www.incontinentsupport.org

Over the years I've read up as much on incontinence as I've wanted and somewhere I read that if the bladder cannot fill up then it becomes smaller. If I sit for long periods like at a hockey game I don't leak very much until I stand up & then watch out! So I know my bladder does hold something but otherwise I leak pretty much on a constant basis. Either way I was just wondering if in fact the bladder does get smaller due to non use and how small does it get? Weird question I know but I just wanted to know what the facts really are ~ Thanks!

I understand what you are saying. It has been confirmed that my bladder capacity has decreased since I became incontinent. I don't know if my bladder has become smaller, but the amount it will hold has definitely decreased. I used to be able to hold 500-600mL. Now it holds considerably less and I start to leak. You could ask your question to a urologist. It would be interesting. But I am under the impression your bladder capacity can go down.

It has been explained to me that I also leak when I stand because the pelvic floor relaxes more when you suddenly stand. I don't just leak when I stand, I leak when I sit and walk as well, both bladder and bowel.

It's not that the bladder becomes smaller, it's that the muscle looses the ability to stretch. Bladder walls thicken and harden with disuse, which reduces capacity. This is a process that takes years.

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~~PuddleGuy

I know over the last 10+ years, I can not hold nearly as much as I used to... seems back then, I could hold it all day if I really had to before my accident, now I am lucky to get to 250-300 mls before I have the appearance of the "angry bladder". I did do a bladder diary for a few days when I measured at home before I went to the Uro last summer, never asked for it though... Puffy

I have no feeling or control over my bladder. It pretty much leaks constantly which means I seldom have a flood except for when I've been sitting for an extended length of time. I don't seem to leak as much when I'm in a sitting position such as driving my truck. However when I get out of the driver's seat the flood gates open up. I have noticed this after sitting at home or at the movie theater as well as any place I've been sitting for an hour or more. I don't know if the capacity of my bladder has decreased since becoming incontinent. With my situation I guess it doesn't matter anyway.