Leaks, accidents, not knowing when the urge will strike – all of these can cause potentially embarrassing situations. You may want to stay at home, inside, all the time. But that just isn’t realistic with a job and responsibilities. So how do you get through the day?
Here are 5 Ways
1. Avoid the temptation of starting the day with coffee. Sure, a hot cup of coffee may warm you up on a cold morning. The caffeine helps you wake up. But if you are living with urinary incontinence, coffee is doing you more harm than good. Coffee has been proven to worsen incontinence because caffeine is a diuretic. The more coffee you drink, the more likely you are to have a leaky bladder when you already suffer from incontinence.
2. Stay hydrated. Wait what? You probably think you shouldn’t drink anything at all. But that is unhealthy. Our bodies need to be hydrated to function best. If you don’t stay hydrated, your urine becomes concentrated. Concentrated urine caused by dehydration can irritate the lining of the bladder and urethra and actually worsen incontinence. The solution is to drink only water, and try fluid management.
3. Plan bathroom breaks. In some lines of work, this is not possible. But if you work in an office setting, you should be able to get up from your desk as needed. You then have the ability to plan a visit to the bathroom every 2 hours. This way, you can try to stave off any urgency that occurs by already going frequently.
4. Tell your family. Or even your boss – This is probably not what you want to hear. In fact, it’s definitely not what you want to hear, because the last thing you want to do is tell them. But it is a medical issue that is affecting your everyday life. If they have a little more understanding, it would explain your behaviors and they may be more supportive than you think.
5. Wear incontinence undergarments. Many people suffering from incontinence are resistant to using incontinence undergarments. This is understandable. If you are not sure when you will be able to get to a restroom, these products can give you peace of mind. You’d much rather have a backup plan than a leak, especially when at work.
These tips can help you manage your incontinence on a day-to-day basis. But if you want a better solution than just dealing with it, contact us. Incontinence is treatable, and there are many options available to you. You can also call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 800-771-1953.