Voiding

Body: 

I am a hairdresser and I stand all day and with the standing all day a problem just started in the last year. First of all I think I've had the problem of prolapse for six years. My problem is the uretha is being strangled off and I don't even have the urge during my work day to void and can't even if I try. So until I get home and off my feet so the swelling can go down I can't void. And then after the swelling goes down I'm in the bathroom every couple of hours pretty much all night. I have noticed lots of bubbles in my urine when I finally start voiding, my question is does anyone else have that problem and do you think I could be causing other problems with not being able to void all day at work? I might dribble a little bit during the day, but not completely empty. And some days, most days not at all til I get home and lay down for a while. I feel swollen by the end of the day and minor discomfort and very annoying because I know it can't be good for me. Any ideas?

Hi Abetterhairday

Swollen ankles after work every day indicate that yes, there may be something insidious happening with your water works. I had a transvaginal ultrasound at one point to ensure that my prolapses were not pulling my bladder down to the point where the ureters from the kidneys were not being stretched. I was OK, but if they are being stretched it may be closing off the ureters and preventing the urine from getting into the bladder. This is a bit like a pump trying to pump water through a pipe that is squashed. Your kidneys cannot filter the waste products out of your blood if there is pressure at the other end, preventing the out pipe from flowing. I suggest that you ask your medical practitioner if this may be the case. If it is the case your kidneys may be really suffering. Kidney trouble is one of the olden days results of prolapse. You cannot function without your kidneys, so I suggest that you take what seems like a call for help from them, seriously.

High blood pressure can also cause swollen ankles, so ask the doctor about that too. You really do need to find out what is at the root of the swelling.

If it is simply the prolapse causing the problem, then you can probably adjust your posture or the way you work, to enable your bladder to stay higher, so that your bladder can fill easily. It is also good to drink plenty during the day, to keep your urine diluted so it doesn't irritate your urethra and set you up for urinary tract infections, and to flush out bugs. Learning to fully empty your bladder at least once a day is another skill you can learn.

WW posture is tall and proud. If you find that you cannot stand with your chest up while you work you will be slouching, and have your shoulders forward all the time. Making your clients' chairs taller, sitting children on tall cushions, strengthening your thigh muscles so you can bend your legs more than your back, and hinging from the hips instead of bending from the waist will all help to make your posture more POP friendly. You might even be able to half sit on a tall stool to keep your pelvis tilted forward while you strengthen your other muscles.

Baby steps. You have the rest of your life for this. Hopefully there will be other hairdressers who have done this before, who will also comment.

Louise

Thank you Louise for the response. My ankles arent swelling, I feel swollen and heavy in the lower part of my belly. I do drink liquids all day at work, thats why its kinda scary not really being able to empty completely while I'm at work. But when I get home and can lay down then it seems like everything works right. I so don't want to have surgery. But I am 69 years young. ha

I really don't know why you would be feeling swollen in the belly if your feet and legs are not swelling. Is there any way that you can have use of a stool at work , to change your working position regularly? Can you do small amounts of exercise during work breaks to keep all your muscles and metabolism active during the day? WW Firebreathing during the day might also help you to reposition your bladder during the day so that you can empty your bladder.

As you are not urinating during the day, that still tells me that something in your bladder/kidney area is not working properly. Perhaps the fluid in your abdomen is because your bladder has become overdistended during the day, and is literally leaking water out into your abdomen? I would be asking your doctor about this.

While you are managing this well to fit your work day, it concerns me that it could be damaging your body in the longer term.

I'm wondering if drinking liquids all day is helping.....or making things worse? Seems like something's gotta give in this situation, or you are headed for trouble. Getting down on hands and knees to void completely at least once a day, is essential. Good luck to you! - Surviving