Recently I read one of the social media network sites where a woman posted about her "leaky radiator." It was a cute way to say that she leaks urine! Many people erroneously believe that leaking of urine is normal when you reach a certain age. But I can tell you emphatically the answer is that it is not normal!
Going to the bathroom more than every 2 hours or more than once per night is a sign that you are going too often! Typically the recommendation is between every 2 to 4 hours during the daytime.
What can you do about it? First, get evaluated by your health care provider. At NorthBay, we have several physicians who will help you with a leaky bladder. We also have a physical therapist (referral needed) skilled in teaching pelvic floor exercises that may help with certain bladder problems.
What is normal? Many things contribute to a leaky bladder, including child birth, obesity, genetics, medication and menopause. If the leakage is due to weak pelvic floor muscles (the muscles which hold up your bladder and pelvic floor organs), then you can do something to help make them stronger. Many of you may have heard about kegels, and then may be thinking... "yea right, they never work for me." But have you been doing it correctly? It is a process of contracting the pelvic floor muscle for a few seconds and relaxing it for a few seconds, for few repetitions, a couple of times per day. Kegel exercises or pelvic floor muscle/relaxation exercises, if done properly on a daily basis, have been shown make a big improvement in weak pelvic floor muscles. Your health care provider can help you to learn more about them, and you can check out the website for more details.
http://www.northbay.org/NorthBayHealthLibrary.aspx?hArticle=25384
Keep in mind that good bladder habits include not going to the bathroom "just in case." This retrains the bladder to want to empty more often. I like to compare our bladders to little puppy dogs which can be trained to go to the bathroom the right way or the wrong way. If he has been trained to go outside every hour, then he will be at the back door barking to go outside every hour!
It's interesting to note that some food, including tea and coffee, and many chemicals, can irritate the bladder. Remember to drink plenty of water to wash away the bladder irritants that cause the urgent feeling to go to the bathroom frequently.
If you are having any of the above problems, I urge you to discuss it with your health care provider. You will find a solution.
