Jay in Alberta
Diagnosis
What bladder or bowel problems have you experienced? How long have you had them, and how have they affected your life?I have experienced bladder and bowel incontinence since being hit by a drunk driver at the age of 25. It's been 20 years now. Although I didn't experience a spinal fracture the impact was enough to cause permanent nerve damage, incontinence and chronic pain. These issues have had plenty of negative impacts on my life, causing me to withdraw from friends and family, and isolate myself due to embarrassment and self-consciousness.
Diagnosis
What bladder or bowel problems have you experienced? How long have you had them, and how have they affected your life? I have seen MANY, MANY doctors including urologists, neurologists, etc. Now I use an absorbent product with a booster pad for added protection. There are no medicines or surgical procedures that can help my nerve damage, and it is not reversible.
Post-Treatment
How did the above treatments help your quality of life? Wearing 'diapers' was one of the hardest adjustments I've ever experienced in my life. I have since come to terms with my medical condition and several close friends/family are aware of my condition. Although it has been a source of some embarrassment in the past, I face every day with a new focus and the anticipation of being successful in my life, no matter where that life takes me. I have travelled, worked, played, and lived with this condition for 20 years, and barring some amazing new technological/medical advancement, will live with this condition for the rest of my life. The support of your website, the information you gather, and the fact that you have such a broad membership remind me daily that I'm not the only person in my situation. This goes far in inspiring me to live my life to the best of my ability, in everything I do. Incontinence is NOT the end of LIFE!! You can adapt and overcome!! That's my motto!!