How To Cope With Incontinence

1. How To Cope With Incontinence. Story From Life Emma Brown, 38 years old "In our society, there are a lot of taboo topics. And it's not that discussing these topics is prohibited, but just embarrassing and shameful. I always thought that incontinence was something about older people. If it were going to affect me, it would only be in my old age. My 85-year-old grandmother had incontinence. Grandma had dementia and didn't notice much anymore - sometimes, she didn't see that she peed in her clothes. She also had trouble going to the bathroom for big errands. I remembered my grandmother a lot after giving birth. In the maternity ward, I was in a room with another woman. The first day I was scared to get out of bed because I felt fragile. But then I had a strong desire to go to the bathroom, so I got up. Immediately I felt something warm running down my legs. My slippers were in a puddle.

2. I was insanely embarrassed. I knew that I couldn't bend down and clean it up on my own, that I would have to ask someone for help. I still thank in my mind my roommate, who immediately fixed everything and asked the cleaning lady to clean our room urgently. This was my first delivery. I took prenatal classes, read a dozen books, and talked with friends who already had kids. I knew that after childbirth, there could be difficulties with sleep, with my husband, with getting my sex life back, that I could lose my job, and that there could be a lot of unpredictable things in general. But I never thought that one of the big questions for me after childbirth would be, "Will I make it to the bathroom now or not?" I had no information about that. The doctors at the hospital assured me that it would all go away in just a few days. But when I was discharged and went home, the incidents of uncontrolled urination continued. They were persistent at night: I did not always have time to run to the bathroom if I woke up because I needed to go to the bathroom door. The postpartum pads helped a little. But sometimes, I was horrified, thinking: will I now have to order one pack of diapers online for our baby and the other for myself? Walks with the stroller in the park were also sometimes scary. The thought swirled in my head: could I make it home or not? I think I understood then why people buy jogging strollers - because it's not very convenient to develop sprint speed with an ordinary stroller. And seriously, it would be much easier if our public toilets became more decent and there was room in the stall for mom and the stroller. The most obvious solution is to carry a supply of the usual daily pads so we can change them regularly. But daily sanitary pads do not absorb much, and their surface remains wet, which can lead to skin irritation. Then I decided to use incontinence pads for my critical days. They certainly absorbed more, but they didn't solve the issue of the pad's wet surface and odor. I was haunted by the fear that someone would smell that urine, and I changed places often after every trip to the bathroom. I wondered how to go on living with incontinence and how to maintain a habitual way of life. Many women faced with incontinence try to use familiar remedies. Unfortunately, incontinence is not yet talked about openly, and this phenomenon is much more widespread than many people think. Globally, for example, one in three women over the age of 35 has experienced incontinence at least once. In addition, about 10% of adult women say they have episodes of incontinence at least once a week.

3. Of course, the first thing to do when you have episodes of incontinence is to see your doctor. Incontinence can not only be the result of age-related hormonal changes or multiple births but also a symptom of pelvic organ disease. Therefore, the first step is a general practitioner, who will refer you to a specialist: gynecologist, endocrinologist, urologist, or even a psychotherapist, if the incontinence is associated with an emotional state. At a traditional gynecological exam a few weeks after giving birth, I complained about my problem. The gynecologist advised me to do Kegel exercises and see a physiotherapist. But treatment takes time, and I want to live a whole, active life. Here I was advised specialized incontinence pads, which quickly absorb and neutralize the smell. At first, I was pretty skeptical about them because even the large pads I was using did not help, and these were even smaller. However, the doctor also told me about another good option - incontinence briefs. But I didn't try them immediately because I wasn't sure if they would fit and help me, but I followed the doctor's advice and ordered them. They turned out to be very effective, and I began to feel much more confident. It wasn't until later that I realized I had found a new reliable companion! They turned out to be breathable and compact. It's incredible how quickly they absorb moisture - it absorbs instantly, so now I can go to work without worrying about leaking. Best of all, I feel confident. About three or four months after the birth, things came back to normal - I don't know if it was the Kegel exercises or just the passage of time. Only in some stressful situations can I suddenly feel that I am not entirely in control of my urinary system. But that's no longer a problem either. The purchase of Incontinence pads helped me, on the one hand, to accept the fact that incontinence must be lived on. But, on the other hand, these pads allowed me to live everyday life without thinking about whether there was a wet stain on my clothes or someone noticed the smell. Source