I am wondering, does anyone use a pessary to help with incontinence

I had a retropubic sling done in Jan 2025 and still have leakage. I have tried a few pessaries with little help. A number 2 cube and a ring with the ball on the side. I tried a number 3 cube, but was too difficult to place and remove. I keep searching for something that will work! So disappointed.

Hello. I am so sorry that the pessary did not work for you. Have you gone to Mayo for help?

I am meeting with the urology department at Mayo tomorrow for a consultation. I have so many concerns with continual leaking. I am very self conscious and disappointed too, as I am so much worse now than prior to surgery.

I hope you can find some help!

Have you tried pelvic floor exercises. I am worried about this my self and did start the exercises and hoping they are working. I fear every time I really have to pee that I am going to pee my pants. So always looking for help.

Thank you for responding. I did six weeks of pelvic floor therapy in July 25. The exercises really helped me and I reduced my frequent nighttime urination from 3 to 1. My surgeon told me to stop doing the exercises after my surgery so I needed to take a 10 week break.

I have been doing Pelvic floor exercises for the last three weeks. My goal is 50 repetitions throughout the day. I feel that my muscles are stronger, but I still have no control over the bladder leaking when I walk.

@dreams
I had a bladder sling put in in 2001. It was fabulous! But it failed last year (not sure what that means exactly, how it fails). I went to pelvic floor physical therapy and that really helped. I tried a pessary, but we couldn't find one that fit well and didn't cause a lot of pain when I removed it. Plus, my leaking was worse with the pessary (it was a round one). I am now following a gal on the internet who is extremely helpful. You can do a 7 day free trial, which I did and found it to be a worthwhile program. Her website is http://www.thevagwhisperer.com. I think you can also go to http://www.thevaginawhisper.com. I believe there are some videos on youtube as well, which is where I first saw her. She teaches you to train your brain to do kegels before you do any movement: bending, stretching, lunging, sliding to the side, etc. It takes some work, but it has been revolutionary for me. The benefit to it is that you're not just doing kegels; you're doing a mini workout! So good for the whole body. She also teaches you what's going on in there and how so many other muscles are connected to your pelvic floor. I'm 68 years old and all I was told when I was 31 in childbirth class was, "Just do kegels everyday." Better late than never!

@dreams please let me know what they suggest.

@trishdub thank you for
The advice and the web site. I watched a few of her videos on pelvic floor exercises. She is very good at explaining how to do them. Sorry to hear the pessary didn’t work for you. I will be getting one fit next week and giving it a try.
Take care of yourself and once again, thank you.

@vickij1956
I had an urology consult at Mayo and have been referred to a surgeon there. The first availability is in June which is so far away. But, I will try a pessary on the meantime and practice the pelvic floor exercises.

Thank you for asking.

How are you doing?