This Thread Will Be Gross.

[Calminaion]

This thread will be gross. I am going to mention some things that are not "table conversation," but it's a problem I have.

I am 21 years old, and have spina bifida myelomeningocele. Along with that whole bundle of joy comes urinary incontinence, which is a misnomer because I actually can't "hold" any of my bodily functions.

This is a huge embarassment when I have to excuse myself to go change my own diaper.

 

[M6L24M86]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It isn't your fault. Now if you COULD hold all of your bodily functions and DIDN'T, now that would be a different story.

 

[Calminaion]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It isn't your fault. Now if you COULD hold all of your bodily functions and DIDN'T, now that would be a different story.

It's still embarassing to have to tell your friends that sometimes you have accidents like a two-year old.

 

[Sitting Duck]

The best advice I can give you is to discuss this with a doctor. Ideally, you should see an urologist who made a specialty of helping patients with neurological disorders.

Wearing diapers is far from being an ideal solution. There are medications that can help control a hyperactive bladder and reduce considerably the frequency of "accidents", freeing you from having to wear diapers.

You say you can't hold it in but you don't say if you can empty your bladder completely. If you can't, you should be doing intermitent catheterization of your bladder (self-cathing). It's not as bad as it sounds, it's easy to learn and will reduce your risks of urinary tract infections and other complications associated with a neurogenic bladder. Discuss this with a competent urologist if you haven't done so already.

I'm not embarassed about anything involving my neurogenic bladder. I don't think you should be either. Worry about your health before worrying about what other people think.

Good luck.

 

[Calminaion]

The best advice I can give you is to discuss this with a doctor. Ideally, you should see an urologist who made a specialty of helping patients with neurological disorders.

Wearing diapers is far from being an ideal solution. There are medications that can help control a hyperactive bladder and reduce considerably the frequency of "accidents", freeing you from having to wear diapers.

You say you can't hold it in but you don't say if you can empty your bladder completely. If you can't, you should be doing intermitent catheterization of your bladder (self-cathing). It's not as bad as it sounds, it's easy to learn and will reduce your risks of urinary tract infections and other complications associated with a neurogenic bladder. Discuss this with a competent urologist if you haven't done so already.

I'm not embarassed about anything involving my neurogenic bladder. I don't think you should be either. Worry about your health before worrying about what other people think.

Good luck.

I've been self-catheterizing since I was five years old, and have seen more urologists than I can shake a catheter at.

I've been on ditropan and ditropan xl, but the doses were getting so high they were afraid to up it anymore and it really wasn't doing all that much.

Right now my greatest hope is for physical healing.

 

[Sitting Duck]

I've been self-catheterizing since I was five years old, and have seen more urologists than I can shake a catheter at.

I've been on ditropan and ditropan xl, but the doses were getting so high they were afraid to up it anymore and it really wasn't doing all that much.

Right now my greatest hope is for physical healing.

My apologies if my first post sounded condescending, it was not my intent. I tried to help as best as I could with what little information I had about your situation.

I've had poor results with ditropan as well. The dosage I had to take for it to be effective were making me very drowsy. Currently, I'm using detrol with good results and no side effects. If you've only tried ditropan so far, maybe it could worth it to try other meds just in case you find one that works for you.

If the type of incontinence you have is of the "sudden burst" kind (rather than the "constant dripping" kind, sorry for my crappy technical terms), increasing the frequency of your self-cathing could help, but you probably know that and already self-cath at least six times a day...

I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you. I wish you good luck, physical healing or, at the very least, peace of mind.

 

[LavenderLeaves]

I'm sorry to hear about what your going through.

aww..that isnt gross...

and dont feel ashamed..
it can be very difficult living with a health issue, emotionally, physically and mentally.. but overall.. you shouldnt ever have to care what other people think because God's blessing is already on you!

*hugs*

I have the severe case of ARD, and about a year ago I had an intestine infection of some sort because I felt constipated all the time..

for me it was embarassing and a heavy burden because i couldnt 'feel' or 'do' what normal people got to do like go to the mall or check out the latest fiction.

A.R.D also effects my self-esteem. I'm a very self-concious person meaning in the case where i'm very sensitive about my looks... ARD causes my facial skin to have alot of problems.. and I wish there were a cure but unfortunately ARD doesnt have one..

 

[AnointedPoetess]

I have mild CP and when I was little I would have alot of loose stool issues but now that I'm grown I'm experiencing alot of constipation, constantly.. is that normal or should I see my dr for it?? I'm worried bc I'm almost never regular or feeling good physically due to this!

 

[AnointedPoetess]

What is A.R.D?

 

[Jenafer]

Dear Calm,

I am so sorry you have this embarrasing problem. What else is there to do but live with it.. but I agree with you.. it would be hard to live with at times.

The condition must affect your life greatly, especially your social life. It is nice that you have the computer to chat to people.

I was having a bad day and your posting made me count my blessings. Just recently I ended a very long friendship, because I thought the friendship was not good for me emotionally.

I wish you all the best.. keep soldiering on, Jenafer

 

[Catherineanne]

This thread will be gross. I am going to mention some things that are not "table conversation," but it's a problem I have.

I am 21 years old, and have spina bifida myelomeningocele. Along with that whole bundle of joy comes urinary incontinence, which is a misnomer because I actually can't "hold" any of my bodily functions.

This is a huge embarassment when I have to excuse myself to go change my own diaper.

I am really sorry you have this condition, and these problems as a result of it. Thinking of what you have to deal with, I thought, could anything be worse?

Yes, I thought. Not being able to change your own diaper, and having someone else doing it.

Which doesn't really help you, I know, but I can see from your post tremendous strength, and I commend you for it. If I were you, I think every time I went to the bathroom I would picture who I would not want to help me in that situation, and thank God for my independence. And in case that sounds trite, I think I would also break down in tears from time to time at the terrible injustice of life, and its pain.

As for being gross or whatever; there is nothing gross about bodily functions. I know we all take these things for granted, but without the ability to urinate and defecate our bodies would rapidly shut down, so we should thank God for every function we have, however unpleasant we may sometimes think it to be.

 

[Historygeek]

Anybody who cannot understand, and judges you harshly for for something you cannot help, is an idiot, and not the kind of company you want to keep. Your real friends are those who look past the "gross" aspects, and see the kind of human being you are. I have Psoraisis, and my dried, dead skin flakes off in clumps. My whole body is covered in white patches of grotesque, dry skin, so i know how it feels to be grossed out by ones own body, but the truth is, those who love you care far less about it than you do. you may learn that you have far more friends than you think you have.

 

[skunkfeather]

I agree with Historygeek.