Being diagnosed with any kind of medical illness or issue can be very stressful and scary. Even if the illness or condition isn’t life-threatening, it can have a major impact on your life, causing uncertainty, fear, and disruption. Rather than find yourself in a vicious cycle of negative emotions, it’s important to talk about your diagnosis and get as much information as possible so that you can best manage it. If you have recently been diagnosed with incontinence and are feeling a bit overwhelmed with what that means for your life, these five tips are meant to help you manage and cope a little easier.
Be Aware of What Type of Incontinence You Have
Within your diagnosis of incontinence, your doctor should also specify what type you have. There are five main types that you may be diagnosed with, which are:
· Functional incontinence
· Urge incontinence
· Stress incontinence
· Overflow incontinence
· Mixed incontinence
The way in which you approach how you manage your incontinence will largely be dependent on what type you have.
Take Your Prescribed Medication
For some types of incontinence, you may be prescribed medication that is meant to help calm down bladder spasms and actually prevent them from happening. It’s important that you follow your doctor’s directions on how and when to take these medications in order to get the best results.
Work on Bladder Training
Bladder training is another management technique that can prove to be incredibly beneficial. In order to work on bladder training, you will need to set a bathroom schedule. These are the times you can allow yourself to go to the bathroom, and in between those times, you will be working on strengthening your bladder muscles.
The idea is that you train the bladder to be stronger rather than going to the washroom each time you have an urge – which can be very frequent.
Do Your Research on Disposable Products
Because you need to be able to leave the house without worrying about any issues, disposable products should be something you look into. This can include all-in-one pads, fixation pants, belted briefs, shaped pads, and pull-ups. It may take a little bit of experimenting to find the right product(s) for you, but once you do find a solution, it will allow you to feel free and confident when out and about. These types of incontinence and care home supplies can even be ordered online, providing you with a discreet option.
Surgery May Be Suggested by Your Doctor
Your doctor may also suggest surgery. This is typically reserved for the most severe cases where the patient has already tried other types of treatment and coping options. One of the most common types of surgery for incontinence is the sling procedure. This involves supporting the bladder with a small mesh ribbon.
While it may be scary to have the diagnosis of incontinence, the good news is that there are treatment options and ways that you can learn to cope and manage so you can still enjoy your everyday life.
