How do you handle no urge/signal?
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Hi @Koigal, it sounds like you went to work well prepared and you had another pullup available during your shift. The thing about this overactive bladder business is there is no real way to predict how your bladder will act on any given day at any given time. On one day you may need to change during a 7 hour shift and on the next day you can get by wearing just one to work and come home hardly having used it at all and you'll wonder what is going on. It happens!
The best thing to do is to always go prepared which is what you did yesterday and if you need the second one then you have it and if you didn't need it then you'll have a spare to use sometime later. That's the way I see it.
If your need to go through two in a seven hour shift persists and it becomes a daily thing then might be the time to consider an "upgrade!"
But it is unpredictable (at least for me) and it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!! I hope that helps!!
The best thing to do is to always go prepared which is what you did yesterday and if you need the second one then you have it and if you didn't need it then you'll have a spare to use sometime later. That's the way I see it.
If your need to go through two in a seven hour shift persists and it becomes a daily thing then might be the time to consider an "upgrade!"
But it is unpredictable (at least for me) and it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!! I hope that helps!!
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billliveshere said:
@billliveshere It actually does help a lot. I was pondering switching to a purse and lunch box for my next job, but it sounds like it would be wiser to stick with a backpack for now. I am going to be working at a medical supply store so its actually really nice they will sell what I would need if I run out. Do you have any other tips for handling this? I think attempting to go hourly MAY help but unsure. What has helped you most? Yesterday was one of the worst days I have had in quite a while.
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Hi @Koigal,
I'm sorry you had such a trying day yesterday but a lot of this is trial and error. What works for one person may not work for someone who is very similar in many ways to you. It's an individual thing and when you chance upon finding something that works for you and you go with it! And stay with it until you need to adjust your level of protection, whether you need more or need less.
You're going to be working in a medical supply store??? Wow!!! What could be better???? If anything they should be much more understanding of your situation and shouldn't give you any grief about taking bathroom breaks. You really lucked into something good so hang onto that one!!
When do you start this job??
As I see it, you would be the perfect consultant for any customer who is looking for ways to handle incontinence because you can speak frankly about what works for you and what doesn't. I definitely wish you the very best for that job.
And sticking with a backpack would be what I would do if I were you. After all you can put your lunch in there as well as your supplies so that is very workable.
As for tips, well at this point I suggest to go to the bathroom when there's an opportunity even if you don't really feel the need.
At the nature center we were getting ready to take the kids to the dock and I overheard one of the teachers advising a child to "go even if you think you don't need to." Whether the child "went" or not, I have no idea. But it may be something to consider.
I'm sorry you had such a trying day yesterday but a lot of this is trial and error. What works for one person may not work for someone who is very similar in many ways to you. It's an individual thing and when you chance upon finding something that works for you and you go with it! And stay with it until you need to adjust your level of protection, whether you need more or need less.
You're going to be working in a medical supply store??? Wow!!! What could be better???? If anything they should be much more understanding of your situation and shouldn't give you any grief about taking bathroom breaks. You really lucked into something good so hang onto that one!!
When do you start this job??
As I see it, you would be the perfect consultant for any customer who is looking for ways to handle incontinence because you can speak frankly about what works for you and what doesn't. I definitely wish you the very best for that job.
And sticking with a backpack would be what I would do if I were you. After all you can put your lunch in there as well as your supplies so that is very workable.
As for tips, well at this point I suggest to go to the bathroom when there's an opportunity even if you don't really feel the need.
At the nature center we were getting ready to take the kids to the dock and I overheard one of the teachers advising a child to "go even if you think you don't need to." Whether the child "went" or not, I have no idea. But it may be something to consider.
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@billliveshere Thank you, you have literally made the prospect of what may happen a lot less scary. I am beginning to realize it is better to be "over-prepared" rather than under if it is over like an hour or so out, and that is something I think I will incorporate into the future from now on. I am planning to stick with the company because they are very close to home and I know most people there are "lifers" rather than leaving rapidly like a revolving door. I think in time it will get easier, but it is also refreshing to hear that each day is different, it is easy to panic and assume a bad day = every day, which isn't the case.
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Congratulations on getting a new job Koigal. I hope it will work out better than your current one. It is certainly a good sign that they sell incontinence supplies. I would hope that they have compassion and understanding for people who have to use the products they sell.Koigal said:
I think its a very good idea to keep using a backpack until you are familiar with your new workplace. It is always better to carry more than you need than to need more than you carry.
I am interested to know how much information about your incontinence you have shared (or intend to share) with your new employer.
I haven't changed employers for a long time but "having the conversation" and how to manage that is something I worry about. In fact it is a big part of why I have chosen to "hunker down in place" since my prostatectomy.
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Just finished making a better backpack, and the medical alert may help people be more aware.
