www.incontinentsupport.org

hello, I'm Maddy and 22 suffering with incontinence... but I have been suffering since a child (no idea when it started, but I realised I was 'different' when about 8 years old)

I have been to the nurse and she just basically told me to exercise and do swats... I walk 6 miles a day (3 miles to and from work) and then some in between to go to the shop and walking around the office etc (which is more walking than you would think!)

I also go to the gym when I can be bothered too, and do an awful lot of 'swatting' when cleaning out my animal cages (6 Degus at the moment for those who are interested - I foster them:).

I was also advised to try and stop urinating whilst on the toilet then start again and then stop again - I can't do it. When I start weeing i can't stop - I can slow it down... but i can't stop it, and if i get close to stopping it it is painful.

I don't want to go back to the doctors - she was so arrogant about it like I wasn't even trying - and I really really have. Its embarrassing and i just don't feel like my nurse understands.

I do have IBS and Coeliacs disease too and I didn't have much help getting diagnosed with that until my immunologist helped. - in short my doctors are crap!

If your doctor is unsympathetic and arrogant, you need to find someone else.

I know, My doctors really are bad - But there is no where as convenient and everywhere that is convenient has a waiting list and because i'm quite regular at the doctors with other issues when i do go I feel very rushed and that they don't take my 'minor' concerns seriously.

Hi Maddy,
I have the same problem. I have mild incontinence and went to my GP to try and find out why this was happening to me. I was told because I was reaching the menopause i could expect this to happen. i was made to feel as if I shouldn't be there, bothering them with my little problem. I have sorted this problem out by myself. I have incontinence, probably due to my age. I wear protection- tena pads and still do physical exercise. I run twice a week at present, and I just get on with my life.
I since haven't been back to the GP with my problem and shall probably never go back.
So much for them being a caring profession. i live my life the way, i want to and if that means wearing protection, well that is what I will do.
Look forward to hearing from you.
from Kakapo

nearly lost this topic i was first looking at (my eyes)

any way when i first went to a clinic i got the treatment of exercises even though a scan was showing some kind of problem which then got ignored.

the shocker then came when i moved and another scan showed my bladder was not working properly, took many tests to find it had enlarged to the point of no return.

as for incontinence now, have to attend hospital on regular intervals and am also taking new medication, medication was a long way coming but glad i stuck out and got it.

mike

Maddy, first, I'd try another doctor. Then, I'd try to get used to the idea that it's unlikely your problem is going to go away completely. There might be things you can do to help, but it sounds like something you were born with and just might have to learn to live with.

I've tried medication but the side effects were unacceptable, besides the fact that they didn't help. I wear Abena pullups at night and can often go a good bit of the day with nothing but will wear pads or diapers if I am going to be out a while. I deal with my issues and don't care to spend the rest of my life sitting in doctors' offices trying things like bladder training, getting up all night long, etc. For me it's easier that way.

Good luck.

_________________
Fred

Kakapo, I tend to echo your sentiments. I'm 63 and have had leakage problems for about three years now. My doctor is professional and sympathetic, but sometimes I just wish he'd look me in the eye and say "you're going to have to live with it." In the meantime, I am. I know what to wear and when, and only occasionally have an embarrassing accident.

Being male, I still want to have my prostate checked (my problem is not prostate related) so I'll keep going back. The last visit he said, next time we'll try such-and-such a test. Well, if such-and-such is likely to help, why not try it now, instead of six months from now? They don't want to let go of you. They want to keep the flow of money coming in. I'll keep an eye on the prostate, but in the meantime, it's put on the didy, wet the didy, change the didy. It's much easier that way.

_________________
Fred

Many doctors are taught to keep patients coming back for life. They are actually told to keep bringing patients back so they can bill an office visit for each test. That way they can bill more money for the same problem. In an HMO or the VA doctors don't get paid on stringing patients along, and that goes against everything they were taught in Med school.

A little tip: If your doctor is constantly pushing a certain drug to "address" your problem, they are getting paid by the pharmaceutical company to move that drug regardless of the potential health risks. The FDA's only requirement for a medication to be "safe" is to not have any documented deaths proven to be the direct result of taking said medication. They have volumes or regulations, but that is the bottom line. Every drug has side effects! Even if they don't kill you most will have a significant health impact. Your kidney and liver are the two organs you can't live very long without, and that is where the drugs end up.

If your doctor treats you like an income stream it's time to look for a new doctor. There are good ones out there.

_________________
When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.