Chapter 9: Cure yourself

Confronting your bladder control problem is challenging. You have taken the first step and perhaps the most important one—to educate yourself about your condition.

Now it is time to move ahead and take the necessary steps to regain control over your bladder.

Present your primary care physician with your problem without hesitation. Knowing how prevalent the condition is you should have no reservations in doing so. Your primary care physician will probably check your urine to exclude urinary tract infection and hematuria (blood in your urine) and will perhaps provide some recommendation as to medical treatment and physical exercises—the Kegel exercises.

Teach yourself how to perform the Kegel exercise by trying to stop the urinary stream. Once you are sure that you can identify this muscle group exercise regularly and religiously. Once you see the bladder professional you may discuss further physiotherapy training.

Gather information on specialists dealing with bladder control problems in your area. The best way is to ask around. Your friends, your doctor, nurses and other professionals in the medical field are an excellent resource. You will be amazed how easy it will be. Once you have chosen your doctor make an appointment with him or her.

Don’t be caught unprepared. Try to prepare for the visit at the doctor office as well as you can. Fill a voiding diary and answer the questionnaire provided in this book. This will allow you to define your problems better and to note certain behavior that may contribute to your bladder control problems: excessive fluid consumption and correlation of your incontinence with an urge sensation or with coughing, sneezing, or straining.

Until your appointment with the doctor you may also try to modify behavior that may contribute to your bladder control problems: If your main problem is frequent nighttime urination try to reduce fluid intake in the evening. If you are a compulsive drinker or have been put on a weight reduction diet that requires a lot of fluid consumption, try to discuss a change in your diet with your primary care provider.

Knowing what bladder control is all about and defining your bladder control problem will help you participate in every decision made regarding your evaluation and treatment.

Take an active part in your evaluation and treatment.

Take control of your bladder and of your life.

After all, you are the most important subject in this topic.