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Archive for the ‘Types of Incontinence’ Category

Just Can’t Wait – All About Urge Incontinence

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Do you have sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate? Do you sometimes have difficulty making it to the toilet on time? If so, you may be suffering from urge incontinence, a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide.

Urge incontinence occurs when an individual leaks urine following a strong urge to urinate. The urge cannot be ignored; often, urine leakage occurs despite rushing to a washroom. Urge incontinence is caused by a spasm of the bladder, which occurs even when the bladder is not full. Urge incontinence may occur during the day or night.

Several conditions may cause urge incontinence, such as:
Bladder infection
Bladder stones
Bladder cancer
Neurological conditions (i.e. Multiple Sclerosis)
Spinal cord injury
Stroke
Inflammation of the bladder
Bladder outlet obstruction (i.e. from an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH)

There are several treatments for urge incontinence. Medications are often prescribed to decrease spasms of the bladder and reduce the urgent need to void. Although these medications may help, they may also cause unpleasant side effects such as blurred vision, constipation and dry mouth.

Self-help remedies may be tried before medications. Bladder retraining may be helpful. This technique involves gradually increasing the time between voids, even if leakage occurs. Begin with 1 to 1 ½ hours and try to gradually increase the time between trips to the washroom, until you can comfortably hold your urine for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Kegel exercises are sometimes prescribed to strengthen the muscles controlling urination. Kegels take some time and practice to perfect, but many patients suffering from urge incontinence find these exercises helpful. Your healthcare practitioner can help you learn how to perform these exercises.

Avoiding foods that are known bladder irritants may also help if you suffer from urge incontinence. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, citric fruits and juices, spicy foods and carbonated beverages. However, you should not decrease fluid intake overly, as many people with incontinence are tempted to do, as dehydration may add to the sense of urgency that you experience.

If you suffer from urge incontinence, you should be evaluated for the conditions listed above. A thorough physical exam will rule out many of these conditions. Expect to undergo an examination of your genitals and abdomen, as well as to answer a lot of questions regarding your symptoms. Together, you and your physician may be able to discover the cause of your urge incontinence and will be able to devise a plan of treatment.

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What is Double Incontinence?

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

As if suffering from one kind of incontinence were not enough, some people suffer from both urinary and faecal incontinence. When a person suffers from both types of incontinence, they are said to have double incontinence. Double incontinence may affect both women and men and is less common than suffering from one type or the other.

Studies have shown that quality of life for people who suffer from double incontinence is more greatly impaired than in those who suffer from urinary incontinence alone. This may be due to the fact that there is a social stigma attached to faecal incontinence, and faecal incontinence brings more feelings of embarrassment and shame. People who suffer from double incontinence may isolate themselves more due to embarrassment over their condition. Double incontinence is not limited to men or women but occurs with almost equal prevalence amongst both sexes, according to studies.

It is important for people who suffer from double incontinence to speak to their physician about the problem. Faecal incontinence is thought to be underreported in comparison to urinary incontinence, and double incontinence even more so. However, without sufferers acknowledging to their physician that a problem exists, nothing can be done to address their problem. The physician may be able to help determine the cause and explain different treatment options that may be available. Having an understanding of the cause of double incontinence is important in determining the best treatment available. A physician will likely take a thorough history and performing a physical exam. Tests may be ordered to pinpoint where the problem lies. Treatment options may range from self-help remedies to medications to surgery, but until the individual seeks help, the physician will be unable to offer any assistance.

For anyone suffering from double incontinence, it is important to seek help. There are many treatment options available, which can help to improve the quality of life. There are also many incontinence products available on the market today, which can really help to manage the many challenges of dealing with incontinence.

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What to Look For in Faecal Incontinence Products

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

If you suffer from faecal incontinence, you will need appropriate absorbency from your incontinence products. You will also likely need a comfortable fit. Most of all, you will want to feel secure in the knowledge that the product you choose will offer security and discretion.

Faecal incontinence is estimated to affect approximately 2% of the population, with more women than men being affected. The social stigma associated with faecal incontinence means that the condition causes embarrassment for the individuals who experience loss of bowel control. However, incontinence products have come a long way, and people who suffer from faecal incontinence can rest assured that there are faecal incontinence products that can allow them to live their lives to the fullest.

