Managing everyday life with incontinence can be challenging, but with forward planning most people find a routine that allows them to live their life to the fullest.
Creating a routine
If you have just been diagnosed with incontinence, you're probably feeling anxious about how to manage those occassional accidents. Work with a continence health professional to explore different options to suit your needs and come up with a tailored plan that supports your lifestyle.
Finding a routine often takes time which can be frustrating, but it's important to persist as advances in new treatments and products mean there are many options available to you.
Some considerations
When planning for everyday life with incontinence, it may be worth considering the following scenarios and situations:
- home life
- work life
- social outings
- exercise and sport
- relationships, intimacy and sex
- travel.
How you plan for each of these may be different, but some simple strategies to consider include:
- knowing how long you will be out and making sure you have enough continence products with you (including cleaning and odour neutralising products and a spare set of clothes)
- finding out where the closest toilets are and how accessible these are to you (see the National Public Toilet Map)
- altering your diet and fluids if these impact your symptoms
- testing any new strategies at home before you enter a social situation.
SEEK HELP
In many cases incontinence can be prevented, better managed and even cured. Talk to your family doctor or contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.
The National Continence Helpline is staffed by Nurse Continence Specialists who offer free and confidential information, advice and support. They also provide a wide range of continence-related resources and referrals to local services.