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EEKKSS- Incontinence worsening
Thu, 08/03/2006 - 20:22When I first got E? I was never incontinent, felt so sorry for people who had that problem. But THEN I started waking up at night, several years later, urinating and I couldn't get it stopped. Worse, my legs were noodly or I couldn't stand at all, I had tremendous confusion, rarely made it to the bathroom. I went to my doctor thinking I must have much worse bladder prolapse than I thought and found out I was having nocturnal sz's and at the end of the sz the bladder sphincter holding urine in can relax, I can't control it (no kidding) which also explained why my legs were so weak, I was confused. Then someone posted a thread right after that about the same thing and I found out my symptoms were classic and shared by many. It doesn't happen with every nocturnal. I really don't know why it happens only periodically.
But lately? This is really just hard for me to handle. I'm having only urine, not bowel, incontinence during the day occasionally, not always but that means I HAVE to wear incontinence products all the time. I've tried different kinds, weights, thicknesses and I really would like to know - what in the heck works? I'm sorry if this is very blunt but this problem is very embarassing. I've tried THE heaviest pad or pants they have and I can't find anything that works totally. I'm not sure why either. My urine volume my doctor tested and it's not unusually high, in fact low. Maybe the incontinence pads can not be in the right place but how can that panty be off if it's snug (aka adult diaper - MAJOR ICK). Do others have success controlling the moisutre? Good grief of all the indignities and crap I've gone thru having E? I DO wish I'd be spared this one.
Gretchen
Comments
Re: Re: Re: EEKKSS- Incontinence worsening
Submitted by gretchen1 on Sun, 2006-08-06 - 23:07
P.S. My doctor also talked to me about a "pessary". I know some women use these successfully. I'm not even going to describe it here. If anyone is interested I'm sure they can look it up. That is SO distasteful to me I really don't think it's an option for me. But it is an option for others, so I'm mentioning it. I'm just not saying what it is :) Good grief, what a topic.
Re: Re: Re: EEKKSS- Incontinence worsening
Submitted by Cathy_C on Mon, 2006-08-07 - 06:13
Hey girl,
You sound so depressed. I am sure it will get better. I know about the poise and they are awful expensive. It kills me that with most things that alot of elderly people mostly use can be so pricely.
Not that you or I are old, but the elderly that would more likely use
something along this line can hardly afford them. They are all on a set income.
I can see why you would be in the state of mind as far as being po'd state. I think I have been at the end of my rope with other conditions that I have had a hard time getting through. I think
in all honesty, you are not out of line for the attitude you feel you
have to adjust. If anyone were honest with themselves going through this type of problem we would all have a off the wall type of attitude, so don't feel you have a bad one. I really do hope you come
through this and get it under control soon. I will keep you in my prayers.
Cathy
Re: Re: EEKKSS- Incontinence worsening
Submitted by gretchen1 on Sun, 2006-08-06 - 23:02
Hi Cathy - Those are all good questions. This thing is so dang embarassing I didn't put the whole picture in the post, but should have. I DO have what is called stress incontinence from all the children I've had. IOW if I laugh, cough, sneeze, that type of thing I'm going to have a spurt type leak,or short limited leak. So I've been wearing a medium weight incontinence pad for several years for that which BTW is a lot more absorbant for this than a menstrual pad. I've even had my bladder elevated surgically but I got a bad cold 3 weeks after the surgery, sneezed and coughed and blew the repair (natch). The primary surgery for elevating bladders is called the MMK. It works but then often later fails. There are several others but so far they all seem to have a fairly high failure rate eventually and usually you have to have your abdomen opened to have it done which is pretty invasive. I have a 3rd degreee prolapse which is the worst, so that problem is bad but I had it taken care of - until now. The difference between prolapse and sz'ing is a spurt of urine versus loosing all my bladder contents. Lasix is actually a diuretic that can deplete your potassium, is prescription. There are a lot of people who probably unknowingly just don't realize it's dangerous to take unless you really need it. It's primarily used for people with congestive heart failure. I've talked to two support groups about this and found the brand Poise seems the most effective and the panty is most effective but it's very expensive and worse when I walk? It rustles. Probably I hear it a lot louder than others but I get paranoid and start becoming positive everyone knows Gretchen is wearing an incontinence panty. It's a vanity thing I guess but even they can leak. My doctor has suggested since I posted that at night at least I wear the panty AND a pad and that is helping. Sleeping with a rubber sheet under your cotton sheet is very hot. Sleeping on top of a pile of towels is back breaking. So? I'm going to try this but you know what? I'm very resentful of this. I really am. These products are darned expensive. I have a whole closet full and I DO feel like I've paid at the office so to speak, do I have to have this too? Ya know? Thanks for your post. I'll see how this works. I am currently - ye of little faith tho. I'm also somewhat PO'd about the whole thing. It's just one of those straws that breaks the camel's back. I'll adjust my attitude I'm sure (after I've lost all my self esteem!). Gretchen