www.incontinentsupport.org

Hello!

I've been stalking the boards for a while now and thought it was time to join the conversation. First, this site is pretty incredible; I'm so glad I stumbled across it. I've not seen a more encouraging and helpful group that was able to stay (mostly!) focused on incontinence needs.

My wetting issues started when I was young (I'm 31 now) I had a congenital urethral valve that was discovered and removed when I was 11, that caused overflow and some urge incontinence. Up to that point, I wet every night and had regular daytime accidents. After the valve was removed, the wetting tapered off over the next couple years and by the time I was in High School, the bedwetting had stopped and only very occasional daytime accidents. It continued like that until about a year ago, when the daytime urge accidents started increasing again. Because the valve was there while by bladder developed, it doesn't function quite normally. I have very little feeling in my bladder and typically only know that I need to go by the strong urges when it starts to get full. I've been able to hold the urges for years (way too many Kegels as a teen!), but now i'm struggling to hold them and have had more frequent leaks (a few times a week).

I have a stricture due to the valve and the work they did on my urethra as a kid. I've had to have that repaired once a few years ago, and am hoping that I won't need a Urethroplasty, which is a MAJOR surgery. The urethroplasty might help with the urge incontinence, but it seems like overkill if there is no retention.

I've gone back to wearing some type of protection anytime I leave home after having several big public accidents. I mostly use pullups, but also mix in some regular diapers if I am going to be away from a bathroom for a long time. While diapers were a part of my life for a long time, I'm still getting used to needing them again after almost 15 years out of them.

Sorry to be long-winded! I look forward to getting to know some of you!
-Scott

Howdy Scott

Welcome to our little family here.

Schoppy

Hello,

Welcome! I know it's hard to get to wearing protection again, but you can do it - I found self-confidence to be the most important trait in order to cope with our problems and to be able to still function in outside world. At least I know how much did self-confidence help myself in order to achieve what I always wanted to achieve - I wanted to feel free, but unfortunately due to problems with IC I have been very closed and isolated socially person. I managed to develop the mindset, that helped me understand basic principles in life and I managed to found some goals in my life to pursue. I also noticed, that being focused on something - some goal that you pursue, helps you get through all of those problems that you cope with in your daily life.
I see, that you know what you are doing and despite the problems that you encounter on daily basis, you know what to do and probably know your end-game as well

Wish you all the best!

Welcome to the group. Like you I read the board for a little bit before joining. You will find a lot of useful information here along with the diaper primer and introduction to wearing diapers http://www.incontinentsupport.org/Intro ... iapers.pdf.

Welcome Scott,

As you already know, we understand having big public accidents. Collectively we probably represent just about any kind of incontinence problem you could think of. Do read the New Diaper Primer and the Introduction to Adult Diapers. Then just browse through the archives of old messages. There is a lot of very useful information there.

It will be interesting to read your observations about wearing diapers again after a 15-year hiatus. Fortunately the disposable diapers have improved after 15 years!

--John
(double incontinent)

Add my welcome to those above. Because we are all different, to some degree, but share this common malady, we each have a unique take on incontinence. I welcome your insights.

Hi! I, too, am new to this forum. Thank you for adding me! I looked around for an Intro discussion group, but couldn't find one, so I'll tag on to this one...

I'm a soon-to-be 50 yr old guy who, over the past 2-3 years has become increasingly incontinent of urine. The abbreviated version is my daytime issues seems to be well controlled with medication and strengthening exercises, but I am now diaper dependent at night for the past 4 months and counting. I joined this forum to learn about my/our issues, and to hopefully find answers to some questions as they come up - particularly as my urologist offers different courses of treatment.

Looking forward to being an active part of this community.

_________________
"When you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."

Thanks for the words of welcome! And welcome to bugles!