www.incontinentsupport.org

Hi,

I have been suffering from incontinence for quite a while now, It started when I was approx 8 years old (during a traumatic childhood) and has continued untill my adulthood (I'm 22 now) I believe what you call it is urge incontinence? I will have a sudden 'urge' to urinate when i am approaching the house, think about the toilet, stand up or quite often when i walk past the bathroom... I wont need the toilet before then but then the thought of going past the toilet is horrible and whereas seconds ago i didn't need the toilet but now i am crossing my legs and desperately trying to pull my trousers down in time to pee on the loo. quite often it has already started and although I am still dry because i have crossed my legs so tight i have almost perfected a movement where i pull my trousers out the way, sit and uncross my legs (all in one movement) to try and stop urine going in my underwear. I usually will only end up with a tiny dribble in there - but my bladder will 'empty' from that thought of walking past the toilet.

I have tried talking to the doctor who just suggested i do crouches and strengthen my pelvic floor muscles - but when this started I was a dancer - i used to do this daily, and i do quite alot of swatting anyway cleaning the cages of the animals that i rescue. I also go to the gym and walk nearly 6 miles a day.

How do I explain to my (really crap) doctor that what he suggested hasn't worked? and is there any way of going over his head? I have an immunologist that I am due to see in April, maybe ask her?

My doctors helped in the diagnosis and treatment of the problem that caused my nerve damage but weren't all that helpful in how to go about life with a fecal incontinence problem. To be fair having just fecal incontinence is not very common.

To be honest it sounds like your problem may be more mental then physical (no offense). Maybe your doctor could suggest somebody who could help?

When I first lost bladder control my doctor had difficulty relating to my situation, She sent me the urologogy and the neurology departments for all the tests. I had been involved in a car-semi accident that ended up with me suffering permanent nerve damage. When it was determined that I had lost the ability to control my bladder functions she had little to suggest other than I try a condom cath for sleeping and attempt to urinate every hour or so during the day (which I had no control over). After I had multiple accidents (one while on the physical therapist's table) she finally said maybe I should try "absorbant products". Her words of encouragement were "things could have ended up much worse that they are". While I knew this was true it really didn't help the depression I went into when I realized I would not be able to control my bladder for the rest of my life. It took me several years to totally accept my situation. Today I seldom get down about being incontinent. It has become a way of life for me and I don't give it a second thought. I have since switched clinics due to different health insurance and have a new doctor. At our first meeting I was totally open about being incontinent. She asked me how I manage it and I told her. She has rarely brought it up since then. At my last appointment we discussed the BP meds that I take which is a dieuretic which makes me pee more. She seemed sympathetic to the fact that I have increased urine output but was insistant that I stay on the medicine for at least another 6 months. She said that she knew it wasn't easy for me considering my situation but that it was what I needed to keep my blood pressure in a healthy range.