www.incontinentsupport.org

If you have urge incontinence, has it changed since it started?

When mine started I had 3-5 minutes before I started leaking and the urgency wasn't dire until several minutes after the initial urge. After a couple decades I have less than a minute from the initial urge until I start wetting. The urgency has also changed. I go from, "oh I need to pee" to "I have to pee now!" in 10-15 seconds.

Mine has been similar to yours with the exception that it has taken me around six years to get to the one minute or less stage. In addition I have a lot of "after dribble" which can take 3-4 minutes to completely stop. Several years ago I just totally stopped trying to second guess how much protection I might need that day and now just go with full tape-up style diapers 24/7. Once I did that it removed a huge amount of stress and anxiety.

You've just described my issues.

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When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

When my incontinence got more serious about a year ago, the urge gave me several minutes to get to the bathroom. Now, sometimes, I know about the "urge" when I have the sensation that I have already started. It has become worse since I am having to take a diuretic to control the edema in my feet and lower legs. For the first 5-6 hours after taking the diuretic I must wear some seriously thick diapers to handle the urine production, and change them every 2+/- hours. Cloth and PUL pants are handling the challenge.

@Stan

Yikes! I feel ya, the doc has me on a water pill now too that I'm trying manage the change to my habits. Stay strong, you've got this!

_________________
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

I have the same pattern as you but to a lesser degree (or an earlier stage?). When mine started, I had 15 minutes before the disaster (usually enough time to find a bathroom). I could manage it with pads designed for men. Now, I start leaking 5 minutes after the need and of, course, accidents occur more often. I manage it with pants during the day (briefs for long drives). During the night, I need better protection, so I wear briefs (plastic backing) and they are always wet in the morning. I fear I’m slightly going to the “I have to pee now” stage.
Do you think there are differences in urgency causes according to gender?

Cant address the gender issue. If a plastic backed brief (diaper) works for you at night, that's great. I am a side sleeper and most of my output missed the absorbent polymer. Adding inserts helped some but the real solution required a cloth diaper over the disposable and plastic pants over the whole mess. Fortunately (?) my problem seems to have its origin in my spine and I don't have much muscle tone in my bladder wall; I mostly drain by gravity. So leaks are slower when lying down.

We just have to "keep on, keeping on".

You’re right, Stan. Everyone has to find what suits her/him better. I sleep on my back so diapers work best. I prefer when leaks guards are higher. When I drank a lot before sleeping, I add a booster pad.

(A spade is a spade, so let’s call briefs diapers )

Stan / Mr. Robin:
Try using a cotton pad instead of a disposable booster pad, you will be amazed at how quickly the pad will absorb the liquid and distribute it to the rest of the diaper. I can almost guarantee that you will see a huge reduction in leaks. I use WalMart Flour Sack Towels (actually just thin cotton cloths) that are 28'x28" and fold them into 12 layer pads and insert into my night diaper. They only cost $8.00 for ten and I simply rinse them out in the morning and then put them into the wash when convenient. You won't believe how well this hybrid system works!

My incontinence is a combination of urge, stress, and overflow. When I feel the urge, I have little time to get to a bathroom. If I do feel a slight urge, it's not long before it becomes more intense. I begin to slowly leak which turns into a steady stream. Stress can occur from just a slight bending, twisting, lifting. Overflow is due to my retention. Many times I don't sense that my bladder is filling until I start to void. Now that I have heart failure, and am encouraged by my cardiologist to drink 4 liters of water per day; well, you can pretty much guess what that does for my incontinence issues. I have gone from 1-2 diapers per day to 3-4. BUT, I'm still alive!