FED UP

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Hi,

I am 38 years of age and continue to struggle with incontinence. Was not even sure what it was until I came upon this site which literally gave all the symptoms. I have not yet mentioned it to my general practitioner but I guess I eventually will have too. Its really getting to be a nuisance. I have tried alarms, kegel exercises not sure I would want to try prescriptions but anything at this point in time that will work.

I am here to see what others who have this condition have done or tried in order to help themselves. Last night was what topped me over.

I don't have any questions to at this point in time,but if I do, I am hopeful that someone can help point me in a good direction.

 

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Hi! I am guessing that you are a woman. Sorry this is happening to you. Has this been an ongoing condition or did it begin recently? Are you overweight? Have you tried general exercises, walking, squats? Have you adjusted your diet by avoiding cola drinks (with caffeine), coffee, etc.? I'm mentioning these things to you because I am female, 67 years old, and thought I was beginning to have stress incontinence. I have started exercising every day in a structured class, walking more, and reducing colas and caffeine substantially. I am having MUCH better control, and less frequent urges to urinate. I think the increased exercise and the cola reduction have been the trick for me. Good Luck. Please don't be embarrassed or ashamed. Take care of yourself and get the help that you need. (OOPS, I forgot to add......I'm drinking much, much more water also.)

 

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Hi Bonnie,

Thank you and yes I am a woman . I have been struggling with this since my teens, tried keeping a log, limited my intake of caffeine etc. to nil. I even actually stopped drinking sodas, juices and the likes. I have even limited my intake of water to 5:00 p.m. to be exact as I drink alot of water during the day..The thing is if I don't the kegel exercises before bed it works sometimes and other times not. I do exercise, I am very active. I set my alarm, this as well sometimes work depending how late I go to sleep. At times, I do feel embarrassed especially when the husband gets soaked in the process. But thank god he is understanding. There were times where I did visit my GP for stuff but was to embarrassed to mention this situation. As I am writing this, I think I definitely need to go see my GP.

Thanks Bonnie for the encouragement!!!!

 

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It's hard to advise on what to do if you aren't specific about your symptoms. There are several different kinds on incontinence with different causes. Most common are Overactive Bladder which causes urge incontinence and Stress Incontinence which is common in women after child birth. It can also be a mix of these or one of several other causes.

I gather bedwetting is a major issue for you. I deal with that by wearing diapers to bed. I wake up dry every day now and simply have to throw something in the trash as opposed to urinate all over our marital bed and soaking my wife...and all the laundry.

However, I'd not advise to just resign to diapers without talking to a doctor. Incon is often curable or treatable. It's important to make sure there isn't a serious underlying medical condition. For me, we ruled all that out and the pills didn't help. Diapers keep me dry so that's what I do.

 

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I'd add....I was too embarrassed to tell my doctor too. I made an appointment after not seeing a doctor for 3 years specifically because I wanted to discuss this. I scheduled it as a normal physical and then was too embarrassed to tell him about my continence problems. A few months later I said enough is enough and scheduled an appopintment with a urologist on my own.

 

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Don't be ashamed to discuss this with your MD - as you can see, this is a condition that affects a lot of people. My GP referred me to a woman urologist who specializes in women's urinary tract issues, and she was (and is) a big help. I've been doing kegels and taking medication for a year now, and my symptoms have decreased a lot. I also recommend wearing an adult diaper (I prefer the pull-up kind) to bed at night. Don't be embarrassed to buy them. If other people weren't buying them already, the stores would be stocking them.

 

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Thanks guys for all the positives. Urologists in my country is verrrry expensive, hopefully I'll see one soon for this condition.

 

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what country? I thought everywhere but the US had free healthcare You can start with your GP/PCP before going to a specialist.

 

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Just a small wonder about your bowels and how regular you may be ? How often do you go ? What is your bowel type from 1 - 7 ? What is your diet like ? Are you under or over weight ? Do you have a gastric motility problem ? Constipation plays a big part in bed wetting and wetting problems, as a full rectum and a stretched rectum can sit on the bladder which can send the bladder into spasms. It can cause also cause the bladder to leak or pass frequent amounts. There are lots of things your Dr / Gp needs to check out. So don't be afraid you may have a UTI or a bladder outlet problem. Or simply it is just you. But Don't be afraid. Ask as many questions as possible.