Tena incontinence products are known world wide for their supreme comfort and absorbency, even in cases of faecal incontinence. Many people who suffer from faecal incontinence choose to use Tena’s disposable all-in-one incontinence pads. These pads offer many advantages, such as an elastic, comfortable waistband, the ultimate in absorbency and curved leg bands to prevent leakage. They are made of a breathable material that allows air to circulate, protecting the skin. They also have a rustle-free backing for added discreetness. Being disposable, they can simply be discarded when soiled. These faecal incontinence products are popular due to the comfort and security they offer.

DryForLife is proud to include Tena products in their line of superior faecal incontinence products. DryForLife offers decades of personalized service and quality products at an affordable price. Best of all, DryForLife offers an invaluable service to their customers, store-to-door delivery, saving you the hassle of shopping for your faecal incontinence products. To learn more about the products offered by DryForLife, including Tena products, visit online at www.dryforlife.co.uk and see for yourself the difference that quality makes.

Common Causes of Bowel Incontinence

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Bowel incontinence, also known as faecal incontinence, can be caused by numerous conditions, such as diarrhea, constipation, nerve damage to the anal sphincter, muscle or nerve damage to the rectum and anus and surgical procedures. Identifying the cause of bowel incontinence is important when determining the correct treatment for the condition.

Diarrhea: It is much easier to “hold” your bowels when stool is solid. When an individual experiences frequent diarrhea, the ability to control bowels may be partially or completely absent. Diarrhea itself can be caused by many conditions, such as chronic laxative use or abuse and gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Getting to the bottom of what is causing the diarrhea may aid in regaining bowel control.

Constipation: It may seem incongruous that constipation can lead to bowel incontinence, but constipation can actually be a common cause of bowel incontinence. When constipation occurs, stool can become trapped in the rectum, which causes stool behind the impaction to leak around the impaction, resulting in the leakage of liquid stool.

Nerve damage: Nerve damage to the anus or rectum may result in incontinence. Nerves supplying the anus or rectum can interfere with the ability to sense when a bowel movement is imminent, and may also prevent the anus from closing properly as it should between bowel movements. Nerve damage may occur in an individual who has Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, diabetes or spinal cord injury.

Muscle Damage: The muscles surrounding the anus, which prevent stool from exiting the body without conscious control, can become damaged resulting in bowel incontinence. Childbirth is one event that can lead to muscle damage. These muscles may become damaged by giving birth to a large infant, especially if forceps are used or an episiotomy is done.

Surgery: Surgery performed to treat hemorrhoids may result in damage to the anus or rectum, causing bowel incontinence. Surgery to treat anal or rectal cancer may also result in bowel incontinence.
Many of the causes of bowel incontinence can be easily identified and treated, making it imperative that anyone suffering from bowel incontinence seek advice from their physician.

For the full range of Incontinence Products please browse the catalogue at DryForLife.co.uk

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Frequent Causes of Urge Incontinence in Men

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Urge incontinence in men can be a frustrating problem. Symptoms may include a sudden, urgent need to urinate, followed by incontinence if a toilet is not readily available. Many men suffer from urge incontinence to varying degrees without understanding that, in many cases, it can be helped or even cured with proper treatment. What causes urge incontinence in men? There can be many contributing factors, which include the following:

Diabetes – Diabetes can damage the nerves that affect control of bladder function.

Stroke, Parkinson’s disease and MS (multiple sclerosis) – All of these conditions can lead to problems with emptying the bladder that cause the bladder to become overly full. This overfilling can, in turn, lead to urgency and incontinence.

Prostate Disease – The prostate gland, which surrounds the urethra at the bladder neck, is a frequent cause of urge incontinence in men. Enlargement of this gland, cancer of the prostate or treatment to cure cancer of the prostate may all cause the symptoms of urge incontinence in men.

Overactive Bladder – In overactive bladder, the urge to urinate may occur frequently and may be so strong that the urge cannot be ignored. Overactive bladder symptoms may be due to nerve damage, as discussed above, or may be caused by an unknown factor.

