Urinary Incontinence Support Group
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary excretion of urine from one's body. It is often temporary, and it almost always results from an underlying medical condition. Stress, functional, and urge incontinence are the most common forms. Share with other support group members and learn from their stories and experiences.
I’m a newbie and just signed up here and would like to introduce myself.
My names Ritchie and I’d like to join a group like this with others that may have similar problems to me with incontinence and/or bedwetting to know I’m not alone with these problems. These aren’t new problems to me as my problems began when I was in an accident when I was 8 where my whole pelvic area was damaged and I had multiple operations trying to repair everything, if you’d like more details I’ve written them in my profile which you can read if you like. Effectively it left me with stress incontinence and regular bedwetting.
The other major change for me was due to the scarring from all the operations gave me urethral strictures and I eventually had a perineal urethrostomy, basically my urethral opening was moved to the same location as a womans. Although supposed to be temporary I did elect to keep it like that as the urethral reconstruction was frightening, again if you wish more details in my profile, which does mean I now have to sit to pee and similar to women I am more susceptible to UTI’s now.
Im very lucky to have the most loving of girlfriends who understands and supports me in all my issues and positively loves the fact I have to sit to pee as we never argue about the toilet seat! Her only insistence is I always wear a diaper or nappy to bed which I just can’t argue against as I wet 4 or 5 times a week and can’t get away from the fact I need them.
Despite this, at times it gets too much and it’ll be nice to mix in a group with others who have similar problems and understand what’s its like, and to know I’m not on my own with this.
For the goal you mentioned, my girlfriend loves to travel, and I do to, but I’m always apprehensive because the level of protection I need depending on what we’re doing. Long haul flights I have to wear a diaper, and any physical activity (she loves hiking) means the normal pads I can get away with during the day just aren’t enough, and its a horrible reality check seeing that I need to take a case full of nappies and pads. But it’s not fair on her as sometimes I’m not as ‘enthusiastic’ as her, especially as how supportive she is to me, so from what you’ve said I’m going to try and not just be a bit more receptive to traveling, but try and make suggestions where to go. I’ve been dealing with this long enough that I shouldn’t allow it to stop me doing things, besides, I do enjoy traveling and I know it would mean a lot to her for me to take the lead in some trips. Thanks again for your comments.
We’ve decided to go on a road trip to America, we’re from England, we’ll be going next spring for a 3 week trip.
I am nervous about the flights, but it’s enough of these issues controlling me, and it’s worth it just to see her so excited and planning and looking forward to it.