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Tabitha Brown is known for many things. Her roles in shows such as “The Chi” and “For the Love of Jason.” He won an Emmy Award as the host of “Tub Time,” a popular show among preschoolers. And of course, her warm smile and personality have a lot to do with how popular Brown has become on social media. With 4.4 million followers on Instagram alone, Brown has attracted fans who love her playful sense of humor, encouraging affirmations, vegan recipes, and determination to keep things real.
It was this last quality that led Brown to open up about an often-hidden health issue: bladder leakage. “Bladder leakage became a part of my life after I had my last child,” Brown told SheKnows. “My bladder was like, ‘Girl, you can be on your own these days.’
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Brown began experiencing bladder leakage after giving birth to her son, Quest, in 2012. According to the Cleveland Clinic, she developed bladder prolapse as a result of her pregnancy. It occurs when the ligaments and muscles around the bladder become stretched or weakened. It causes sagging of the bladder. “It feels like my bladder has dropped down,” Brown explained. “I felt weak.” Bladder prolapse can lead to urinary incontinence, or inadvertently peeing, and that’s exactly what happened to Brown.
In fact, she still remembers the first time it happened. “I just sneezed and it stung,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Wait a minute.’ What the hell just happened?’ But that was the beginning.” It bothers the Tab Time star, especially when he has a cold or a cough. It’s something to continue. “If I have a coughing fit where I can’t stop coughing for a few seconds, I think, ‘Oh my god,’ and I might pee on myself,” she says.
Brown is one of many women who experience bladder leakage. According to one study, a whopping 53% of women in the United States experience these symptoms. But despite how common it is, Brown was shocked by the silence around this topic. “I thought, how many women don’t talk about this?” she says. From there, her decision to break the stigma herself was a simple one. “If I start talking about it, other women will feel good about it and feel less alone.”
Brown has since partnered with Always Discreet incontinence pads and has been using them since switching from panty liners. “There are no leaks or odors or anything like that,” she says. In a study conducted by Always Discreet, 88% of women who experienced bladder leakage said it interfered with their daily moments and activities, and Brown says pads are a good solution. states. “You can keep it on just in case.” Related article: Duchess Kate reveals how her cancer experience will influence future royal appearances
For Brown, the trend of taking control of her own health continues. Seven years ago, Brown experienced mysterious health issues ranging from chronic headaches to pain, fatigue and even vision problems. Brown said it lasted a year and a half before the documentary “What the Health” inspired her to reflect on her family’s health history. “My mother passed away when she was 51, and my father, who just turned 73, is the oldest in the family,” Brown explains. “No one in my family gets older and gets sick faster, but the only thing I can think of is that we eat the same way.”
Brown took on a 30-day vegan challenge to see what would happen. “I was like, ‘Well, this is something I’ve never tried,'” she recalls.
After 10 days, her headaches were gone, so Brown continued going and watched her health continue to improve. “After six or seven weeks, I started having energy again. I no longer have chronic fatigue,” she says. “I no longer had anxiety or panic attacks. I was just starting to feel better.”
Since then, Brown has become famous as a vegan influencer, sharing tips and recipes on social media and publishing a New York Times bestselling cookbook, Cooking From the Spirit. Of course, the mother of two also had to balance her own dietary needs with the needs of other family members. At first, the whole family joined her in the 30-day challenge. Brown’s husband and son went back to eating chicken and fish, but her daughter, Choice, remained vegan with her mother for about two years.
When Choice decided to start eating meat and fish again, Tabitha was supportive. “I was like, ‘Honey, that’s your job,'” she told her daughter, now 23. For Brown, it’s important that children and families make their own decisions about what’s best for them. “You can’t force your life on someone else, even if you’re a parent,” she points out. “You have to be willing to go alone on a journey that may sometimes save your life.”
Still, when her husband or son wants meat, she will be willing to participate. “My husband knows that if he wants it, he has to order the main thing,” Brown says. “We’ll grill all sides!”
Before you go, read about celebrities who are working to end health stigma.
