Well, today it is my turn for a first visit to a urologist. I am nervous about the visit as I see many others have been before me, although I doubt that much will take place today as this essentially is a consultation with testing to follow.
Part of my anxiety is due to the fact that my urinary incontinence has been inconsistent and varies markedly, and unpredictably, from light to severe. I can be doing o.k., and able to pee in the toilet, then my bladder will go on "autopilot" and spasm, involuntarily peeing small amounts every 6 to 15 minutes. My primary care physician, an internist, doubted that a precise diagnosis could be made as I have so much pelvic trauma and nerve damage from an old accident, plus some spinal trauma. I worry that I will be having a "dry" period and that the urologist will not take me seriously.
From what I have read here, it seems that many of the usual medications have some serious or at least uncomfortable side effects. I already take so much medication that it concerns me. Nonetheless, others here encouraged me to proceed with the appointment to rule out the possibility of a more serious underlying medical problem. For that, I thank you.
Another source of anxiety is that over the past 1 1/2 years I have become significantly more likely to have an urge or even to pee or involuntarily begin peeing whenever there is running water nearby. I began noticing this as I was brushing my teeth, washing the dishes, or in the shower. I do not see how this can have a physical cause, so is it emotional or psychological?
The urinary incontinence has not changed my life as much as might be expected as I already was wearing diapers for bowel incontinence. In fact, as I use premium diapers it really has not increased the number of diapers I use that much.
Another concern is that, as I already wear diapers 24/7, can there be so-called "diaper dependency?" I have been unable to find published medical studies on the subject but concur that it is a generally recognized phenomenon.
--John