Infection – A bladder or kidney infection can cause symptoms of urge incontinence in men. This condition is generally very treatable with appropriate antibiotics, but may be overlooked as a simple cause of the problem.

Obesity – Being overweight can put increased pressure on the bladder, and may worsen symptoms of urge incontinence in men.

Constipation – Being constipated can also cause urge incontinence. Stool that impacts in the lower intestine may place extra pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing the sensation of urgency.

Urge incontinence in men should always be addressed by a physician. Although it may be embarrassing to admit this problem to your doctor, discussing the issue may lead to a cure. However, if the problem cannot be entirely resolved, your doctor may be able to improve symptoms so that they are less bothersome.

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Urge Incontinence in Women Increases the Chance of Injury

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

With age comes wisdom and also comes an increased chance of injury. The chance of developing urinary incontinence increases as a women crests sixty. Urge incontinence, in particular, will occur in up to 40% of women in this age group. Since urge incontinence in women manifests itself as a sudden spasm of the bladder accompanied by an urgent need to urinate, it is credited with increasing the incidence of falls resulting in injury in this same segment of the population.

Falling is problematic in the elderly anyway. Add to this predisposition for injury an affliction whose symptoms causes a woman to rush to the bathroom to avoid having an accident, and you have a recipe for disaster. By the age of 65 every third woman can expect some sort of injury from a fall. The most prevalent cause of hospital trauma admissions, fracturing a bone in a fall, is frequently the beginning of the end for an older woman. This one mishap can change their lives permanently. Consider an older woman falling and fracturing her hip, preventing her from being able to live on her own ever again.

When you consider the symptoms of urge incontinence in this light, these symptoms take on an ominous tone. An overpowering urgency to get to the restroom to avoid having an accident can lead to a careless and life changing accident when urgency overrides safety. This hurried compulsion to get to the bathroom immediately opens an older woman up for slipping, tripping and falling, especially when rushing to the bathroom at night. Over half of these treacherous falls happen in the safety of a woman’s own home.

By identifying the cause of the urge incontinence and remedying the situation, there is a good chance that a woman can avoid falling and suffering a debilitating fracture. Unfortunately many women do not discuss their incontinence problems with their doctor, so they never even seek treatment. Sometimes embarrassment is the cause for this omission, and other times an older woman simply assumes that the incontinence is just a normal side effect of ageing and nothing can be done about it. Depending on the cause of urge incontinence in women there are a number of different ways to go about treating it ranging from biofeedback to medication to surgery.

In studies that measure the relationship between the increase in harmful falls among women suffering from incontinence versus women who are not suffering from incontinence, the former group were about 25% more likely to take a spill. Urge incontinence poses the greatest risk for an elderly woman falling, while there was not increased risk for women suffering from stress incontinence. Of the group of women that do take a tumble, about a third of them will suffer a fracture.

Falling is already a serious health issue for elderly women, and urge incontinence in women just exacerbates the situation. So if you or a loved one over the age of 65 are suffering from urge incontinence marked by a sudden and urgent need to urinate, discuss the problem with your doctor, and together you can come up with a cure or a safe management solution for your problem. Using good quality incontinence products or adding a bedside commode next to the bed can help mitigate the chances of falling and sustaining serious injury. Removing the urgency from urge incontinence, helps keep elderly women healthy and safe even if the situation is chronic.

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What is Urge Incontinence?

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

One of the most prevalent types of urinary incontinence in older adults is urge incontinence,. So it is important to understand what is urge incontinence. You may also hear this type of incontinence called a spastic or overactive bladder, because it is caused by abnormal bladder spasms or contractions. It manifests itself as a very sudden and strong ‘urge’ to urinate. While the involuntary loss of urine may seem like a disease unto itself, it is actually a harbinger of an underlying problem, and as such it should not be ignored.

When you notice the symptoms of urge incontinence beginning, you will want to let your doctor know, and he or she can help you to determine the source of the problem. There are many different things that can cause urge incontinence, so it is a good idea to have a medical professional evaluate your individual problem. When you suffer from urge incontinence the spasms in the bladder cause such a sudden and violent contraction, that urine is forced through the strong sphincter muscles normally charged with regulating the flow of urine.