@Phil6003 I have a medical note, but also I got very lucky to have picked a job near the shopping center with the medical supply stuff. I mentioned one of the reasons I am leaving my old job was because it was hard to get bathroom breaks which lead to bigger issues, and they were very understanding about it from what it sounded. The true test will be how they handle me at work, since every day is different *a blessing and a curse in a way*.
Its such a hard thing to say because I have had one job REFUSE to hire me when I said I may need breaks every hour for a medical condition (some small businesses cannot accommodate medical needs, from what I have gathered of my 12 years working jobs) . I do not normally advocate for communicating that during an interview, but in this case that was a big part of the reason I had to leave my job. I am going to be open about my issues at work because it doesn't really matter. People don't seem to treat me any different, and if they make comments I can often point out its because someone screwed a surgery up, which would make them look like morons so to speak.
The one thing I can say here personally is since I am close to one of the bigger medical centers in the US, health problems have been way more frequently discussed here, which has been really refreshing. I moved from a larger city where most people didn't share anything unless they were really sick, to a smaller one where everyone is more open.
Are you happy at your current job, or do you want to seek out other employment? I have heard prostatectomies are very.. they can cause a lot of issues. Doctors do not seem to warn patients about risks, and its heartbreaking.
@Phil6003 I have a medical note, but also I got very lucky to have picked a job near the shopping center with the medical supply stuff. I mentioned one of the reasons I am leaving my old job was because it was hard to get bathroom breaks which lead to bigger issues, and they were very understanding about it from what it sounded. The true test will be how they handle me at work, since every day is different *a blessing and a curse in a way*.
Its such a hard thing to say because I have had one job REFUSE to hire me when I said I may need breaks every hour for a medical condition (some small businesses cannot accommodate medical needs, from what I have gathered of my 12 years working jobs) . I do not normally advocate for communicating that during an interview, but in this case that was a big part of the reason I had to leave my job. I am going to be open about my issues at work because it doesn't really matter. People don't seem to treat me any different, and if they make comments I can often point out its because someone screwed a surgery up, which would make them look like morons so to speak.
The one thing I can say here personally is since I am close to one of the bigger medical centers in the US, health problems have been way more frequently discussed here, which has been really refreshing. I moved from a larger city where most people didn't share anything unless they were really sick, to a smaller one where everyone is more open.
Are you happy at your current job, or do you want to seek out other employment? I have heard prostatectomies are very.. they can cause a lot of issues. Doctors do not seem to warn patients about risks, and its heartbreaking.
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@Boomersway Thank you for suggesting that! That did help back when I was able to do that, but after moving I didn't take supplies with me. I will be sure to let them know when I can see a specialist, but my issues fluctuate often. ISC helped me empty better for sure and I think there was less issue.
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I would call your specialist, if you have long term urinary issues like mine, a phone call will get the supplies to you quick. You need diapers yes, but you need to empty your bladder fully. Please dont mess around with this, as UTI's are just a warning, from your body. Also with these type of issues, a Foley will work, for a while as you get things underway.
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@Boomersway I will do so as soon as I am able with the new specialist, but I will say its possible undiagnosed overflow incontinence *that would make sense*. I recently moved closer to some place that has better hospitals and care so I have to wait hopefully no more than a month. They are going to have a tough job figuring this out, but you are 100 percent right, UTI's are awful. I have considered doing a Foley if it would make my life easier but I also want to see what they say.
In a given day it can be 1 pullup is needed tops, and ive had other days where I have used 3 full Abena M4's. My past uro said my kidneys or bladder fill too fast, couldn't provide a reason why. They also mentioned increased pressure on my bladder/pelvic area and they didn't know why either. I am thankful I left the old place because they were content giving me "We don't know" answers. They claimed via cystoscopy my bladder looks normal, they said capacity is higher/normal. All these puzzle pieces, hopefully will some day make sense. I am going to over-stock pullups and be prepared for what the day throws at me with work.
In a given day it can be 1 pullup is needed tops, and ive had other days where I have used 3 full Abena M4's. My past uro said my kidneys or bladder fill too fast, couldn't provide a reason why. They also mentioned increased pressure on my bladder/pelvic area and they didn't know why either. I am thankful I left the old place because they were content giving me "We don't know" answers. They claimed via cystoscopy my bladder looks normal, they said capacity is higher/normal. All these puzzle pieces, hopefully will some day make sense. I am going to over-stock pullups and be prepared for what the day throws at me with work.
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I have had my urologist suggest and prescribe diapers for me. However; my economic level bars me from getting Medicaid and not yet old enough for Medicare. My private insurance would not pay for my diapers even though I had a Dr.'s prescription, a letter of necessity and other medical proof that clearly showed that diapers were necessary for me to have.
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Hi @Koigal, it sounds like you have really taken ownership of this and that is really good!!! Way to go!!!
. I think you are going to do just fine and it doesn't seem like this issue is going to get the best of you!!!
