Every single time I ride a rollercoaster…..
This post was written by me through an activation with HireInfluence on behalf of InControl Medical. Although I received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A couple of months ago four of our boys came to me begging for season passes to a local amusement park.
I have never been an amusement park gal.
Yes, I have gone from time to time or enjoyed the season events they’ve offered a couple of times over the last 20 years, but I have never been that person who longs for season pass season.
Is that a thing?
The long lines, the extreme weather conditions (we’re in Texas… the summers are miserable at an amusement park), the crowds… I mean I could go on and on here.
My kids finally twisted my arm after our teenager was gifted a season pass for his birthday.
Here I go with four of our children in tow and we’re off to ride roller coasters. I was not prepared for what my bladder could not handle.
The rides that go round and round and leave my head spinning are the now the least of my worries. I am a woman with an almost 40-year-old bladder. A bladder that has been sat on, kicked and pushed by more kids than I can count. I thought waking up at 3 am needing to rush to the bathroom was bad… NOPE. It’s the roller coasters. My bladder cannot take it! I have been forced to acknowledge that urinary incontinence is not something I can continue to ignore.
My kids now know, if they want to ride that roller coaster mama needs a potty break FIRST.
Since our twins were born I’ve gradually noticed the change. Even in my early 30’s. You know what kind of change I am talking about. Sneezing, coughing too hard, jumping on the trampoline with my kiddos for any extended period of time. Oh, and I forgot to mention laughing. Seriously, that is embarrassing. Have you ever laughed so hard, say at something funny your kids did while you’re out in public and no matter how hard you try you cannot control your bladder? I felt like a 2-year-old with zero ability to control myself. And this just happened a few months ago while we were out celebrating our twins turning 11. (I now know all of this is stress incontinence. I had no idea there were such specific categorizing for this!)
Mind you, I should have known this day was coming. I guess I just tried to deny it would ever happen to me. I’ve heard my mother and my aunts talk about it. Goodness, I remember my sweet grandmother talking about it. Not the roller coasters…. the surprises they experienced from what they lovingly called “mom bladder”. All of the seasoned women in our family act like it is just something you’re going to have to deal with as long as you’re alive.
I remember my sweet OBGYN introducing me to a new-to-me-phrase called kegel exercises back when I was pregnant with our twins. The man was like a walking encyclopedia and it all kind of went in one ear and out the other. I had no idea what this meant and honestly, I thought I was too young to ever need to really look into it. I was 28 when they were born. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned more about it.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned more about pelvic floor exercises, bladder control, and even bladder leakage. I’ve also learned that none of this has to last forever. Who knew that my grandmother was wrong, rest her sweet soul. There is a “cure” to female urinary incontinence and it only takes 10 minutes twice a week for 12 weeks. Kegal exercises can be automated and muscles in the pelvic wall can be rebuilt. Did you have an idea this is possible?
So here is the deal. There are 5 different types incontinence. Step one is to figure out where you stand. Is is stress, overactive, overflow, etc. Here is a great place to learn more about that.
The Apex M is only available online. It is not sold in stores yet. It is painless and requires no surgery. There are no pills to take. Aren’t you relieved that we don’t have to suffer from “mom bladder”, as my grandmother called it, for the rest of your life! This is not a treatment, my sweet friend, it is a cure! Ride roller coasters again, sneeze without worrying, laugh and enjoy every single moment and not have the constant fear of what if my bladder can’t handle it!
Ah, this is cool. I’m glad people talk about this problem!
As it stands, I just went on my first roller coaster of my whole life. And then my second. I did two in Orlando. I didn’t have any bladder leakage but I was certainly petrified!
I need this so badly! Every time that I get up and have to pee, it’s a crap shoot whether or not I will make it to the bathroom. I really, really do need this.
I don’t have this problem yet, but as a woman who’s gone through three labors AND by virtue of my being a woman, I know it’s coming. Thank you for sharing this!
I have LBL and it’s NO FUN at all. I have not ridden a roller coaster in years but there are plenty of other things that cause issues. Oh and SUURREEE doctor I will do MORE Kegels! NOT! Thanks for the APEXM link!
I suffer from light incontinence and I do Kegel exercises. I had no idea this can be automated. I will check this out.
I suffered before in this, and I really really need to do this, glad you shared this.
I have this “mom bladder” problem too. I too ignored the kegel exercises when I was pregnant with my kids. I still don’t do them either. I probably should. I will have to check out this device.
Great post. I think a lot of people are going to take a lot away from this. Not many people know about this problem.
This is just not fun. I have LBL after my second child. The slightest laugh makes me pee a little. It just sucks!
This is not something that I experience but I have friends that have UI. This is such an important topic to openly discuss and not be embarrassed about.
I used to LOVE going to amusement parks and had a strong stomach for it. I think my body wouldn’t like me if I were to go on a ride now, especially upside down!
The Apex M sounds like a great thing. Very helpful for LBL sufferers!
Apex M sounds Interesting! I have heard about doing kegel exercises but this is the first time that I’ve heard of Apex M. Will have to check that out.
I got on a roller coaster last year for the first time in fifteen years. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I went for it. I couldn’t handle it and I have zero plans to do it again.
OMG! I haven’t been on a ride since years ago especially a rollercoaster. I’m afraid of heights and at the same time, if you know the movie Final Destination. It’s kinda creepy! And I can’t help but to think of it.
This is a new product for me – I have never heard of this before. I do suffer from this occasionally, I will look into this.