Incontenence

General
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Does anyone else have problems with urinary incontenence and how are you handling it? Drugs for overactive bladder are partially effective but I can’t rely on them. I’m seeing an urologist to see if he has any new tricks up his sleeve🙁. Very frustrating, embarrassing, isolating, and stressful. Thank goodness for Poise!*

My ataxia is hereditary and started with symptoms around age 50, 26 years ago. In my studies on the subject I found this list of symptoms that I keep on hand to remind me I’m not alone. Diagnosed by neurologist but no follow up. No need.

The symptoms vary depending on the type of SCA. They can include:

  • problems with balance and co-ordination – many people find walking difficult and need to use a wheelchair after a few years
  • increasingly slurred, slow and unclear speech (dysarthria)
  • muscle stiffness and cramps
  • loss of sensation in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy)
  • memory loss and difficulties with spoken language
  • slow eye movement, which means people have to move their head to compensate
  • reduced bladder control (urinary urgency or incontinence
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:woozy_face: I’m becoming more aware of ‘urgency’ myself, and sneezing can lead to disaster :roll_eyes: Your Urologist may recommend Botox, some people have found it very helpful.
You can find links to other similar posts by typing such as ‘frequency…ataxic bladder…bladder problems’ and the like, in the search box next to your Profile picture :slightly_smiling_face:

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As a male I have started wearing Depeñds and standing to finish urination. No extreme bowel issues yet.

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I have had “urgency” since in my 50’s and am now 76. But the last 4 years it became more URGENT. I do take meds for bladder control. They make my mouth dry. Have had sporadic ataxia for over 22 years. During the day I wear a light pad and at night wear a diaper. If I don’t wet in the diaper, I wear it again the next night.This seems to be spastic with me. Can go for weeks w/o a night problem and then wham. Don’t be embarrassed just do what you need to so you won’t be embarrassed. Remember this is a good time to have the problem because there are so many incontinence products for men and women. Better than the rags used in our grandmother’s day.

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yes me too. I am almost 77 and finding urgency worse. I have resisted drugs and find it is manageable. I find constipation makes it worse. Once the constipation is sorted, the urgency improves.

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I know that it’s kinda silly to say but for constipation you must drink at least eight glasses of water a day even if you’re not thirsty. Seems counter-intuitive [if that’s the correct word].

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I read that advice quite a lot and know it to be true but… any excuse … ,mostly to tired to get refill, out somewhere and havent taken enough, forget to use my sipper bottle and so on… thanks anyway.

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Muryb, I was directed to a urologist-neurologist and had the botox procedure done
about 30 days ago. It takes 45 days to take effect and you go in for more Botox every year. Basically, the Botox closes the urinary muscles and you use brain signals to open them (pee). The procedure is painless, weird, and expensive. I should know if it works for me later next month.

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I will definitely ask about Botox when I go for my “real” appointment! Lots of history taking this time. I hope you have success with yours, keep me in the loop.

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Had problems with control. Did bladder training. Many courses available. Included not going unless you really had to. Not going before leaving house, but planning where you could go. Best trick ever, if you feel you need to go, say cinema, press firmly with finger just below the nose. Feeling need to go disappears. Try it out
Constipation is a disaster fibre plus water essential.
Now sleep through night, used to be multi trips.

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My Ataxia is so far idiopathic.

I do share urinary urgency, and have done so all of my life. It has progressed with age but fortunately not to incontinence however I keep a screw cap bottle in my car, seldom used, but useful when necessary. Similarly I keep a bottle by my bed at night to avoid having to navigate to the bathroom as my balance is much worse in the dark.

There is no shame in wearing adult diapers should the need arise. I would avoid drugs if at all possible and if they are suggested the best disinterested information can be found on the Cochrane Group website.

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yes, I had incontinence for about a year after my ataxia got severe. i had to wear Depends/diapers. it was horrible. luckily it went away a few months ago.

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I recently read of a natural product called SagaPro which you may want to research.
Also, re some responses, my understanding is that the need to drink 8 glasses of water per day is an urban legend that isn’t based on current science. Given that we’re all unique, come in multiple shapes and sizes, it’s obvious there isn’t a one size fits all. Similarly, there are many causes of constipation and drinking more water isn’t a remedy though keeping hydrated is important.

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I’ve been reading all my life about these 8 glasses of water! That would mean at least 12 trips( no pun intended) to the bathroom! No thank you.
Donna

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I will definitely check out SagaPro, thanks for the tip. What I take now is a tier 4 drug, in US Medicare drug speak, which means so expensive that I need to find an alternative. I drink 50-60 ozs of liquid a day but I use a 20oz Yeti with a handle. (No sloshing).

I have Ataxia and I’m old and unfortunately you can’t cure either just want to improve my quality of life. Incontenence cramps your style in so many ways, I had no idea.

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Now wearing Depends “just in case”.

