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Marilyne (Tampa, FL) on 12/05/2008
5 out of 5 stars

RE: Incontinence - Kegels! I know, no one wants to do them - I know I certainly didn't. My GYN wanted me to have surgery for my bladder issues, and I figured I had nothing to lose. I started with 50 (yes, 50) a day and have progressed up to approx. 100. I don't lose urine when I cough or sneeze, laughter is still a little problem, but nothing like it was. I'm 53, and determined to stay out of depends. Iyt took about 3 months before I noticed a significant improvement - so hang in there. It sure beats surgical options.
EC: More about Kegel exercise here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kegel_exercise
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Replied By Aimee (New Brunswick, NJ, USA) on 01/05/2009

I started having problems with urgency and incontinence when I was about 23 years old. I couldn't believe it-- but it was very real and very hard to work around it. (when you gotta go- you gotta go-- then again, with incontinence- sometimes you just go!)

I went to a physical therapist and she taught me that there were certain triggers usually that led to these special moments. For example, when I put my keys in the door, I would immediately have to go, be jumping all around and it was a miracle if I made it to the bathroom in time. There were other triggers too.

She said I should try to start recognizing those triggers and use the kegel exercises in combination. So, approaching the door, I would start the exercises. (If you don't know how to do it, you just contract your muscles like as if you are trying to stop peeing.) I would hold the contraction for about 6 seconds then release and do it again, five more times. So, 6 seconds, 6 times. If I still had the urge to pee (which I did), I had to do the exercises again. Once I got into the bathroom (another trigger), I did it again. Sitting on the toilet, I did it again.

The point is to continue doing it until you have control over the moment. Once I felt like I could control when I actually went to the bathroom, I was allowed to go.

This worked so well for me. I was shocked at how quickly it worked as well. Within days I was noticing a major improvement and within weeks, it was hardly an issue. You have to be diligent though- if you still feel the urgency, do another round of exercises.

Every once in a while, I'll start to get that feeling again. I do the exercises and within a few days I am totally back in control.

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Replied By C (VERO , FL) on 01/06/2009

Note this FDA page and FDA approved device that makes these "exercises" more agreeable:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=884.5960

EC: Funny!

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Replied By Nature (Portland, Maine) on 12/10/2009

Kegel exercises worked for me as well. I do them at night as a way to move into sleep. I do them for five seconds each and fifteen at a time as was recommended in a natural healing newsletter. I try to do this three times a day. If I wake up at night I do a set of three again. This kills two birds with one stone as I find it very relaxing and a great way to go back to sleep. This works for me!
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Replied By Laniet (San Leandro, Ca, Usa) on 02/08/2012

Hi--first time commenting on this great site, not sure where to post this!

I inherited "have to pee" disease--runs (lol) in the female side of the family!

I am almost 60 and I used to walk a mile home from school. My friend and I would get the Have To Pee urge halfway home (we didn't have the sense to take care before we left school). So we'd tell ourselves we had to walk another HALF HOUR.

Somehow, the mind over matter thing works quite well!

I am laughing reading some of the accounts here--"key in the door" triggers it. I know that well!

I have flown quite a lot for business during my adult life. So now I use the scenario of the captain saying,

"Thank you for flying XXX Airlines. We are now on descent to XXX destination. Please turn up your tables and return your seat to the upright position. Fasten your seat belt. We will be on the ground in 25 minutes and will arrive at the gate shortly after that time."

I say this in my head when I get the Pee Pee Urge, "knowing" that it's a good 40 minutes before the bathroom.

It actually works! Fool the mind, avoid wet panties!

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