When It Comes To Urinary Incontinence, The Limit DOES Exist
Incontinence, Reflux, & Gag Reflexes
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“STOP GAGGING!”
As if I could control the involuntary response of gagging as she slammed her camera into the back of my throat.
“STOP! GAGGING!”
“I can’t help it.” I choked out between gags as tears streamed down my face (involuntary tears from the intense gagging.”
I was having my vocal cords scoped to confirm and learn more about my recent acid reflux diagnosis. Fun fact: Vocal folds look like labia!
I was in the thick of my performing career and had noticed when singing, my voice was feeling more hoarse and breathy for seemingly no reason. I was taking my weekly voice lessons, I was auditioning regularly, but not currently IN a show so overuse wasn’t the reason. It was reflux.
Now, stick with me because this all does come back to the pelvic floor and living a confident & continent™ life.
As I learned more about how to control my silent reflux (that’s a thing), it became apparent that I needed to cut out or seriously limit both caffeine AND alcohol.
“You can’t ruin the beginning AND end of my day!” I proclaimed to the doctor when he told me the bad news.
It sucked. I did modify my diet and I stopped eating or drinking anything 2 hours before bed. I slept on an incline. I took meds. I switched to tea and didn’t drink. And it sucked.
As time went on I started adding things back and what I learned about myself and MY body was that I could have either caffeine or alcohol. I couldn’t have drinks at night and wake up and have coffee on an empty stomach the next morning or my reflux would stop being silent and would start screaming.
I figured out how to balance the ends of my days so that I could still have coffee, which I love, AND alcohol which I really love (and miss as I’m still currently abstaining).
I found a balance that worked for my lifestyle and my health.
A lot of people approach me because of incontinence concerns. Maybe that’s why you’re here! Maybe it’s because you had a baby at some point in your life AND maybe you didn’t have a baby and have concerns! You don’t have to have a baby to experience or be concerned about incontinence!
And the same way caffeine and alcohol can irritate the esophagus and stomach lining, they are also bladder irritants and diuretics. They pull water from your body making more pee and irritate your bladder which makes holding pee less comfortable so your body is very eager to get the pee out.
So if you are someone who experiences urinary incontinence, examining your caffeine and alcohol intake and how that relates to your symptoms, you may find a new balance that works for your body.
AND when you go out drinking and dancing with your friends, you can be prepared instead of surprised when you inevitably pee yourself. Unlike whatever that rule of calculus is, when it comes to incontinence and bladder irritants, the limit does exist.
Sorry Cady, you’re wrong about that. The limit DOES exist.
The January 5-week online mat class started last week, but if you still want to join us, CLICK HERE! I’ll send you the recording from week 1 and you’ll be all caught up and ready to rock 2024, the year of the pelvic floor!
As always, I’ve got your back. I’ve got your front. And I’ve got your undercarriage.
Xo, Alissa