How to Conquer Bladder Weakness at Work

With bladder weakness, Monday can seem even less inviting than before. It’s not just the beginning of another work week, but the beginning of leaks, urges, and trips to the bathroom that keep you from performing your best. Bladder weakness affects all sorts of individuals, most of whom are of working age. Below you will find life hacks for conquering bladder weakness at work, and tips that can be used in daily life.

Sedentary Jobs: Focus on Health

Stay Hydrated

• Drink when you are thirsty, or if you have gone without water for several hours. If your throat feels scratchy or your skin feels dry, you need water. Dizziness, headache, and fatigue also signal inadequate hydration[1]. Even if you don’t have symptoms of thirst or dehydration, it is important to hydrate regularly.
• If you generally don’t feel thirsty, use urine as a guide. Dehydrated individuals usually have darker urine, while hydrated individuals have light yellow or clear urine.
• Choose non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages. Caffeine and alcohol irritate the bladder, which increases urgency and leaks[2]. At the office or at happy hour, select alternatives to coffee or cocktails.

Keep Active

• Engage in bladder-friendly exercise. If aerobic pastimes like running worsen your urges, try a less-strenuous activity like yoga or weightlifting. Both get your blood pumping without putting strain on your bladder, and recent research suggests that yoga can improve bladder weakness[3].
• Strengthen your pelvic floor with Kegels, or another similar exercise. Pelvic floor exercises reduce symptoms of bladder weakness and can make it easier for you to adjust to more demanding physical tasks.
• Wear dark, loose-fitting gear if you do engage in aerobic exercise. Dark fabrics hide leaks, as well as the outline of pads or absorbent underwear[4].

Travel-Heavy Jobs:  Plan, Pack, and Prepare

Plan Pit-Stops

• Mark one rest stop for every two hours of your journey, and more if you see fit. Travelers in the United States can use this map of highway rest areas, while those traveling in Europe or the United Kingdom can use apps like Flush or SitOrSquat to find toilets near them.
• Identify accessible restrooms if you are not traveling on the road. Find spaces that are roomier than a train, bus, or aircraft toilet so you can change your pad or absorbent underwear in the most efficient way possible.

Always Pack the Essentials

• Bring enough pads or absorbent underwear for your entire trip. This is especially necessary if traveling to a location where you cannot easily obtain products for bladder weakness. Try portable, discreet products such as iD Light pads or iD Intime absorbent underwear.
• If you have night-time bladder weakness, pack a waterproof mattress protector or blanket for overnight trips[5]. Relatively inexpensive, they take the mess away from night-time leaks. And if you can’t fit one into your luggage, don’t worry! Most major hotel chains will be able to provide one for you.

Jobs With Irregular Schedules: Work With What You Have

If Possible, Make a Routine

• Designate time to go to the bathroom, about once every one or two hours. This process, called bladder training, makes the clock – rather than urges – dictate your bathroom breaks[6]. Fear not if things don’t go as planned at first; it takes about three months to fully adjust to a bladder training schedule[7].
• Stay near a restroom. If your place of work frequently leaves you without a toilet, discuss adjustments and accommodations with your boss or co-workers to manage bladder weakness at work.

Involve Your Boss

• Don’t go into all the details about your bladder weakness, because you don’t have to. Simply tell your boss that you have a medical condition that requires you to stay near the bathroom.
• Obtain a doctor’s note explaining your situation. This may make it easier to receive accommodations for bladder weakness at work.

At iD, we don’t just offer products. We also help thousands of patients live with bladder weakness. While browsing our dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic product range, make sure to also check out our blog. Every day, we’re curating more content to help you conquer your condition.

[1] “Dehydration.” NHS Inform, n.d. Source: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration

[2] S. Lohsiriwat, M. Hirunsai, & B. Chaiyaprasithi. “Effect of caffeine on bladder function in patients with overactive bladder symptoms.” Urology Annals, 2011. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3036994/

[3] A. J. Huang, H. E. Jenny, M. A. Chesney, M. Schembri, & L. L. Subak. “A Group-Based Yoga Therapy Intervention for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Pilot Randomized Trial.” Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, 2014. Source: https://journals.lww.com/jpelvicsurgery/Abstract/2014/05000/A_Group_Based_Yoga_Therapy_Intervention_for.7.aspx

[4] J. L. Davis. “At the Gym with Incontinence.” WebMD, 2007. Source: https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/features/at-the-gym-with-incontinence#2

[5] “Travelling With Confidence.” BladderAndBowel, n.d. Source: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/travelling-with-confidence/

[6] “Bladder Training.” UCSFHealth, n.d. Source: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/bladder_training/

[7] “Bladder Retraining.” Interstitial Cystitis Association, n.d. Source: https://www.ichelp.org/diagnosis-treatment/management-of-ic-pain/bladder-retraining/