Did I Just Pee Myself?

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All I seemed to hear was “do a kegel,” but I needed more answers. By Jamie Collins

You’ve probably heard or even said, “I have to pee every two seconds!” It’s an exaggeration for many, including me, but it’s not entirely untrue. For two years, I’ve felt a relentless urge to urinate. Whenever I shared my struggle, friends would chuckle and attribute it to having a baby. For a time, I accepted their laughter as truth. My daughter was a hefty little one, born weighing nearly 10 pounds, but surely that couldn’t be the entire explanation. Fifteen months postpartum, and everything else had been great. I knew something else was wrong.

I scheduled an appointment with my general practitioner, and after her examination and a little help from WebMD, we initially suspected a standard UTI. Two doses of antibiotics later, it was clear that wasn’t the case. Next, we considered the possibility of a kidney stone, but a CAT scan ruled that out. Then we ventured into the more frightening realm of ovarian and bladder cancer. After numerous tests, two urologists, and several uncomfortable examinations, the final verdict from modern medicine was, “You’re fine. Just do some Kegels.”

But I wasn’t fine, and I didn’t need Kegels. Maybe a bagel would’ve sufficed, but not Kegels. What I truly craved was for someone to genuinely listen to me, to understand my words instead of dismissing me as just another Kegel case. After months of frustration, tears, incessant peeing, Zoloft, and feeling disregarded by nearly all of my doctors, someone finally listened. That person wasn’t my gynecologist or my urologist; it was my chiropractor. After hearing about my symptoms and the treatments I had already tried, Dr. Sarah M. Greene, a Webster-certified chiropractic physician specializing in women’s health, suggested it was likely pelvic floor dysfunction. Until that moment, nobody had mentioned the pelvic floor to me. I was completely oblivious to its existence.

Not only was the pelvic floor real, but there are physical therapists specifically trained to address its dysfunction, like M.S. Laura Bennett, founder of Core Recovery and the Women’s Health Center, who explained that she frequently hears from women with similar symptoms. They often feel overlooked, ignored, or, worse, mistreated.

“This outdated approach of ‘just do Kegels’ as a blanket solution for pelvic floor issues has persisted for too long,” says Bennett. “Many women are misled and inadvertently make their problems worse.” She elaborates that one of the most common yet overlooked pelvic floor issues is a hypertonic pelvic floor.

“A hypertonic pelvic floor means there’s increased tension or tone in the muscles,” explains Bennett. “When the muscles are tight, they often struggle to contract properly.” Symptoms of a hypertonic pelvic floor can include pain during intercourse, leaking, difficulty with inhalation into the pelvic area, pelvic pain, constipation, and, of course, the urgency to urinate.

While every doctor in my area insisted I needed to strengthen my pelvic floor, what I really needed was to release the tension. I had fallen victim to a case of mistaken identity regarding my pelvic floor. People looked at me and assumed I needed Kegels when, in fact, I needed to chill out. This happens frequently, but it doesn’t have to, according to the experts.

“Women often feel dismissed when they raise concerns about their bodies,” Dr. Greene notes. “I strive to be a physician who listens, shows empathy, and offers solutions for women seeking answers about their health.” Dr. Greene didn’t just listen; she took action. She set me up with a program that included chiropractic care, massage therapy, and a referral to a pelvic floor physical therapist. Although I still experience occasional flare-ups, I’m significantly improved.

Once I manage to relax my pelvic floor, I can then focus on strengthening it. “It’s crucial to release tension first if you’re dealing with a hypertonic pelvic floor,” Bennett advises. “This often reveals that there’s also weakness present, but we can’t strengthen it until we can fully access it, and we can’t do that until we achieve a complete release and contraction.”

When I’m ready to begin strengthening, I’ll explore programs like Bennett’s Core Recovery, which helps individuals like me safely develop a strong and functional pelvic floor. “It’s never too late to start Core Recovery and heal your core and pelvic floor,” says Bennett. My message to women facing similar challenges is to advocate for yourself. Persist until you find an expert who truly understands your situation. Do your research, explore your options, but if you keep hitting dead ends, don’t hesitate to keep asking questions.

“Listen to your body and trust your instincts,” Dr. Greene emphasizes. “Remember, pelvic floor issues are not ‘normal’—they are ‘common,’ and you don’t have to endure them.”

Being a miss doesn’t mean you should be dismissed. Keep that in mind; live by it; even embroider it on a pillow if you wish. You deserve to be heard, and you deserve the freedom to embark on a two-hour road trip without making countless bathroom stops. Keep the conversation going. You’ll eventually connect with the right person who will listen, just as I did.

Jamie Collins has a passion for crafting stories, enjoys the occasional piña colada, and loves sunny days. Born and raised in Tampa, FL, she now resides in Indianapolis, IN, where she navigates life with her daughter and cherishes her close-knit circle of friends and family. She seeks humor in everyday life, but when that fails, she turns to searching for spare change under the couch cushions.

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Summary:

This article discusses a woman’s journey with persistent urinary urgency and how she navigated the medical system searching for answers. Despite initial misdiagnoses and being told to do Kegels, she discovered that her symptoms were due to pelvic floor dysfunction, specifically a hypertonic pelvic floor. Through chiropractic care and physical therapy, she learned the importance of releasing tension before attempting to strengthen her pelvic floor. The piece emphasizes the need for women to advocate for their health and seek proper guidance.

Did I Just Pee Myself?

Menu: Gotta Go