It took an embarrassing accident during my Pilates class to discover the solution to my incontinence!

TOOK UP Pilates when I retired to improve my balance and flexibility.

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I go to classes every week at the village hall, and afterwards we all have a catch-up and natter in the tea rooms next door. I have been going for five years now and made some lovely friends.

"It was the highlight of my week, I loved the sense of community and I rarely missed a class, but a few months ago that all changed, and I was too embarrassed to face going again.

"It was towards the end of a class when I had a tickle in my throat and coughed, which caused me to wet myself. When I looked down, I could see that my leggings were really wet. I was mortified. Thankfully, I was near the back of the hall and I prayed no one had noticed.

"The class couldn't end soon enough, and when it did, I grabbed my mat and bag and headed out to my car.

"But my friend Sandra followed me to the car park.

"Sorry, I've got to dash, I'm expecting a delivery at home", I blurted, and jumped into my car.

"Oh, I hope you are ok? Let's catch up soon.

"I smiled and drove off.

"All I could think about was how many people had seen the wet patch and what did Sandra mean by "hope you are ok"? She was behind me in the class, so she must have seen."

It wasn't the first time

"Looking back, there had been signs. I'd had a little leak when I laughed too hard at my book club a few weeks earlier.

"I felt the need to go to the toilet all the time. My bladder was definitely not as strong as it used to be.