The key then, is to find out why the contraction occurs in the first place. There are many different reasons why the bladder may experience sudden and strong contractions, and this is why it is important to discuss your problem with a medical health professional. Your doctor can determine if some sort of nerve damage has occurred possibly as a result of disease or injury. By the same token, this condition can occur as a result of damage to the spinal cord.

Despite best efforts, there are many times when the exact cause cannot be found even though a trigger is found like the bladder may be stimulated into contracting at the sound of running water. However, even if you do not find the exact cause of your urge incontinence, it is important to rule out some major diseases as the cause.

The symptoms for urge incontinence are pretty straight forward. Accompanied by an involuntary urine leakage, you are constantly feeling the urge to urinate. The leakage happens both during the day and at night, and in some cases the problem can be cured while in other cases it simply needs to be managed.

Urge incontinence is generally treated with behavior modification, medication or surgery depending on the underlying cause of the condition. So now that you have answered the question, what is urge incontinence, you can work with your medical professional to manage your particular situation in the best way possible. At DryForLife we have been helping our customers deal with their incontinence challenges for over forty years, and now we are ready to help you.

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Surgery for Urinary Incontinence in Men

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Incontinence in men and women is the same yet different. While some causes of incontinence, like weak pelvic floor muscles, are the same for both genders, because the anatomy of men and women is so very different, there are some surgical options that are available for urinary incontinence in men that would not be applicable to women.

For example, using an artificial sphincter to treat urinary incontinence in men is an option that is not available for women strictly for anatomical reasons. The sphincter is crafted from silicone, which is a type of rubber. It is fitted around the urethra at the entrance to the bladder, and it contains an inflatable cuff, which is controlled manually. Once the cuff is in place, a small tube connects it to the control pump which is placed in the scrotum.

To keep urine from leaking from the bladder the cuff is inflated, and when the bladder is full, it is deflated mimicking the action of a real sphincter muscle and releasing the urine flow. This type of surgery is usually the last line of treatment for urinary incontinence in men where other treatments have failed. This surgery is performed in the hospital because it is a fairly invasive surgery, however it enjoys a near perfect satisfaction record from men who have undergone the procedure.

As with any surgery there can be complications such as bruising and swelling at the surgical site, infection, problems with the anesthesia, and it is not uncommon for a followup surgery to be required for fine tuning. Because of these complications, this surgery is generally not performed unless all other types of urinary incontinence treatments have proven ineffective. Depending on the severity of the incontinence problem, some men may prefer to manage their problem with incontinence products like absorbent pads or pressure cuffs.

There is an opportunity cost for every incontinence treatment, so always carefully weigh the pros and cons of any treatment before settling on it. As you are working through your incontinence problem, it is important to have quality products available that you can tailor to your needs. At DryForLife we have been helping men find just the right products for their particular situation for over forty years, and we are only a phone call away. You can order online or by phone and have your products delivered right to your front door quickly and discreetly.

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Bladder Sling

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Incontinence Sling May be a Last Stitch Effort

An incontinence or bladder sling is a surgical procedure used to help manage stress incontinence, and as with any surgery this one should not be entered into lightly. Bladder slings are particularly effective in women, though recently it is also being performed in men, who have tried other surgical solutions to no avail; who have other risk factors such as obesity; or who have a sagging bladder neck or urethra.

This surgery is usually very successful at relieving stress incontinence, and it is performed by placing a sling around the urethra to support it in the proper position. The bladder sling also exerts pressure on the urethra, the urinary tube from the bladder, which helps it retain urine, and it is attached to the patient’s abdominal wall on either side to hold it in place. The bladder sling is made of any number of different materials. Some are natural materials like muscle taken from the woman’s own body. The muscle tissue can also be taken from an animal like a pig. There are also slings composed of man made materials like plastic or polymer

Bladder sling surgery is invasive, and it requires very deep incisions to attach the sling to the patient. For this reason, the patient is hospitalized for several days. The patient is normally catheterized to allow the urethra to drain during the healing process. Allow up to a month for healing, and do your best to take it easy during this time. While pain is a very individual experience, you will most likely feel some pain at the area where the incisions took place, and you may experience some cramping. Your doctor will send you home with medication to relieve the pain, especially the first few days after surgery. Your doctor may also prescribe a stool softener, because constipation can accompany the healing process. Drinking plenty of non caffeinated beverages helps, and including a healthy dose of fiber including fruits and vegetables in your diet will work wonders. If you find that you are suffering from constipation, then let your doctor know so that they can help you to resolve the problem.

