As an incontinence sufferer myself, I have probably heard all of the myths and “wive tales” surrounding the condition and admit that I have probably believed a few of these myself. Here are the five most common myths surrounding incontinence. After reading these myths, see if you have found yourself believing them also.
Myth 1: Incontinence is a normal part of aging.
Incontinence is commonly found in older people but it is not a “normal” part of aging. You will not develop incontinence just because you have gotten older. Incontinence is caused by damage or disease. There are almost 36 million Americans over the age of 65 and only one in five suffers from incontinence.
Myth 2: Incontinence is an incurable disease.
Incontinence is not considered a disease but a symptom of other health issues. The good news is incontinence is highly treatable. A patient has a greater probability of improvement if he or she sees a doctor when the problem starts and doesn’t let it go.
Myth 3: Staying healthy and active will prevent incontinence.
While a balanced diet and exercise are important to overall health and longevity, it’s no guarantee against the occurrence of bladder leakage. The factors that contribute to incontinence include obesity, pregnancy/delivery complications, smoking, pelvic surgery, bladder infections, certain prescription medications.
Myth 4: Everyone will be able to tell that I suffer from incontinence.
This was my main fear when I first wore Depends. I thought for sure everyone would know that I was wearing them because I thought they would show through my pants. But I was so wrong. You can’t tell because of the way the undergarments are made and I feel so much less stress and anxiety because I am always protected, especially now that I’m working. Today, disposable undergarments are made thinner, but provide greater absorbency so you don’t have to fear leakages.
Myth 5: Surgery is the only option for treating incontinence.
Thanks to advancements in medicine, there are some great prescription drugs that can help treat incontinence and are much less invasive than surgery. While there are some patients who only respond to surgery, it is usually used as a last resort of treatment. Exercises such as Kegel are also used to treat incontinence.