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A neurogenic bladder unfortunately does not go away. You can curb some symptoms but it’s yours. Am trying Botox injections in an effort to reduce my symptoms. It does nothing for stress incontenence! Wish me luck.

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As “urgency” incontinence is neurogenic, I find you can con yourself. To me it always happens when I’m on my way to the toilet or near a toilet. Never when I’m out on the streets. So you can con yourself by telling yourself you are first going out or have to take a detour or do something else before going to the toilet. With me it helps!

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:woozy_face: Recently, I’ve had a problem with ‘leaking’. I know if I resist the urge to ‘answer the call’ there’s a very real danger of not getting there in time, or just in the nick of time. This has probably got something to do with weak muscles :roll_eyes: I’ve always been a ‘frequent visitor’ but this something new.

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:slightly_smiling_face: There are videos on YouTube relating to Kegel exercises which can help a weak pelvic floor, and help with urinary urgency. There is help for both men, and women. Search either online, or on YouTube… www.kegel8.co.uk

Kegel Exercises For Men

For gentlemen, the rewards span throughout a couple of unique areas. Initially, superior male orgasms, which can be more robust and go longer, are the obvious rewards. Robust pubococcygeus muscles ignites your ejaculation further, so you’ll likely to end up satisfied with the enhanced range you are able to generate. With some men this is certainly more valuable compared to other individuals due to Erectile Dysfunction. An additional essential advantage of accomplishing Kegels would be the fact you’ll obtain total power over premature ejaculation. Considering that the PC muscles are a huge component of your climax, obtaining charge of it indicates your command when you’d like to release. Lastly, a non-sexual gain for males is the urinary system health. A powerful PC muscle will make it possible for more mature adult men to obtain far better management of their urination routine. Urination difficulties creep up on adult men as time gets to be a factor, and the opportunity to dictate your urination schedule far better is a tremendous advantage of developing a strong PC muscle.

Rewards for Kegel exercises for Men on a regular basis:

  • You can continue to keep and preserve a wholesome prostate health and other connected internal organs

  • Learning to improve your PC muscles will allow you to achieve and keep a significantly tougher and stronger erection quality anytime

  • A proper PC muscle will assist you to handle once you climax by having the capacity to hold it - this is usually a method to overcome premature ejaculation

  • Kegel exercises can boost the circulation of blood and the results can raise your sizing and level of sensitivity

Now Men, lets locate the correct muscle groups:

Commence to pee, and then cease the stream of urine. The muscles you just utilized to cease the stream of urine are your PC muscles.

Exercise ceasing urination mid-flow; the more you train, the greater your concept of exactly where the PC muscle is to contract them.

Make an effort to make your erection bounce or twitch. The PC muscle moves the erect male organ; the moment you’ve found the pc muscle and utilized flexing it, while using the motion of one’s erection as visible feedback, you may then apply flexing it when you’re flaccid.

Here are a few means of performing exercises to your muscles with Kegels:

In the beginning you may want to execute these routines while seated. Considering that the muscle groups improve you’ll be able to advance to exercise standing. Like every task, focus on what you are able accomplish and advance after that. Bear in mind to apply your muscles while you exert your self within your lifestyle.

If you’re able to sense your muscles, exercise them by:

  1. Compressing / tightening up and drawing in and up close to both equally your rectum (back passageway) and urethra. Elevate up inside and make an effort to sustain this contraction tightly as long as you possibly can (one - ten seconds). Retain inhaling and exhaling! Now relieve / unwind. You ought to have an absolute sense of letting go.

  2. Relax ten - twenty mere seconds - duplicate Step one, please remember you will need to relax. If you discover it’s effortless to maintain, make an effort to maintain lengthier and duplicate as much as it’s possible. Work on twelve lengthy, powerful holds.

Suggestions and Caution:

  1. Don’t forget to inhale and exhale and also to keep yourself calm. This should help you identify your Pubococcygeus muscle groups.

  2. Immediately after executing the exercises by having an erection you are able to utilize a warm clean cloth to the base of the penis if you have any tenderness.

  3. Your companion is capable of doing these workout routines along with you that can enrich sexual climaxes during sex and enable you to sustain your penile erection.

  4. If you work with these exercises simply because you encounter urinary stress incontinence, give them a go while peeing or while seated on the potty.

  5. Be aware when practicing these physical exercises. As with any other group of muscles, over exertion of your kegel muscles may cause you discomfort and pain. Ease into it and move your way up.

Consider placing aside Five to ten moments within your working day for this workout routine, please remember, level of quality is essential. A couple of excellent contractions tend to be more effective than numerous half-hearted types and great results acquire time and energy.

Don’t forget to make use of the pc muscles when you require them most. That’s, consistently firm up prior to coughing, sneezing, bending over, standing up from a chair, and so forth.

Maximize just how long and level of holds you are carrying out in series just before going through muscle fatigue. Act on 12 extended, strong holds. Enhance the amount of quick, contractions - continuously do your maximum amount of top quality contractions.