oxybutinin pills for about 4years before G.P ringing to tell me they had withdrawn them due to causing altzheimers etc.