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Hey Stac… Nobody Told Me We’d Have to Talk About Bladder Leaks After 60

ByV.S. Quinnell

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

We spent generations whispering about this stuff. Maybe it’s time we just talked about it.

There are certain conversations you never imagine having with your daughter.

Then you get older.

She gets older.

And suddenly you find yourself saying things like:

“Hey Stac… did anybody tell you about this?”

Welcome to my life.

If you watched this week’s Hey Stac video on Gigi’s Unfiltered, you already know we covered a LOT.

My knees apparently have their own agenda now. My skin is growing things I didn’t order. Arizona heat and I are no longer friends. I’m keeping a much closer eye on my teeth and gums.

And then we got to number five.

The bladder.

Oh yes, ladies.

We’re going there.

Because somebody needs to.

My Mom Started These Conversations

There’s actually a reason I started Hey Stac.

My mom has always been one to share information with me and my sister when she learns something about women getting older.

I remember her sending me information about menopause because, as she explained it, nobody told women of her generation about these things.

Nobody prepared them.

So when Mom learned something, she made sure her girls knew about it.

Now I’m 68, my daughter Stace has two little ones of her own, and apparently I’ve reached the stage of life where it’s my turn.

Thanks, Mom.

The information is officially trickling down the family tree.

But underneath the humor, I actually love that.

Because there are things happening to our bodies that shouldn’t have to be embarrassing or secret.

And bladder issues are definitely one of them.

My Bladder Story Wasn’t Really About Leaking

I want to make this distinction because it’s important.

Bladder leakage hasn’t been my primary problem.

Mine was urgency and recurring UTI-type problems.

You know that feeling:

I have to go.

Then suddenly:

I HAVE TO GO NOW.

I’ve been there.

Eventually, I was referred to a specialist and had my bladder examined. I made some changes, followed the recommendations I was given, and thankfully I’ve been doing much better.

And yes, during Sunday’s video I went into considerably more detail about that whole adventure.

Because apparently there is no oversharing anymore on Gigi’s Unfiltered.

But dealing with my own bladder issues made me much more aware of something else women experience:

Bladder leakage.

You Laughed. Your Bladder Had Other Plans.

Come on, ladies.

You know what I’m talking about.

You laugh.

You cough.

You sneeze.

You stand up.

And sometimes your bladder decides it would like to participate in the activity.

Surprise!

Maybe it’s occasional. Maybe it’s something you’re dealing with regularly. Maybe it hasn’t happened to you at all.

But why should we be embarrassed to talk about it?

My mother’s generation didn’t necessarily sit around having conversations about bladder leakage, menopause, UTIs, pelvic floors or everything else women’s bodies can experience as they age.

And because nobody talked about it, I think a lot of women assumed they were the only one experiencing it.

That’s the part I want to change.

We’re Not Going to Whisper About It

One of the reasons I’m enjoying building Hey Stac is because I don’t want this series to be medical advice.

Believe me, there is no M.D. after Gigi’s name.

I’m simply a woman who’s lived long enough to have some stories.

And I want us to talk about them.

If something changes with your body, talk with your healthcare provider. If something doesn’t feel right, get it checked.

But while we’re doing that, can’t we also talk to each other?

I think we can.

Actually, I think we should.

Because sometimes knowing another woman has experienced something similar makes it a whole lot easier to start the conversation.

So… What Do You Wear When Leaks Are Part of Your Life?

This is where I recently came across EverLeakProof through my Awin affiliate partnership.

And I want to be very clear about something.

I’m not going to tell you I personally use EverLeakProof when I don’t.

That’s not how we’re doing things around here.

But after talking about bladder leakage in this week’s video, I wanted to share an option for women who do experience leaks and are looking for another way to manage them.

EverLeakProof offers leakproof underwear designed to give women additional protection without making something already personal feel like a bigger production than it needs to be.

👉 SHOP EVERLEAKPROOF HERE

This is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through my link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

I like being able to connect the things we’re actually talking about with products that may be useful to somebody reading.

Not because every woman needs them.

Not because I’m telling you that you should buy them.

But because if you’re sitting there thinking,

“Okay, Gigi. That’s me. What are my options?”

I want to be able to point you toward something you can investigate for yourself.

And Stac, This One Is for You

The funny part is that my daughter may be reading this thinking:

Mother. Really?

Yep.

Really, Stac.

Because Nana did this for me.

When she learned something nobody had told her, she told her girls.

And now I’m telling mine.

Someday my granddaughters will be grown women too.

Maybe they’ll have conversations with their mother about the things their bodies are doing.

Maybe they’ll stumble across an old video of their Gigi sitting with Luna, drinking a glass of wine and telling the entire internet about bladder leakage.

That’s quite a legacy, isn’t it?

But you know what?

I’d be okay with that.

Because maybe they’ll know there’s nothing wrong with asking questions.

Nothing embarrassing about talking about their bodies.

And nothing wrong with saying:

“Nobody told me this could happen.”

Then finding someone who will talk about it.

That’s what my mom did for me.

That’s what I’m doing for Stac.

And that’s what Hey Stac is becoming.

Before You Go…

Watch this week’s Hey Stac: Nobody Told Me These 5 Things Would Happen After 60 on Gigi’s Unfiltered, because bladder issues were only one of the five things we talked about.

We also get into my negotiating knees, skin changes, Arizona heat and my determination to keep these teeth exactly where they belong.

And Luna was there for moral support.

Or gossip.

I’m not entirely sure which.

Then come back and tell me:

What happened as you got older that nobody warned YOU about?

Because I have a feeling the women reading the comments are going to teach all of us a thing or two.

And Stac…

Your mama loves you.

That’s why I’m telling you all this.

THINGS I MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

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