Leaky Laurie's Bladder - Just Jill, Sole Sister Ramblers

Just Jill is the creation of Jill Cohen Morris. Jill is an avid rambler and mother of two from Toronto, Canada with a remarkable zest for life and a fabulous sense of humor.

Dear Just Jill,

I have a leaky faucet, but not the kind that I can call a plumber about. The leaky faucet is my vagina/bladder!

I leak when I laugh. I leak when I cough. I leak when I do a jumping jack. And when I sneeze lookout!

I feel like I have acquired a new talent as I age … I can laugh, cough, sneeze and pee all at the same time. Definitely not the multitasking skill I want to add to my list of accomplishments!

It’s mortifying for me! I’m constantly wondering ... Did anyone notice? Do I smell like pee? Should I avoid laughing or skip my favourite activities to ward off potential embarrassment?

Is this normal? What’s a girl to do?

Sincerely,

Leaky Laurie

Sole Sister Advice & Comments

I think this is the norm for any woman who has been pregnant, especially multiple times. Also, I had a friend who used to pee her pants when she laughed when we were 13 years old. There may be something physiological in how a woman's body is made up.
It's pretty normal and common! If you can find a pelvic floor yoga class, that would help.
I agree it is normal, but I would talk to your doctor, as there may be an underlying medical problem. Also, there may be a physiotherapist that specializes in treatment.
I had bladder lift surgery ten years because of this issue and have been very happy with the results!
I have had that problem for a lot of years already. I had it surgically repaired three times in three different ways, and it never lasted. I will not go through the surgery again even though it's just day surgery. Just buy yourself some period panties, always discreet, and they have different levels of coverage depending on how much you make when you sneeze. That's my advice.
I'm in the same situation. I bought underwear from a company called Knix. I love them. They give me a bit of protection. Also, because of menopause, I sweat like a crazy person, soaking up some of the sweat. It's a win-win! They are expensive, but they are worth it.
A pelvic floor therapist can work wonders. You may need to see more than one specialist to find one. Most prescribe the surgery, meds, or a pessary, but fail to address the underlying issue and provide tools to repair it. In some countries, PFT is an essential part of post-partum care. Knowledge is power, ladies. In the meantime, Knix is a great way to feel confident and stay active.
This is a funny topic for today. Because this has just started to happen to me. At first, I thought it was my imagination. Yesterday I was out for a walk and did an enormous sneeze, and I peed in my shorts enough that they were wet and had to wear them for the rest of the walk, feeling self-conscious about whether my husband noticed. LOL. The worst even is then I had to sit in the car on our not leather seats in those shorts. And once I start to think about peeing, even a little bit, I often cannot get my pants off fast enough.
A neighbor of mine had thyroid cancer, and the treatment weakened her bladder, making her pee every so often. She took up Muay Thai (Kickboxing), which did the trick.
Pelvic exercises might help. I made it to my first Zumba class this morning, and the instructor said to squeeze down during one of the movements. We tend to need to remember to exercise in that area.