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Urinary incontinence symptoms are common in women, have a significant impact on health-related quality of life, and are associated with significant personal and societal costs. There are different types of urinary incontinence, but in this blog post, we’ll be focusing on stress urinary incontinence, in which urine leaks as a result of physical exertion, and how this impacted the life of a woman who has been suffering from it for a long time.
We’ll be sharing the story of Amine’s friend, a woman who suffered from bed-wetting from childhood to adulthood. Today, she may not be wetting the bed anymore, but she is suffering from stress incontinence.
But before we share her story, let’s first define what stress incontinence is.
When physical movement or activity, such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, running, or heavy lifting, puts pressure (stress) on your bladder, causing you to leak urine, this is referred to as stress incontinence. Stress incontinence has nothing to do with psychological stress.
But how does this type of incontinence affect a woman? Read on and find out.
There’s no denying that urinary incontinence in women carries a stigma. That’s why half of all women suffering from UI barely talk about it or consult a doctor. It’s the same thing with Amine’s friend. Since she’s the only one in her family who had UI, she had always been embarrassed about her condition, especially when her own family ridicules her. “You wet the bed again! Can’t you ever wake up in the middle of the night to pee in the bathroom?”
When they had visitors at home or when her whole family stays in a relative’s house for a vacation, she felt too embarrassed because they might smell the pungent odor of dried urine on the bed, sofa, or anywhere she chose to sleep. And when they do, her family tells them (the visitors) of her condition, which caused her more embarrassment. Despite her UI, she didn’t want to wear diapers at night because she felt more abnormal. Even when she got married and had children, she wet the bed regularly.
As much as they can, her husband and children tried to avoid discussing her UI. However, it was sometimes unavoidable, especially when they felt the wetness of where she slept.
At work, she refused to participate in overnight activities for fear that she might wet the bed. And since she also had stress incontinence, she had to wear sanitary napkins which irritated her skin and led to a persistent urinary tract infection (UTI).
Today, she no longer suffers from bed-wetting, but she still has stress incontinence, which is aggravated by her diabetes. She has to go to the bathroom 20-25 times a day to relieve herself. But sometimes, accidents still happen. It’s a good thing that she now works from home so she can go to the bathroom anytime she needs.
“Looking back, urinary incontinence had a negative impact on my life. I suffered from an inferiority complex, that’s why in school and at work, I did not perform to the best of my ability. Even my relationships were affected by it. If only I knew that I wasn’t alone, I could have reached out and asked for help.” Amine’s friend said.
But how about the 300 million women out there who are suffering from urinary incontinence? They’re out there, suffering in silence, embarrassed to discuss their condition, even with a doctor. They’d rather isolate themselves than enjoy great times with family and friends.
Let’s make them feel they’re not alone by spreading the message that help is available if they will only reach out.
If you know of someone who’s suffering from urinary incontinence, we can help. We have a lot of information they can benefit from it.