Incontinence can affect people of all ages and can have a huge impact on their daily lives. Often sufferers will be reluctant to talk about their bladder or bowel problems, which can make the struggles even greater.
Thankfully, in most cases the problem can be cured or managed so that it doesn’t interfere with your everyday life.
Causes of Incontinence
While there are many reasons why someone might develop incontinence of the the bladder or bowels, often it is caused by one of the following:
- Weak pelvic floor or bowel muscles (perhaps from pregnancy or lack of mobility)
- Changes in the nerves or signals controlling the bladder, pelvic floor or bowels (due to surgery or other neurological/systemic conditions including stroke or dementia).
- Enlarged prostate in men.
- Continued diarrhoea.
Treatment for Incontinence
If you’ve been diagnosed by a GP with a form of incontinence you might be offered prescription medicines or be referred to a physiotherapist for a programme of exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the bladder (pelvic floor exercises) or bowel.
It will also be recommended to you to adopt a number of lifestyle changes to support and ‘train’ your body in dealing with managing food and liquid intake and using the toilet successfully with fewer incontinence incidents.
Lifestyle changes could include:
- Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake. Both of these drinks have a strong diuretic effect causing the individual to need more frequent and pressing trips to the toilet.
- Reducing fibre intake, to lessen the number of looser stool movements, allowing an element of greater control over toilet trips.
- Scheduling toilet breaks. You might be advised to set an alarm to remind yourself to regularly take a toilet break, no matter what you’re doing. Routinely taking trips to the toilet may help to reduce the risk of accidents and to ‘train’ the bladder or bowel to go for slightly longer between trips.
- Surgery is often only considered as an option if all other treatments haven’t worked.
Dealing with accidents
If you do have an accident, then you should deal with it promptly and discreetly. It’s a good idea to have a change of clothing or bedsheets always at the ready - either in the house or in your car or bag if you're out and about. Being stuck with wet or soiled clothing and sheets will be incredibly uncomfortable for you.
Stock up on sanitary and incontinence pads. These are incredibly useful for people who struggle with bladder control, and allows them to go about their day relatively secure in the knowledge that they may have some leaks but remain dry on the outside. Again, having a good supply to hand at home or in the car or your bag is a good idea.
At home it would be a good idea to fit a waterproof bedsheet and even a waterproof pillowcase to protect beds from overnight leaks and accidents.
Seeking Help for Incontinence
If you find that you are not coping with the incontinence then you should seek advice from your doctor, and ask about any incontinence support groups in your area, or a network of carers that can offer help and support.
When treated early, incontinence is not a serious issue, and it does not need to limit a person’s quality of life. Many people with incontinence manage to keep it under control and even continue to play sport and live a busy and active life.
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April 2023