Constantlydamp
Est. Contributor
- Messages
- 266
- Role
- Incontinent
Only six years ago I started wearing guards as post micturation dribble was causing a wet spot on the front of the trousers but soon the guard was being overwhelmed and I changed to a pad and net pants. This worked ok until the fateful day it got dislodged and appeared out of my trouser leg in front of two elderly ladies and I swore never to wear again so started buying pull ups. Three years ago I visited the doctors because of a case of balanitis and when I dropped my trousers he saw my pull up. After giving me a prescription for a cream to clear up the sore penis he started asking about the pull up and I told him about my incontinence. I was given a referral to the hospital and after a barrage of tests there was a very understanding urologist who told me that I had a swollen prostate and together with my diabetes was causing OAB. I was offered a TURPS operation but after discussing the pros and cons we agreed to manage the incontinence conservatively and I received an introduction to the nurses at the Continence Advisory Service who have been fantastic. We started off trying a condom catheter but as I have a retracted penis it was a failure so I got a referral to a specialist nurse who came to my home and we discussed wearing a pubic pressure urinal, I was shown what it looked like and I agreed to give it a try so I was measured and three weeks later she returned and fitted it on me. I was taken aback by the sight of me wearing straps and a belt holding me tightly into a latex cone leading to a leg bag. After some adjustments I was instructed how to wash and care for the appliance and an appointment made to confirm it was satisfactory. I started to wear daily and quickly confirmed that it worked well so a spare appliance was ordered and the other supplies like leg bags, straps etc supplied. In the meantime I was given Tena Super Slips to wear at night and gradually these have increased to Maxi and now Ultima as I have become totally urinary incontinent. I still wear the pubic pressure urinal plus Tena Maxi Flex in the afternoon and evening when I have removed the appliance. At night I am in a Tena Ultima nappy and the hospital have given me absorbent washable bed pads to ensure any night time leaks are dealt with and soon I am arranging to get a fully waterproof mattress. So in six years my leakage has progressed from a dribble to total urinary incontinence but with proper care and appropriate supplies it can be managed to ensure life can go on normally as I work part time, enjoy social activities and although my family and a few friends know about my incontinence it does not get in the way of enjoying life. I have written this to show anyone else who is on this journey that despite incontinence there is no reason that life has to stop and even though most of us who are incontinent would wish otherwise there is light at the end of the tunnel.
