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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/08/2023 in all areas

  1. I thought I'd add my own diagnosis here too. Though it's more like a fraught journey to getting one. Sorry, it's a long story. First off, I'm convinced that "OAB" is urologist code for "we recognize something is going on with your urine retention and/bladder, but we don't know what. So, let's throw pills at it and see if it makes you go away". Never settle for an OAB diagnosis, or more pills, it does nothing for you. So I started off with a major auto accident that put me into a wheelchair for 3 months and then a long leg cast for 3 more. I found I couldn't make it to the bathroom in time, so my urologist said it was just my limited mobility. Official diagnosis: functional incontinence related to mobility. Nothing to worry about or look into, and that I should manage with diapers for the time being. About 6 month later my mobility slightly returned, yet I was still having problems making it in time. A new urologist, and I got a new diagnosis of OAB. And began trying a different pill every 3-6 months. I was also subjected to multiple urological diagnosis tests. Of note here: this test has you empty you bladder and measures output rate and volume. Then they put a catheter in you, and slowly fill our bladder. You call out when you feel it and again when full. Then they have you pee past the catheter as much as possible to measure pressure, rate and volume. Me though, i could never pee past the catheter so that always invalidated the test. All this occured during at least another 5-7 years. I moved, twice, so add another new urologist each time, but no actual changes. And had an insurance change too, so more of the same yet again. Eventually I was fed up with the non-support I was getting and switched urologists- yet again. This doctor actually talked to me to come up with a new diagnosis, but also made sure to include another diagnosis test- which i again failed for results. New diagnosis, Severe Urge incontinence. Followed up by even more pills every 3-6 months. Uuugh. Another point here, with all the pills. I found if I refused any more pills then every single urologist would get stuck on that one pill. Likely thinking it "would work" if only I gave it a real try. They'd be so hung up on that, they couldn't look past it and move on to something else. So, after many refusals I found it was faster and easier to just take them and prove they don't work, or worse ad bad side effects. Eventually, after 18 plus years I landed at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. Finally I had found a urologist who would listen to me once again. He deduced the reason why I failed the test was two parts. First the catheter used in the tests was too big for me. And second I was experiencing too much pain to just bear through it. So, one strong pain pill before hand, and a child's size 8fr catheter and I barely got through it. My internal bladder pressure was literally off their normal chart space. In fact, it registered 3-4x higher. New diagnosis, Sever Urge Incontince coupled with a Neurogenic Dyssynergia Sphincter (basically, my muscle wiring was crossed and instead of relaxing to pee my muscles was clamping down instead). Gee, go figure. But FINALLY, a proper diagnosis. From there we then determing my sphincter had to be bypassed, and my bladder couldn't be allowed to fill. That was the only way to alleviate both diagnosis, and that no pill would have ever helped me. He was concerned this would make me incontinent though, and hesitated. Up until I pointed out I had been incontinent, and needed diapers, for the previous 18 years. The surgery would though alleviate my inability pee, completely remove my painful urges, and greatly improve my quality of life. I was then scheduled for what would be the first of 15 surgeries to get me there. In the end it took me out 20 years to get the right diagnosis, AND to get me properly treated. So if you've read this far, my advice is DO NOT SETTLE, not for an OAB diagnosis, not for more pills, and definitely not another quack urologist who isn't even willing to spend the time and listen to you.
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  2. "Leaky boat" - I love it! --John
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  3. I actually had a doctor in a rehab center tell me that using the term "diaper" was insulting to an adult and robbed them of their dignity.😱 I maintained that acceptance was the first critical step to coping effectively with incontinence and using the dreaded "D" word was part of that. Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears. The staff was forbidden to use the words "diaper" or "bib." The latter was a "clothing protector."😟 --John
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  4. Just like Slomo and John said the ability to put tapes where they conform to the body makes sense to me. I love Betterdry for the fit and they have never leaked on me likely because of this, but they landing zone is super helpful for me when i am changing and my depth perception is off. Being able to position and then fix my mistake is super useful. I made no landing zone diapers work by putting a piece of packing tape across the front of my diaper in line with the top tape. This also helps it from stretching and sagging. Since I have experienced the super capacity diapers I am hooked. All that extra padding, elastic, and lining makes them so comfortable. It's probably a trade off where I should be getting a better seal but rely on all that extra capacity....maybe. I also found the tape guides on the InControl diapers to be soooo dang helpful. Hand/eye coordination and vision issues have caused me to wreck diapers trying to get them on straight. Tape guides are easy. I have even pre-drawn my own on Abenas when I used them. Sometimes its an issue other times not so much, but when I am in a flare and just can't do it for the life of me i'm really happy to have products that are easy to use, and allow for adjustments.
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  5. That's how I look at being thrown back into diapers. Diapers doesn't end my social life it enhances it and even helps me live an active social life without the worry of having ti use the potty because I know I'm never gona use the potty anytime soon due to my Incontinence. On top of that I don't think people and society should ever shame someone for wearing a diaper. Diapers are medical tools to help people have a normal life.
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