Kate's Story
Hi everyone.
I thought after my children had grown up and left home, things would quiet down for me. How wrong could I be, what with working part time at Oxfam on Tuesdays and Thursdays, doing the weekly shopping, and going to my weekly flower arranging class, I never seem to have a minute to myself and that doesn’t include walking the dog twice a day!
I didn’t really realise anything was wrong at first...
To be honest, I didn’t really realise anything was wrong at first, and thought this was just part of the ageing process. But gradually, things started to get worse until I couldn’t go more than half an hour without needing to go to the loo again. To begin with, I suffered in silence as I was too embarrassed that “I couldn’t hold it in”.
Gabby's Story
I must admit that I was shocked when I first started having bladder problems. My daughter, Megan, was in nursery and I was thinking of going for a part-time job. My confidence wasn’t high after being out of work for a while and this knocked me sideways. I found I had begun to leak abit when I exercised and coughing and sneezing was a nightmare… all this at the age of 32. So much for my plans to get fit again; I cancelled my gym membership and stopped going to aerobics which meant I missed out on social time with my girlfriends.
With a new-born, who has the time?
What made it worse was that I only really had myself to blame. They warned us in antenatal class about how important it was to do our pelvic floor exercises but I just never got around to it – with a new-born, who has the time?
Helen's Story
My husband and I retired a few years ago but I have never felt busier. I love my garden, walking and spending time with my two grand children; they help keep me young.
I’d say I am keeping pretty well but you do have to look after yourself, don’t you? I take vitamin C and each morning I do some stretches I learned at yoga class.
What a difference it has made
I think of my pelvic floor like any other muscle that needs a bit of exercise every now and then. I have been using my Athena for about 3 years. I try and do a couple of 15 minute sessions every week; usually at bedtime. What a difference it has made.
