Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center
Related to Incontinence & Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Latest News - Recently Published Articles
Treatments for Incontinence & Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Incontinence: The Last Medical Taboo in America
“Shame,” “Suffering in silence,” “Embarrassed,” “Depressed,” “Humiliated.” These are just a few of the words my patients have shared with me about what it’s like living with incontinence.
Over the last decade incontinence has been brought up more and healthcare givers seem to have better answers than they did in the past. The taboo is slowly beginning to weaken. There is more information available to the consumer about incontinence but it is still stigmatized in our society.
Education and increased awareness is going to help change this. Between companies that drive the incontinence market, new-found non-invasive treatments that work and consumer advocacy groups determined to help some of the 27+ million people living with incontinence; we are destined to see progress in how incontinence is understood in America.
Today, it’s important to be proactive in finding the support you need to treat your incontinence. Don’t allow incontinence to get the best of you and inhibit you from being as active as you want to be. Remember, it’s not a consequence of normal aging and often, it can be treated without surgery or medication. Bladder programs, dietary modification, correct pelvic floor exercises and natural solutions will help you become continent. You did not become incontinent overnight however, and you won’t get cured overnight. But the majority of cases can be helped in a 6-8 week treatment period.
Your first step is to be courageous. Make a decision to see your physician or continence care nurse and tell them your symptoms. If your physician isn’t well informed about treatments for incontinence see an urogynecologist (women), a urologist (men) or a nurse specializing in continence care to help you get started in becoming continent. You can do this! Take the first step!
Your second step is to start talking. Since incontinence is perceived to be such an embarrassing condition of ageing or of a disability, it’s never viewed as a common problem that affects the greater population. If we are to “free” those suffering from incontinence we need to rid ourselves of the taboo by openly discussing the topic. I find it exhilarating to talk it up because people DO respond, usually with enthusiasm, because they finally understand that there are real and easy ways to treat incontinence.
You will be surprised how many people will open up to you once you break that barrier. More often than not, they’ll reveal that they, or a loved one, are dealing with some form of incontinence too.
Once we make strides toward turning off society’s stigmatization about incontinence, I believe that people will be more empowered to educate themselves and more comfortable seeking treatment that will rid incontinence and enhance self-esteem and confidence.
I am a Continence Nurse Specialist for Woodbury Health Products and WoodburyHealthCenter.com. My mission is to provide support to the millions of Americans who suffer with incontinence, often in silence and shame.
As a clinician, I hope to facilitate a healthier way of thinking about incontinence and to remove the taboo associated with it in America.
I received my nursing degree from the University of Portland, Oregon in 1994. I enjoy working with both patients and caregivers to provide them with expert consultation and dignified product solutions. With years of clinical experience, I realize the impact and importance of the support I can provide to people living with incontinence.
Robin Howe, RN BSN
Continence Nurse Specialist
Copyright © 2010 Woodbury Health Products All rights reserved.
1-800-777-1111
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm EST
