I usually have to set what I feel is a reasonable number in my head. I tell myself "When I count up to 100... Then I can go to the bathroom" (100 being a variable number based on the reality of the situation). Then I slowly count to that number, and focus on that. It really seems to work for me. Just don't set your number too low!

I've had this problem ever since I had a hysterectomy 5 years ago which I think was messed up but can't prove it.

I've just adapted by wearing really thick (overnight) variety pads, day and night. I sometimes have to change them as often as 3 times a day. If I didn't, I would be a soggy mess. At least with the pads, you don't have to worry as much.

It's a nuisance, but it beats worrying about soiling your clothes.

It's a weird kind of mental conditioning, but I totally get ya (mine has to do w/ the closer I get to home & by the time I'm fumbling w/ keys in the locks, It's getting pretty dicey ~ if I were somewhere else at that exact moment, it wouldn't be happening).

I think this has helped me a little:
[1] I picture myself arriving home & going to do very specific things in a specific order before finally going to the restroom (try to break your brain's habit of triggering what you're not ready for), &
[2] I drink lots of water before bed so that when I wake w/ a full bladder, I have practice time of holding it, getting used to the feeling & again, envisioning myself being in control, doing what I elect to do before I finally go to the restroom.

Hope that makes sense; hope that helps (I'm not sure that I even articulated it in a sensible way) ~ GOOD LUCK!

I've had a neurogenic bladder for ten yrs. Unfortunately with MS, you need to learn to deal with it. Have you tried Detrol or that family of meds?

Best advice I can give is to wear a protective "guard"... You can still go through them and soil your clothing, but in my case, it gives me enough time to get to a restroom.

If your Urologist suggests "bladder training" -- and you have MS -- tell him/her so. With me, bladder training just resulted in a lot of extra laundry.

Hi I. Always seem desperate to pee so I've decided to wear disposable underware and incredibly i haven't soiled any yet ,and I wear real underware over them so they are unnoticed. Hope this helps and don't forget to laugh.

Thanks for the tips. The counting is a great way to help me delay a little, still being able to see the end in sight. I love the lots of water at bed time. I have been wanting to try increasing my capacity, but did not want to be uncomfortable during the day.

And wearing a thick sanitary pad to events does help me feel more confident that I have a little extra time to get to the toilet. Hoping I can manage using these techniques.

I've been working on this issue for a couple of years ... I had a hysterectomy/ pelvic lift and then was told I likely had MS. Might have rethought the whole surgery solution if I had known. But that is water under the bridge - (so to speak LOL) but seriously, my doc suggested the counting technique which has helped immensely. I still need to locate a bathroom as soon as I think about needing to go but at least now I usually have the time to find one! My biggest problem is once I get to a bathroom actually getting my pants down before I start going - hence the need for pads. Which thankfully they make! Good luck and keep practicing!

Sounds like we have some of the same issues with bladder control. Have you tried pelvic floor muscle training? I started this type of therapy about a month ago & I am really starting to realize some success with this type of therapy.

I went through all this & it can be horrible for sure. Certainly do the other things like counting & retrain your pelvic muscles.
In the meantime I would wear the incontinence pants to give you a sense of security. You can get them in a variety of different sizes (hold different amount of leakage) & as you get more control decrease the size of the pants/pads.
That might give you more confidence & as you train your bladder to wait, last longer & count to last longer too.
Take care & try not to stress too as that doesnt help at all

I hv this problem with bowels seriously, bladder I hv a problem with leaking so I wear a liner fit for bladder control.

I am not happy you're all having this problem,but am glad to know that it is a real problem ,and I'm not the only one.
I try all types of mind distractions. Concentrating on objects I see I around the room,counting, anything to distract my mind.It is a really crazy thing.

I used to think that the only real way that MS affected the bladder was complete incontinence... "going" without feeling the urge or even knowing you are about to urinate. Maybe that happens in some cases, but what I've started to experience over the last several years would be summed up by your title... "mental urge incontinence" ... with an emphasis on "mental."

If I really have to "go" but am no where close to a restroom, I can seem to make my way to a restroom just fine and even wait a little while if I need to if one isn't available. But, the closer I get to the actual restroom and then the closer I get to the toilet... the more trouble I have. If I get into a public restroom and then find there's a line once inside... it takes a minute or two to adjust my expectations. Then, I have to actually hypnotize myself... getting into a zone of sorts and telling myself to "hold it," etc... until my turn comes up.

Then of course once it is my turn, the mental urge hits again and it's always a struggle to move fast enough to close the stall door, hang my bag, and get it all done in time. Of course, if I had to, I would have been able to wait longer away from a restroom... but the toilet and even the restroom provide some sort of mental cue I can't seem to overcome.

I used to think it couldn't be MS, because it seemed so related to mental cues rather than the sort of incontinence I used to imagine being associated with MS... which I always thought would be totally out of my control. But, I do find success by getting into a self hypnotic zone... so gratefully... things are good for now.

If I had any advice to give, it would be to learn how to do self hypnosis, "go" when you don't think you have to (if you are out and about with an opportunity), and drink more when you have easy access to a toilet. I actually find urge incontinence to be worse when I am less hydrated... so maybe drinking more might help. I also keep the toilet seat lid up at home as much as possible, because sometimes the act of bending over to lift the toilet seat lid makes it even harder to keep control. The pelvic floor exercise idea sounds good too... that's something I'll try. Of course, I have resorted to crossing my legs at times... which works great... boy, I hope I'm not alone. :)