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Help for people living with incontinence
Incontinence (more information) can make you feel embarrassed and socially isolated. It can have a major impact on your quality of life in everything you do, no matter what your age and background. Butincontinence can be prevented, treated, managed and often cured.
Incontinence is a symptom, telling you that all is not well with you. Don’t ignore, neglect or put up with it. Seeking help early is the best thing you can do.
Treating incontinence
Success in treating incontinence relies on a complete and effective assessment. The goal should be to stop the incontinence – fortunately, many types of incontinence can be cured or improved with treatments.
Some treatments can be commenced quickly. They may include:
- treating any infections
- correcting constipation and trying to get the bowel to empty regularly
- improving diabetic control
- changing medications if necessary (see your doctor), or
- improving access to the toilet.
Others, such as bladder training and pelvic floor exercises, may take longer.
More information on treating incontinence can be found in the following fact sheet from the Department of Health and Ageing.
More information about types of continence products that are available can be found in the following fact sheet from the Department of Health and Ageing.
Where to get help - Your local doctor
For most people the starting point will be your local doctor. Doctors can provide medical assessment and treatment options, review and prescribe medications, order clinical tests or may refer you to a medical specialist or a continence nurse adviser or a continence physiotherapist.
When making an appointment with your doctor ask for a long consultation, this will give you both time to explain the problem without feeling rushed. Write down all the things that are happening and questions that you have. This will jog your memory and you’ll cover everything you need to.
Take these things with you:
- a record of what you drink in a day
- a record of what you eat in a day
- a record of your bowel motions over several days (a bowel diary)
- a list of medications you are taking, including those you can buy over the counter, or take the packets
- your observations of any changes in behaviour or activities, and
- a urine sample.
Ten questions to ask your doctor:
- What might be the cause of the incontinence?
- Should I see someone who specialises in this problem, for example, a continence nurse adviser, continence physiotherapist or specialist doctor?
- Could medications be causing it, or making it worse?
- Do I need to be examined?
- How can we prevent it or manage it?
- Will medications fix it?
- Will I need tests?
- Will I need surgery?
- Where can I get help to buy the pads and products if I need them?
- Are there any benefit schemes to assist with the costs of buying continence pads?
You can see a continence adviser without a doctor’s referral, but it’s helpful if the doctor knows. A continence adviser, either a nurse or a physiotherapist, will need the medical diagnosis, medical or surgical history, and a list of current medications, including those you buy over the counter. Alternatively, you could take the packets along with you to the appointment.
Read more: About continence management services
