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When to 'go'

(64 Posts)
ExDancer Tue 14-Mar-23 14:05:50

My mum always told us not to go for a 'wee' at the first sign, but to hold on for as long as we could because it was 'good for us'.
Her reasoning was that it trained our bladders to hold more and grow stronger.
Now I am older I'm not sure she was right.
What is the up to date thinking on the subject?

mokryna Thu 16-Mar-23 12:04:34

Wyllow snap I have been doing that for years even for my children.

Warbler Thu 16-Mar-23 11:52:41

A Shewee is an absolute essential these days. You can do it standing up. Anywhere.

missdeke Thu 16-Mar-23 11:36:37

Well I had bladder cancer and now have a urostomy pouch, my 'golden Gucci'. It's been an absolute boon, easier to empty, even in the car straight into a bottle if necessary and I never have to get up in the night for a wee. Silver Linings grin

Cambia Thu 16-Mar-23 11:18:49

Yes, thought I was hidden from sight on the moors one day and suddenly a flight of hang gliders appeared right above my head! Oh well, too late to stop!

swampy1961 Wed 15-Mar-23 16:23:50

I always go before leaving the house as you can bet I'd want to go when I was out.
But if I'm out with the GCs I will ask them to try when we go to the toilets - 9 times out of 10 they will go!! Which saves the panic when one says I need a wee!!
Has anyone ever noticed that if you are out having a meal or whatever that one will pipe up that they need a wee as soon as their food is put in front of them?

grannyactivist Wed 15-Mar-23 16:02:04

Thoro

This is the advice from NHS.
I go whenever the opportunity presents itself!

This advice is for people experiencing urinary incontinence, which itself can be brought on by women ‘holding on’ and thereby weakening the bladder muscles. ‘Go’ when you can, not when you must. 😁

Thoro Wed 15-Mar-23 15:51:55

This is the advice from NHS.
I go whenever the opportunity presents itself!

crazyH Wed 15-Mar-23 14:03:49

Tizliz - as I type 😂

Tizliz Wed 15-Mar-23 13:57:46

How many have done their pelvic floor exercises whilst reading this thread 🤣🤣

dogsmother Wed 15-Mar-23 13:26:01

Haha my favourite subject…
Always told by my mother to go before you went out…trained all my children the same. Had gynae problems later life was told to stop going so frequently, have a word with my self and get on with pelvic floor again as per post natal. Move on a few years and had bladder cancer….all sorted for now.
I took a shewee to Reading festival…. Very useful! And I’ve never shied away from using whichever public toilet was free ( if it looked clean) disabled only means bigger in my mind, not exclusive.

Gin Wed 15-Mar-23 11:39:32

I ‘hold on’ with moderation or else would be up and down like a yoyo as recommended by the renal doctor.

When my children were young we took them tobogganing up a mountain in Italy. Desperate for a wee, I climbed over the snow piled waist high at the edge of the road by ploughs, squatted down and mid-stream began to move with gathering speed down the mountainside, only stopping when a tree conveniently ended my flight. My rear end was somewhat frozen!

Shinamae Wed 15-Mar-23 10:08:55

My urologist told me to hold it, and that the feeling to go would pass, and I find that the truth, she said to go too often made the bladder irritable…🤓

FannyCornforth Wed 15-Mar-23 09:58:42

I’ve just read that it was due to a steel sewage tank springing a leak.
Not due to weeing outside

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/glastonbury-festival-fined-ps31-000-after-leak-of-human-waste-kills-protected-fish-a7047266.html?amp

Sparklefizz Wed 15-Mar-23 08:34:14

And apparently 250,000 Glasto festival goers doing al fresco weeing killed off all the fish in the nearby river when the rain washed all that urine there.

FannyCornforth Wed 15-Mar-23 03:29:50

While at Glastonbury I honed the art of festival chic / al fresco weeing.
If you have ever been to Glastonbury you will understand the importance of by passing the portaloos if at all possible - and even worse, the horrifying wooden plank over a ditch set up 😱

It involves wearing a maxi dress and no knickers; kneeling down near the edge of some bushes and casually chatting to your companion, as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening blush

biglouis Tue 14-Mar-23 23:55:40

Whenever we went on a day out or to the city my mother would always ask when we were in a cafe, shop or somewhere with a toilet "Does anyone want to go?"

I can remember once walking around Venice in agony and when I found the public toilets (not easy) there was a big queue for the ladies. I nipped into the mens and got glared at coming out.

Rosie51 Tue 14-Mar-23 23:49:07

Callistemon21

No, I think she was wrong.

Pelvic floor exercises are the training we need.

Years ago we met up with friends when we were touring overseas and her advice to me was sound: "Never pass a loo without taking the opportunity. You never know where the next one might be".

I seem to be quoting lots of your posts recently smile

"Never pass a loo without taking the opportunity. You never know where the next one might be".

When I went to the Chelsea Flower Show some years ago I remembered Alan Titchmarsh's advice which was to 'go' when you saw one, whether you 'needed' to or not. I was so glad I did, saved frantic searching as they weren't that plentiful!

nanna8 Tue 14-Mar-23 23:44:04

I don’t like weeing in the shower or bath but I have been known to do a sea-wee. I wish I didn’t have to wee so often. When I was young I could go for hours but not now and it is awkward at times. I always check out where the loos are wherever we go and I didn’t like France where they all seemed to be hidden, won’t be going there again for sure.

Blossoming Tue 14-Mar-23 23:30:32

It takes me so long to reach the bathroom I have to set off at the first sign of wanting to go!

Mogsmaw Tue 14-Mar-23 23:20:10

For alfresco wee-ing, I can recommend the shewee or equivalent. Practice in the shower and you’ll be “good to go!” Lockdown trips to the chemist for my sister were a nightmare! A 60 min walk through town with an indeterminate time queuing, and no toilets! I ware skirts so I once found myself leaning on an underpass over a drain with my underwear discreetly lowered gently directing into the drain. I was sure I could stop if someone appeared! Dark days?
I have always had a problem with urge incontinence and “doorstepping” so I try to suppress the overwhelming urge and go when I choose. So, when I arrive home “bursting” I try to resist or I’ll never make it then go later.
I’ve relentlessly done my pelvic floor exercises and I’m getting some relief.
Urgent incontinence is like an evil imp on your shoulder, you only have to let the thought cross your mind you can’t get to a loo and off it goes.

BlueBelle Tue 14-Mar-23 22:51:52

I was out once in the country and was desperate I saw a tree a good few feet away from the path that was big enough for me to get behind and not be seen from the path so I drop my drawers and am mid stream when I looked up and realised there was another path above my one and on the ‘other’ side of the tree with a great view for everyone walking along this upper path !!!

Wyllow3 Tue 14-Mar-23 22:46:56

Callistemon21

No, I think she was wrong.

Pelvic floor exercises are the training we need.

Years ago we met up with friends when we were touring overseas and her advice to me was sound: "Never pass a loo without taking the opportunity. You never know where the next one might be".

Oh most definitely re taking opportunities.

Troubles with bushes plan: open fell walking. Route planning in advance required. Not sure about plan when knees won't behave.

Honesty required: when on beach
do you decide to take convenient dip...

I'm not letting on....

Hellogirl1 Tue 14-Mar-23 22:32:24

Also, I find that the longer I hold on, the sooner I need to go again.

crazyH Tue 14-Mar-23 22:24:51

Urmstongran - love your mum 😂

LRavenscroft Tue 14-Mar-23 22:18:22

I would say every three hours or so and when you are about to go out or leave a restaurant. Also, try to spread your drinks throughout the day. Oh, and last thing at night.