While this surgery is typically successful, it is not a simple surgery. By using tissue from your own body, the risk of erosion of the urethra or vagina is somewhat diminished. However, the tissue must be harvested from your body, so it increases the surgical activity that you must endure. Aside from the danger of wearing away tissue, there are some risks involved with this surgery. The sutures can pull out, and if the patient is obese, this risks are even greater. There is always the possibility of post surgical infection or rejection of the tissue used for the sling. The surgery can also affect sexual function, and then there is the ever present risk of complications with the anesthesia.

Before jumping right in and assuming that bladder sling surgery is perfect for you, make sure that you do your homework, and find a doctor who has performed many, many of these surgeries. This is a difficult procedure, so you want to make sure that you have a skilled surgeon performing the operation. To boost the likelihood of the operation being a success, you as a patient can stop smoking, lose weight if you are heavy, and doing Kegel exercises before undergoing the surgery.

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Bladder Stress Incontinence Treatment Revolutionized with Stem Cells

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

One of the more prevalent types of urinary incontinence, especially common among women, is stress incontinence. It occurs as a result of a weak sphincter muscle, which is the muscle located at the base of the bladder. Stress incontinence can be caused by pregnancy, childbirth and age among other things. Frequently the answer to managing stress incontinence is to use Kegel exercises to build up the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder.

Traditionally, surgery has not been the ‘go to’ option for stress incontinence. However, it looks as though that might be changing. While the process is still new, and there are no long term data documenting its effectiveness, a simple, surgical option may be the answer to curing stress incontinence. Using a local anesthesia, a biopsy is taken from the patient’s bicep. The cells from the biopsy, which are new muscle cells, myoblasts, and connective tissue cells, fibroblasts, are cultured in a lab using a new, patented technique. These stem cells are grown for six weeks and produce 50 million of each cell type.

After six weeks the cells are injected into the weak sphincter muscle and the urethra building up muscle tone and volume preventing stress incontinence. This procedure is done with a 3D ultrasound to ensure that the stem cells are injected correctly in contact with the urethra and sphincter muscles guaranteeing that the stem cells replicate the right kind of tissue. These stem cells are amazing in that they stay where they are injected and form new muscle tissue very quickly. Then when the muscle mass reaches its proper size, the cells stop growing on their own. Stem cells are the master cells in the body, and they can grow into tissue from any part of the body. Located throughout the tissues of the body, stem cells sit and wait until they are needed to help fight disease and injury.

The study, led by radiologist Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher, was conducted in 2004 at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria, so the process is still very new. Long term data are still not available, however, results to date are promising. One year after completing the procedure 18 out of 20 patients were content with their results. After a three year follow up, there are no severe side effects, and the success rate remains unchanged. Annual investigations and assessments of the patients continue, and researchers remain optimistic that they have developed an effective treatment for stress incontinence with the added benefit that the treatment is generated from the patient’s own tissue.

Urinary incontinence is a big problem for women, and it is occurring in more and more men as well. This operation is simple and can be completed as an outpatient procedure in under twenty minutes. If the long term results are as good as researchers expect, then this could be a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of incontinence problems with the bladder, stress incontinence in particular.

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Archive for the ‘Types of Incontinence’ Category

Just Can’t Wait – All About Urge Incontinence

What is Double Incontinence?

What to Look For in Faecal Incontinence Products

Common Causes of Bowel Incontinence

Frequent Causes of Urge Incontinence in Men

Urge Incontinence in Women Increases the Chance of Injury

What is Urge Incontinence?

Surgery for Urinary Incontinence in Men

Bladder Sling

Incontinence Sling May be a Last Stitch Effort

Bladder Stress Incontinence Treatment Revolutionized with Stem Cells

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