I do have a tip for you (and for anyone else) for when you try a new product. Since not all pull-ups are the same, they do vary in absorbency and comfort quite a bit. When you get a new brand, the best place to test it out to see what its fullest capacity is, is at home! So home is the testing ground, as it were. If you wear a brand you haven't worn before and the first time you wear is for a day at work, then it may not be such a good idea, especially if the product doesn't meet your needs! So if a new product is going to "blow out" on you, it's far better for it to happen at home than out in public!
I have had times when something like that happened and I was most happy I was at home and not walking out in the middle of the woods or doing food shopping!!
Usually in an interview they may ask in a roundabout way if you are physically able to do the job according to the job description. They can't point-blank ask things like "do you have a handicap? Are you married? Are you planning to have kid? Are you Catholic? Jewish? Protestant?" In other words it's against the law to ask such personal questions.
They may legally ask if you are able to do the job. And they may also ask do you need accommodations to do the job.
"The only thing I ask is for access to a bathroom to accommodate a medical condition," may be appropriate for you to tell the interviewer. You don't need to specify what the condition is. I don't think they can legally do that.
But as you suggested you can be open about your issue which I think is positive since it shows you have control of the situation and of your destiny at the company.
"I have this.....(condition) and I know how to manage it properly without any disruption to the work routine," something like that might be a good thing to say.
So having control of your destiny will work very nicely in your favor and your good attitude will take you a long way!!!!
. I think you are going to do just fine and it doesn't seem like this issue is going to get the best of you!!!I do have a tip for you (and for anyone else) for when you try a new product. Since not all pull-ups are the same, they do vary in absorbency and comfort quite a bit. When you get a new brand, the best place to test it out to see what its fullest capacity is, is at home! So home is the testing ground, as it were. If you wear a brand you haven't worn before and the first time you wear is for a day at work, then it may not be such a good idea, especially if the product doesn't meet your needs! So if a new product is going to "blow out" on you, it's far better for it to happen at home than out in public!
I have had times when something like that happened and I was most happy I was at home and not walking out in the middle of the woods or doing food shopping!!
Usually in an interview they may ask in a roundabout way if you are physically able to do the job according to the job description. They can't point-blank ask things like "do you have a handicap? Are you married? Are you planning to have kid? Are you Catholic? Jewish? Protestant?" In other words it's against the law to ask such personal questions.
They may legally ask if you are able to do the job. And they may also ask do you need accommodations to do the job.
"The only thing I ask is for access to a bathroom to accommodate a medical condition," may be appropriate for you to tell the interviewer. You don't need to specify what the condition is. I don't think they can legally do that.
But as you suggested you can be open about your issue which I think is positive since it shows you have control of the situation and of your destiny at the company.
"I have this.....(condition) and I know how to manage it properly without any disruption to the work routine," something like that might be a good thing to say.
So having control of your destiny will work very nicely in your favor and your good attitude will take you a long way!!!!
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@Koigal I get the impression that you’re younger than me. Even at my age (I’ve had incontinence since I was 39 and am now 45) my doctors have refused to have me cathing because it scars every body part it touches, which can lead to a narrowing of both urethra and bladder and lead to significantly worse problems and serious surgeries. Pull-ups are a much better solution to cathing, but to each his own. My doctors have said cathing is done as a final step when nothing else will work, and that they won’t prescribe it until I’m over 70+.
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@snow, you are much better off NOT cathing because you definitely don't need narrowing of urethra and bladder which can lead to surgery and other problems down the road. No one needs those complications!! And by the time you're 70 "they" will probably come up with much better ways than catheters!!! Or I would hope so!!!!
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@Koigal thanks for the response. I am impressed with the open way you have addressed your condition with your new employers. I'm sure that will make for a really good start in your new workplace.
You are right - in my case I had a lot go wrong with my prostatectomy (which I may post about separately). This has definitely held me back from trying to progress my career any further.
That said, my current employer was really good when I got my cancer diagnosis. They gave me heaps of time off after my operation, and allowed me to work back up to full-time hours over several weeks. Then they let me drop back to part-time when it was clear that I couldn't cope. It really helped me to stay in work, and by that stage I didn't care about a career any more. I am now just focussed on earning enough to survive.
Thanks for the photo of your backpack. It looks practical, and having the medical alert tag so prominent is an excellent way to make your needs clear.
Please keep us posted on how the new job works out.
You are right - in my case I had a lot go wrong with my prostatectomy (which I may post about separately). This has definitely held me back from trying to progress my career any further.
That said, my current employer was really good when I got my cancer diagnosis. They gave me heaps of time off after my operation, and allowed me to work back up to full-time hours over several weeks. Then they let me drop back to part-time when it was clear that I couldn't cope. It really helped me to stay in work, and by that stage I didn't care about a career any more. I am now just focussed on earning enough to survive.
Thanks for the photo of your backpack. It looks practical, and having the medical alert tag so prominent is an excellent way to make your needs clear.
Please keep us posted on how the new job works out.
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