www.incontinentsupport.org

Hey dd2009, welcome to the forum, you have many people here dealing with similar circumstances, so I am sure they will offer up some ideas. I also deal with the night issue, and daytime urgency as well, mostly from low back problems, but I also was diagnosed with prostatitus, which is ongoing to date, just something we can't seem to get to go away for good with the strongest anti-biotics, so I jsut live with it now. It certainly makes my bladder issues worse when it flares up bad, both day and night. Have you seen a Urologist in regards to your problems, that may well be the place to look for some answers, along with your regular doctor. The tests they do are not all that plesant for a young guy, let alone anyone to have to go thru, but they do provide some valuable insight as to what may be the cause of it all.
Wearing at night and during the day is not at all lazy, just preventative in case of what "could" happen at any given moment, I do the same thing when I go out too, so you are not the only one, and I am only 45, but the options are limited if it continues to happen. Sounds like you have some great support in your life! Look into arranging a doc visit and see if you can get some answers to your issues, it's not worth putting off! Let us know how it all goes for you, Puffy

Yes, the tests are not all that enjoyable to say the least! I was glad they were done, the last cystoscope I had done, the Uro could actually see the infection in the prostate, it was "almost" easier then him exploring up the back door! At least he confirmed what we suspected. As far as the mattress goes, Walmart, and I imagine Target type box stores all have them, and they are very affordable, I think mine was under $20, but if it comes time to wash it, go "GENTLE" on the washer, I didn't, and the plastic separated from the cloth, into the trash it went. Up till then it was great, not too warm, and unnoticeable under the sheets, Puffy

I got a queen size mattress cover from overstock.com. Better than anything I found in the big box stores. It has waterproof and it doesn't cause me to sweat. My wife and I just put a comfortable sheet over it. No worries. I think it was $30. Give it a look.

DD2009 - I can totally understand what you are going through. I've had this problem for most of my life and I'm now 62. As you say, sometimes I'm fine. I can sometimes go for a month or more without any problems. Then suddenly, I have an accident. Luckily it most frequently happens at night so I know from past experience that protection is necessary.

I've gone to all the Drs. and they haven't found anything profound. I have diabetes and neuropathy so whenever the Dr sees that, they just say it is caused by the diabetes and that is where it ends. I would really like an explanation, especially seeing that sometimes I have no problems at all. But when I do have problems, I have no feeling when it is time to go, it just happens. It is like the sphincter just opens. I have little or no sensation of fullness even when I'm OK. There is a small indication that I should go that disappears when I'm in my "wet cycle". But trying to get a Dr to investigate that is very hard. I have no idea what they would do to tell why that sensation goes away sometimes. I also have no idea why my sphincter works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. Seems to me that I should get treated when I'm having problems rather than when I'm not but I've gone to 3 urologists and they seem more concerned about my erectal dysfunction than my incontinence. I like sex but I hate wetting my pants. Seems like there is a issue of surgery profits over some unknown nucience like incontinence, especially when it isn't all the time. I won't tell you what one Dr wanted to do to me but I ran out of the office and never went back.

I've accepted the likelihood that I'll never know why. I've also learned to always wear navy blue or black pants. That has saved my so many times. I have had accidents in public places including work and it is very depressing but luckily it is mostly a mental issue and not a public embarrassment. It is embarrassing but mostly the inconvenience rather than someone pointing out my predicament.

I hope you get some help. I'd definitely see a urologist and try to get the tests when you are having problems. It doesn't help when the plumbing is working. I did find out that my sphincter is mis-shapened but the Dr didn't seem to think that was the cause.

The other thing that I've learned is that the drs don't totally understand how everything works. I'm certain my problem is nerves but being an electronic engineer has taught me that sometimes circuits don't always work right, especially if there is a short somewhere. Imagine trying to find a short circuit in your body. I don't know if that analogy works but that's the way I look at it. Sometimes the circuit works, sometimes it doesn't. I've tried to figure out what triggers it without any success so I just try to deal with it as best as I can. One thing that is weird I guess is that I feel more confident when wearing a diaper than when I'm not but I do really like being continent otherwise it might be easy to just wear diapers all the time.

I've given up trying to see if a Dr will help me. I've probably gone to 6 or more different drs and nobody has any ideas other than live with it. My primary Dr asks how I'm doing and I tell her if it is getting worse. So far, I'm probably 65/35 dry/wet right now and I would not mind too much if it stays there. I've had periods when it was more like 50/50 or worse. So who knows? This has been going on for years and I've been able to keep my secret. My family knows and my in-laws know but beyond that, I've been able to keep stealthy enough so nobody else knows that I'm aware of.

It sure is fun

Dan

dd2009 wrote:On a separate topic, does anyone have any recommendations on mattress protectors?

We have a full size protector that came with the mattress. It goes over the corners and the outside is a soft cloth-like material. I put a 3 x 4 foot wee wee pad on my side over that, and a normal mattress pad on top. When I have a diaper leak the wee wee pad usually catches it unless my wife has made the bed and puts it in the wrong position.

On the subject of bed protection, because I wet at night our bed is protected by a fitted water proof cover. My wife didn't like it derctly under the sheet so we put it under a matteras topper which can eisily be washed if need be. At my side of the bed I have a larhe Kylie. I tried sleeping on it above the sheet but it keept moving about so now we have it under the sheet. On the rare occasions my pad doesn't absorb my nightly wetness, it is just a case of washing the sheet and the kylie.

Hi dd2009, glad to hear it iw working ut for you, the best it can anyhow. The "what-if" scenerio is basically the story I have had the last 15+ years, just too unreliable to want to venture too far without having something on, same as at night, so far it has been inconvienent, but not unmanageable, it is what it is I guess! Have a great Holiday season, you and everyone here! I know what I wished for, but unfortunately Santa can't deliver new, functioning body parts! LOL Puffy

Actually it is amazing just how quick I got used to wearing a pad at night. I hardly think about it now. It is just part of my bed time routine.

please have an mri done of the spine asap sound a lot like me at first now I have no clue as to doing # 1 or 2 any more and its do to my cord being teathered and as it has went on it is only getting worse have to wait till jan to be seen by the doctor that says they can fix me