www.incontinentsupport.org

I've ordered some samples of both and take it into consideration. Perhaps the peace of mind is worth it. I will certainly keep cost per day in mind as well. I guess my main worry is how much wear and tear both can take from me pulling the "waistband" down to use the toilet, and if I'd need to change because of tapes and plastic degrading from that, since I will usually use the restroom. Of course, bulk and concealing the bulk and noise from the diaper are considerations too. The only time I have accidents is when the bladder pressure gets painful enough and I am stuck in a place where I can not leave, such as meetings, exams, or driving. As bad as it sounds, I will try to release a little to help relieve that pressure so I can keep doing what I am doing. I very very rarely have surprise voiding, and hope that remains the case.

Thank you for your thoughts, you are very helpful!

matthew, I think you previously mentioned in another thread that the doctor basically blew you off as to your incon complaints. I think you should try again, if not with that doctor, someone else. I'm not a medical professional by any stretch of one's imagination, but I don't think you should be having bladder pain - I don't think it's a standard aspect of being incontinent (I don't have it, and I think most others here don't either) (but please correct me if I'm wrong, y'all - thanks).

I don't want to alarm you unnecessarily, but you could have cystitis or something more deadly. IMHO, the pain issue should be addressed soon, for quality of life as well as for health reasons. The fact that you can release a small amount of urine and stop your stream makes me think that you may not actually be incontinent at all, but in fact have a bladder infection.

Wetters

I should clarify that its not a pain as much as it is just unbearable pressure. I wish I could explain it better. In addition, once I start I can slow the stream but not really stop the stream, as it leaks out afterwards. I do know incontinence is more a symptom than anything else, but its an uphill battle. Thank you.

EDIT: I should also add that when my bladder is "full", it dribbles as well. Hopefully this clarifies it better.

Let me take a "stab" at this. I've had too many bladder urges not to know how to explain it.

For normal but powerful sensations of having to go, think of it like this. You've been drinking at the bar for a while now, and you have just gotten a normal sensation you should pee soon. Ignore this feeling and keep drinking. About a half-hour later, that sensation is going to be pretty strong. It won't hurt per-say, but at this point it will be difficult to ignore.

Now try to ignore it for another half-hour. It's quite possible you will begin leaking small amounts. At some point, your bladder pressure will also overcome the your ability to hold it and you will wet yourself a lot until the pressure in your bladder has abated. This whole process can take several hours, yet the normal sensations may be delayed or muted which can lead to those sudden surprises. (Or alternatively your ability to hold it will win out which leads to retention). Often, people with this sort of incontinence can use lower level diapers for that first bit of dribbling, and still make it to the toilet before they fully void.

Urges on the other hand is more like getting punched in the bladder. It can strike randomly and without any warning, and is an intense and often painful feeling (just like getting sucker punched). Experience will tell you the only way to alleviate this feeling is by peeing. It doesn't really even matter how much you have to pee, just that you empty your bladder. Also, attempting to ignore this urge will only make it even more intense, with greater and greater pain the longer the urge goes on for. This whole process can happen in a matter of seconds though, and almost always less than a minute.

Sometimes people (like me) are actually forced to actively choose to wet them selves to abate the painful urge. Other times, people are overwhelmed by the urge and reflexively let go without even consciously choosing to. Either way, in most cases, the person will fully empty and often full or near full bladder. This "flooding" often demands the best possible diapers with a very high absorbency rating.

While I did just over simplify things here, please let me know if you think I got it right or wrong (mostly). Thanks

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I would say that your first explanation is what normally occurs, except that the process seems to occur much more quickly for me than 2 or 3 hours. Usually within a half hour I get the signal to go again, and then within another half hour on top of that the pressure becomes unbearable and the dribbling starts. I also use lighter diapers to help manage this. I have had that urge sensation you describe as well, (In fact, I had it during a final at school once, which was not the best time!). I usually know where a bathroom is at all times so I am able to make it without having any sort of accidents or mishaps. Fortunately, the latter does not occur nearly as frequently as the former.

But thank you for your explanations! That actually describes it very well. One last question, When you say that it causes retention, what do you mean by that?

My bladder sensations are somewhat different. Although I dribble continually, several times every day I get bladder spasms. The sensation is similar to a leg cramp, but in the bladder. I can have just a few ounces, or a larger quantity in it; I can't know, because the feeling is the same. The feeling is more painful when, as yesterday, I get an episode of constipation/diarrhea; then, both my bladder and bowel cramp and I am in agony.

Matthew, they kind of retention incontinence I mentioned is something that can happen when when you hold your urine for too long and it over stretches your bladder. This is commonly known as "truckers bladder" too. If it becomes over extended, your bladder may stop trying to compress all together. You may not be able to go at all when you need to, or may not be able to fully empty your bladder which my also cause a constant dribbling. This is known as overflow incontinence (Like a dam overflowing when the gate stops working).

I have experienced this before, and needed a folley catheter inserted for a week so my bladder could heal and start re-compressing again. Without it, I could not pee at all no matter what (mine didn't develop into overflow, just blocked). Hey, at least I didn't get any bladder spasms for that week though, right.

Really there are just so many different kinds of incontinence, and so many ways to end up with it, that I'm really surprised it doesn't happen to more people. (Well, it probably does but we just don't hear about it).

Patrick, no offense but from the sounds of things I'd say it does still sound like you have urge incontinence. Your level of feeling isn't as intense (be thankful), and it's happening more often, but your near constant dribbling would be that automatic reflux I mentioned.

While I'm not really trying to diagnose you or anything like that, I was (and am) just being broadly general. This is definitely one of those "your experiences may vary" situations - for everyone. There are just so many variations, and yeah what you eat and drink, level of exertion that day, natural body fluid retention, and a bunch of other things will make it all vary even more.

Brian,

I think you're probably right. I can live with it until my next Uro appointment.