Education

Myth or Fact?

"Incontinence is a natural part of aging."

This is a myth and one that has caused many people to stay home and try to cope with their incontinence alone, afraid to let anyone know.

Incontinence can affect people of all ages, including children and young adults. It is especially common, however, in adults over the age of 65, although more women than men are affected.

Incontinence is a symptom and not a disease. It is very important to see your physician and get a diagnosis of the cause. It is estimated that only about half of the 10-20 million Americans who suffer from incontinence have consulted a doctor.

Ten Warning Signs of Incontinence

Leakage of urine that causes embarrassment.
Leakage that prevents normal activities.
Leakage that began and continues after an operation.
Inability to urinate after an operation.
Unusual, frequent urination without a proven bladder or kidney infection.
Need to rush to the bathroom and loss of control if you don't arrive in time.
Pain related to the bladder filling, or painful voiding.
Frequent bladder infections.
Progressive weakening of the urinary stream with or without a feeling of complete emptying.
Abnormal urination (color, frequency, odor, etc.).

If In Doubt, See Your Doctor

One of the first questions people usually have is "How do I know if I really have bladder incontinence?"

The best answer is to see your doctor. He or she is the best source to answer your questions. If you feel embarrassed or you don't want to take the doctor's time, ask the nurse, who will be able to tell you if you need to discuss the situation with your doctor.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Could current medication, food or drinks be causing the problem?
What is the name of my condition, what treatment is available, and is it curable?
Do I need to see a specialist?
Will any exercise help?
Would any particular products work best to control the incontinence?
Where can I go for additional information and help on coping with incontinence?

Problems Related To Incontinence

There are several problems that people with incontinence must deal with in addition to being incontinent.

Psychological strain - negative self image, withdrawal from society, feeling useless, unwanted, dirty, embarrassed, guilty or afraid.
Physical strain - skin breakdown from contact with urine and fecal matter.
Economic strain - missing work due to fear of accidents and embarrassment, cost of incontinence management products.
Unavailability of incontinence management products.
Concern about sharing life with another person.
Lack of available information.
Resulting odor.

Urinary Retention

"Complete retention" is when a person is unable to urinate at all. "Partial retention" is when a person is unable to completely empty the bladder. There are two main causes of both types of urinary retention: either the bladder does not contract strongly enough or not at all, or there is a blockage in the urethra (the tube through which urine normally passes). The doctor may prescribe catheters for this problem.

Common Types of Incontinence and Appropriate Products

URGE INCONTINENCE is the sudden and immediate need to go to the bathroom, often not reaching it in time. The entire bladder contents are emptied with fairly rapid expulsions. Urge incontinence frequently occurs in the morning, and is the most common type of incontinence in the elderly. The main symptoms are urgency (having to go quickly), frequency (having to go often), and nocturia (having to go at night).

REFLEX INCONTINENCE usually refers to when a person's bladder fills and empties with no realization of the need to urinate.

NOCTURNAL ENURESIS is when a person is able to stay dry during the day but wets at night.
Heavy incontinence such as urge, nocturnal enuresis, or reflex, usually requires a wrap-around brief, either disposable or cloth, or a heavy pant and pad system.

OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE is dribbling or spilling over of small amounts of urine, and the bladder never completely empties. It is most often seen in men due to prostate problems.
For moderate incontinence or overflow, some pant and pad systems with a heavier pad or an undergarment would be appropriate.

STRESS INCONTINENCE is the most frequent type of incontinence seen in women. The main symptoms are 'dribbling' during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting.
For this type of light incontinence, you might want to use a pant and pad system or shield; or, for men, a male drip collector.

How Incontinence Affects The Skin

When urine pools on the skin surface it satisfies both the environmental and nutritional conditions bacteria need. Urine can be used to make ammonia which it uses as an energy source.

With more urine the bacteria continues to grow and makes more ammonia which causes the odor and irritation. If the skin is already broken, dangerous infection can result unless immediate action is taken.

Preventive skin care is crucial for the incontinent person

Product Selection

With the large selection of reusable and disposable products available today, there is no reason for a person to be afraid to go out in public. When selecting products, you must consider life-style and need, and then choose the product that is best suited to the need.

Many products can cross over from one type to another. Remember that extra products, such as liners, vinyl pants, vinyl-lined pants and so forth can be used in conjunction with products to increase absorbency. Also keep in mind that this is only a guide. The key to determining proper usage always lies with the user, his or her life-style, and needs.