Although there are more than 25 million American adults who suffer from some variety of incontinence, we are still reluctant to address the topic with our doctors. Most women wait for more than six years before talking with a health care professional about incontinence issues; although the news media addresses a wide variety of health care topics, incontinence remains an issue that is shrouded in secrecy. There are many different types of catheters and urological supplies that are available to improve your quality of life. If you have trouble emptying your bladder fully or if you are urinating accidentally throughout the day, you may want to contact your local doctor or urological supply store.
If you are a senior citizen who is dealing with issues of incontinence, you may be surprised to know that more than 15% of all seniors deal with the condition to some degree. Seniors who are older than 85 experience incontinence at a higher rate, and there are some young people who report that they deal with incontinence on a daily basis. After giving birth, many adult women find that they have some degree of incontinence, and while they may joke about it on social media, there is still a stigma attached to seeing a doctor about urinary blockage or leakage. Doctors are trained to help you address your medical concerns, but they may not realize you are experiencing urinary blockage unless you let them know: find a health care professional that you trust and tell them how long you have been dealing with the issue.
Once you have been diagnosed with incontinence, you can search for a urological supply store that is in your local area: if you can’t find one, then search online for a medical supply store. If you have an indwelling catheter, you may find that it’s cheaper to purchase replacement catheterization trays online. Health care experts recommend that you clean your leg bag at least once a day and replace it every week. You want to avoid infections and urinary tract infections associated with catheters, and keeping your leg bag clean can work to decrease the likelihood of UTIs. Your doctor can help you develop a catheter and leg bag cleaning routine that will work to prevent infection: urological supply stores have sterile kits available for home use.
While it may take a while to get used to cleaning and maintaining your catheter, studies have shown that people have been using catheters to address urinary blockage for more than 3,000 years. Your local urological supply store will work with you to provide you with sterile catheterization trays and replacement catheters. If you are replacing your catheter by yourself, you can request that a nurse come to your home and show you the correct way to insert the catheter tube. Maintaining a sterile environment is important, and you should order latex gloves from your urological supply store. If you have a prostate condition, your doctor may ask you to come in to the office to change your catheter: it’s important to keep appointments to avoid infection.
Urinary incontinence may be something of a taboo subject, but more Americans are working up the courage to talk to their doctors about the problems they face every day. Online medical supply companies can often deliver medical supplies door to door, and they do not label them as urological supplies. You can be assured of their confidentiality: not everyone wants to talk about their struggles with incontinence. Although incontinence is a common issue among seniors, it is rarely discussed on television – or with our doctors. The first step toward addressing incontinence is to let your doctor know about it: how often are you experiencing urinary blockage or leakage? If you feel awkward talking about your condition, you can write a little note to your doctor and show them during your next office visit. Doctors will need to know how often you experience incontinence and which medications you are currently taking, and you may be surprised to feel better once you’ve discussed your condition in full.