wwboy wrote:
I’ve had ongoing issues with symptoms of OAB over the last year. Night time accidents returned as week a year ago after about a two year absence. The urologist gave me mybetriq which helps during the day to some degree - but it’s very up and down, super variable in terms of how much urgency I have, how much frequency, and if I have accidents or leakage. It’s so confusing to know what causes symptoms to get worse or better. Some days I feel as though I’m totally normal and crazy for having gone to the urologist in the first place. Other days, like today, I feel like I need to be in full blown diapers all the time.
It was pretty scary actually - exposing. I have graduated to the place where I only wear a male pad or a pull-up when I’m out and about in places that are unusual to me, if I don’t already know what and where the bathrooms are, etc, or when I know I’ll not easily be able to access a bathroom for an hour or two at a time. I generally don’t need to wear anything at home because I can run to the toilet at the first sign and it’s all good.
Well - today I was at work talking to some colleagues in a circle of four men in a hallway. I had had a slight urge a few minutes prior but did some deep kegal squeezes and the sensation had passed. After doing a small 2 minute task with these men, after I had that urge, then standing in the hallway, an urge returned that I honestly don’t know how I kept from flooding my pants. It was awful and scary. They were talking to me and all I could do was nod and smile and plead with myself not to let it happen right in front of them. I was only wearing a male pad and brown lightish tight fitting pants. It would’ve been terrible.
A few spurts came out but I was able to make it pass and that was that.
Ironically, I wouldn’t have had such fear had I been in a regular diaper or even a heavier duty Ns pull-up. But then I am anxious about people noticing that I have a diaper. Ugh. It’d be so much easier to just have pills that work all the way or at least in a reliable way even if the effect was limited. Not being able to know how my bladder will behave is anxiety ridden.
I’m sure I’m not alone - just wanted to share the emotional weight of this stupid thing - at least for me.
While, we agree that a NorthShore Pull-On or NorthShore DynaDry Supreme Liner help relieve anxiety in these situations, it does sound to me like you need to return to the Urologist for some more guidance. There are many possible treatments, many of which may not involve medications. Only a licensed healthcare professional can work with you to find the best combination.
If you find that your current urologist is not that interested in helping you more than the current prescription...don't give up...there are many urologists or continence nurses that specialize in this area and will be able to help you without judging you for your issues.
There are continence nurses that see patients directly. To help find them, look for titles like:
Advanced Practice Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist (CUCNS)
Urologic Nurse Practitioner (CUNP)
I would also suggest discussing with your primary physician and ask for referral for someone like this who specializes in this. Not all Urologists are experts in all aspects of these conditions.
All the best.