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Embarrassed About Incontinence? Don’t
Be
By Michael Plontz, Staff Writer
Treatment for incontinence depends on
the type and the severity, but the majority of doctors
believe that most patients will respond to behavioral
techniques. Most of these techniques should be used with
structured nursing or doctor supervision. Always check
with a health care professional before trying any
technique to treat incontinence.
Bladder training works best for urge and
stress incontinence, and it involves scheduled
urinations. The patient must inhibit elimination until a
set time, and the amount of time between urinations will
be progressively increased. Habit training is similar to
bladder training, but patients are encouraged to urinate
when they normally would such as when they wake up,
after mealtime and before bed. For those with memory
disorders, it becomes necessary for the caregiver to
prompt them to go.
Pelvic floor exercises, also known as
Kegel exercises, are especially useful in stress
incontinence. Consult your physician for proper
technique. For extreme cases, intermittent
catheterization may be used, and, for the very extreme
cases, drugs may have to be used.
People often suffer through their
incontinence without seeking help. The embarrassment is
too great. The awareness must be heightened on an issue
that affects, or may eventually affect, millions of
people. Knowledge is power, so arm yourself. Look for
more information on incontinence in future issues of
Today’s Caregiver and our newsletter.
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