Living with Incontinence
Both urinary and faecal incontinence can be treated or at least alleviated. You probably feel embarrassed taking about it with other people or even to your doctor, however, it is important to keep in mind that there are effective treatments out there which can make the problem go away or make living with incontinence a lot easier.
Treatment and relief of incontinence depend on several factors but above all, on its cause because both urinary and faecal incontinence can be caused by a number of factors. And this is exactly why it is crucial to seek medical attention if you want to get better because it is necessary to treat the cause of incontinence to be able to find relief. Have faith in the medical system and try with all available treatments.
There is no single treatment which would work for all patients suffering from incontinence but the following measures can help you make urine leakage less stressful and bothersome while you and your doctor are trying to find an effective treatment:
Pay attention to what you eat and what you drink. Certain exercises can help with controlling the situation. Avoid foods and beverages which are known to worsen or even cause urine leakage such as alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, spicy foods, citrus fruits and acidic foods. However, be sure not to cut off fluid intake because you are risking dehydration. Identify situations which lead to urine leakage such as lifting heavy objects, certain types of exercise, etc. and try to avoid them if possible. Wear panty liners or absorbent pads when you think that you could find yourself in a situation which may lead to urine leakage such as going on a trip. Also, take along change clothing and cleanup supply. Do not feel embarrassed to talk about it. You do not have tell everyone about it but be sure to tell your doctor because the cure or relief could be much easier than you think.
Living with faecal incontinence is even more stressful than having problems with urine leakage. But just like there are treatments for urinary incontinence, there are treatments for faecal incontinence too. It is crucial, however, to identify the cause of faecal leakage which is why you are highly recommended to visit your doctor if you have not received medical attention yet because the cause of faecal incontinence is not always as obvious as constipation or haemorrhoids for example. And if you want to find relief, it is crucial to treat the cause.
In addition to following your doctor’s instructions, you can also make living with faecal incontinence a little bit easier by yourself. When you go outside, locate toilets in public areas to be able to reach it in case you will need to go to toilet urgently, and always carry along change clothing and cleanup supply. But if you think that you are likely to have a faecal leakage, wear a pad or disposable undergarment.