WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TREAT INCONTINENCE WITHOUT SURGERY?

Modern medicine gives us very effective options to treat incontinence that do not involve surgery. If you fear surgery, and honestly we all do, be assured that a urogynecologist has a whole host of treatments available that may help you. This array of treatments includes simple changes in diet, exercises for the bladder, using a “bladder diary” to retrain your bladder, biofeedback, several easy-to-use devices, and various oral medications. The best choice of therapy depends upon the type and severity of the problem. This chapter explains these non-surgical treatments. Use it as a starting off place for discussing treatment options with your doctor so that you can find the most comfortable and effective for you.

CAN DIETARY CHANGES HELP URGENCY AND URGE INCONTINENCE?

Urgency means you frequently feel the need to urinate. There are some simple dietary changes that may give you significant relief. In addition to the amount you drink, the kind of fluid you drink is also important. You should be aware that caffeine and alcohol act as diuretics. A diuretic forces more water out of your system than it puts in. So even a moderate amount of coffee, tea, cola, or alcohol will increase the amount of urine that your bladder has to deal with, and this can lead to frequency and urgency.

Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, spicy foods, carbonated beverages and citrus fruits contain substances that irritate the bladder lining. When these irritants collect in the bladder, they may cause the bladder muscle to have spasms that lead to frequency, urgency and, in some cases, incontinence. A recent study found that four or more cups of brewed caffeinated coffee a day (instant coffee has less caffeine) leads to urgency in most women, and even two cups can lead to urgency in some women.

If you eat or drink any of these potential irritants, experiment to see which ones might be responsible for your problem. We usually suggest eliminating all these irritants from your diet for two weeks. If the symptoms go away, introduce one thing at a time back into your diet until you identify the one bothering you. Often just avoiding the things that irritate your bladder goes a long way to curing the problem. If, on occasion, you really want to have something that you know will irritate your bladder, be aware that you may have to stay close to a bathroom for the day.

CAN TOO MUCH WATER CAUSE URGENCY AND FREQUENCY?

CAN EXERCISE TREAT URGENCY, URGE INCONTINENCE OR STRESS INCONTINENCE?

HOW CAN BIOFEEDBACK HELP TEACH YOU THESE EXERCISES?

HOW CAN YOU USE KEGEL EXERCISES TO PREVENT LEAKING?

WHAT IS THE NEOTONUS CHAIR?

WHAT IS ELECTRICAL PELVIC MUSCLE STIMULATION?

WHAT ARE VAGINAL CONES?

WHAT IS TIMED VOIDING?

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE TIMED-VOIDING DIARY?

CAN ESTROGEN IMPROVE INCONTINENCE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN?

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE ESTROGEN FOR BLADDER SYMPTOMS?

CAN MEDICATIONS BE USED TO TREAT INCONTINENCE?

CAN MEDICATION BE USED FOR URGE INCONTINENCE?

CAN MEDICATION BE USED TO TREAT STRESS INCONTINENCE?

WHAT MEDICATIONS CAN BE USED FOR MIXED INCONTINENCE?

CAN MEDICATION BE USED TO TREAT OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE?

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THESE MEDICATIONS?

CAN MEDICATIONS FOR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS LEAD TO INCONTINENCE?

WHAT IF I’M INCONTINENT ONLY WHEN I EXERCISE ?

WHAT ARE OCCLUSIVE DEVICES?

WHAT IF YOU CAN'T EMPTY YOUR BLADDER AT ALL?

Edited Excerpts from our book
The Incontinence Solution

By William H. Parker, MD, Amy E. Rosenman, MD, and Rachel Parker

Order The Incontinence Solution directly from Amazon.com.

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