bedwett
Contributor
- Messages
- 11
- Role
- Diaper Lover
- Incontinent
Ok, upfront sorry for the long rant.....but I am struggling a bit currently.
I have been a member of the community for quite some time, as I have dealt with bedwetting and OAB/IBS episodes for years. Although I had a very strong bladder as a kid I can recall some incidents being 5 or 6 when nearly wetting myself or dealing with IBS due to bad genetics and some food intolerances at that time.
This all took a turn for the worse after I had a bad UTI/kidney infection while in uni (still don't know what caused it, but I suspect holiday my bladder too long during a festival could have played a part in it). The first year was horrendous, in which I had to diaper up if I would have no direct access to a toilet ...but eventually my symptoms got better till something which was more intermittent. The logic and reasons behind a flare up I still don't understand, but it was manageable as I could quite easy predict when a flare up was happening and which precautions (cutting back fluids, wearing diapers) I had to take. Things went OK, I only noticed that the problems did get worse...there were periods I got the urge every few mins...and turned the car around to get protection on multiple occasions.
Fast forward till spring last year in which I sustained a cervical hyperextension injury (level C4-C5) due to a fall/collapse in the middle of the night (was severely overworked at that time). Waking up more or less paralyzed (no fine motor skills) and not knowing how this will develop is quite the experience I have to say...luckily emergency surgery to relieve the pressure of my spinal cord lead to a good overall recovery over the course of a few months....and got me back on my feet. I can say that I'm 98-99% recovered, and the remaining injuries are invisible to the public eye.
One of the main remaining issues is incontinence (bladder and to minor extent bowel) My bladder can switch between being in a 'semi-retention' state in which is it difficult to pee or can go in overactive mode. Either way...I get a sudden urge and then I usually have not much time to find a bathroom. Trying to hold and concentrate till the urge is gone helps, but often leads to the effect I will get a strong/sudden urge to have a bowel movement and then of course I need to find a toilet quite fast. Bowel wise, I do have semi-constipation (normal schedule is a BM every day, but sometimes this doesn't work out). When not having a BM for 1 to max. 2 days will lead again to a strong sudden urge the day after....over the last few months I did develop some tricks and changed my diet to a very healthy one, so far only 2 mishaps over the last 14 months....but definitely more close calls.
After my hospital and rehab I did remain wearing protection fulltime, sometimes a thick guard but most of the time simply heavy pull ups or diapers. Although considering what has happened I am extremely grateful that I am back on my feet and incontinence is only a 'minor' issue with only minor impact on my daily life, I struggle a lot with the acceptance process and having to wear 24/7. Dealing with (intermittent) OAB was something annoying but I could easily brush off, although technically it is considered incontinence. While encountering these new issues, I tried to brush it off as something which was in my head or just part of the recovery....but to be fair14 months post injury I don't know if this will improve or not.
In the last few weeks, something snapped and I realized I do have to admit to myself I have incontinence and not simply OAB anymore. Something I really struggle with especially as the whole issue is so tabooed in general (especially towards younger individuals) it makes you feel isolated. Especially as from the outside I am a successful young professional, with a great career and physically in a good shape...but I am carrying these 'non visible' injuries with me. Moreover considering as I am striving to have a better work/life balance I really want to start dating again.
Sorry for the long rant, but on the one hand it troubles me and other hand I know I have to embrace it and get on with life. Would be nice to connect with some others in the same boat.
I have been a member of the community for quite some time, as I have dealt with bedwetting and OAB/IBS episodes for years. Although I had a very strong bladder as a kid I can recall some incidents being 5 or 6 when nearly wetting myself or dealing with IBS due to bad genetics and some food intolerances at that time.
This all took a turn for the worse after I had a bad UTI/kidney infection while in uni (still don't know what caused it, but I suspect holiday my bladder too long during a festival could have played a part in it). The first year was horrendous, in which I had to diaper up if I would have no direct access to a toilet ...but eventually my symptoms got better till something which was more intermittent. The logic and reasons behind a flare up I still don't understand, but it was manageable as I could quite easy predict when a flare up was happening and which precautions (cutting back fluids, wearing diapers) I had to take. Things went OK, I only noticed that the problems did get worse...there were periods I got the urge every few mins...and turned the car around to get protection on multiple occasions.
Fast forward till spring last year in which I sustained a cervical hyperextension injury (level C4-C5) due to a fall/collapse in the middle of the night (was severely overworked at that time). Waking up more or less paralyzed (no fine motor skills) and not knowing how this will develop is quite the experience I have to say...luckily emergency surgery to relieve the pressure of my spinal cord lead to a good overall recovery over the course of a few months....and got me back on my feet. I can say that I'm 98-99% recovered, and the remaining injuries are invisible to the public eye.
One of the main remaining issues is incontinence (bladder and to minor extent bowel) My bladder can switch between being in a 'semi-retention' state in which is it difficult to pee or can go in overactive mode. Either way...I get a sudden urge and then I usually have not much time to find a bathroom. Trying to hold and concentrate till the urge is gone helps, but often leads to the effect I will get a strong/sudden urge to have a bowel movement and then of course I need to find a toilet quite fast. Bowel wise, I do have semi-constipation (normal schedule is a BM every day, but sometimes this doesn't work out). When not having a BM for 1 to max. 2 days will lead again to a strong sudden urge the day after....over the last few months I did develop some tricks and changed my diet to a very healthy one, so far only 2 mishaps over the last 14 months....but definitely more close calls.
After my hospital and rehab I did remain wearing protection fulltime, sometimes a thick guard but most of the time simply heavy pull ups or diapers. Although considering what has happened I am extremely grateful that I am back on my feet and incontinence is only a 'minor' issue with only minor impact on my daily life, I struggle a lot with the acceptance process and having to wear 24/7. Dealing with (intermittent) OAB was something annoying but I could easily brush off, although technically it is considered incontinence. While encountering these new issues, I tried to brush it off as something which was in my head or just part of the recovery....but to be fair14 months post injury I don't know if this will improve or not.
In the last few weeks, something snapped and I realized I do have to admit to myself I have incontinence and not simply OAB anymore. Something I really struggle with especially as the whole issue is so tabooed in general (especially towards younger individuals) it makes you feel isolated. Especially as from the outside I am a successful young professional, with a great career and physically in a good shape...but I am carrying these 'non visible' injuries with me. Moreover considering as I am striving to have a better work/life balance I really want to start dating again.
Sorry for the long rant, but on the one hand it troubles me and other hand I know I have to embrace it and get on with life. Would be nice to connect with some others in the same boat.