Done Hiding: One Man's Long Road to Diagnosis and Acceptance With Urge Incontinence

I became incontinent in my 20s. Minor leaks here and there, leaks while sneezing or coughing. I was able to use small liners to prevent leaks. As I got older, my incontinence became worse, requiring me to wear pull-ups and then tab diapers. Since the products were not too bulky, I was able to conceal the fact that I had urinary issues.

Being a male in the blue-collar industry I would go to no end to hide it. I married the best person out there. She fully supported me with my health issues; later I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and chronic PTSD.

As time went by, my incontinence became worse, to the point I couldn't control it at all. As soon as I felt the need to pee, it just happened with no ability to stop. My wife finally convinced me to see a urologist. They put me in a room with the weirdest looking machine. I could see there was a panel; a tube I knew was a catheter, another with a round end, a toilet seat, and collection containers that measured liquid amounts. My first thought was that I was glad I wouldn't be attached to this device. Boy, was I wrong. Once all hooked up, the doctor had me apply pressure with my rectum to get some sort of reading. Then the fluid began flowing into my bladder, and I instantly had a powerful spasm of my bladder. He said he had never seen one so strong. I was then diagnosed with urge incontinence.

My next hurdle was going to work with all these bulky products. At the time I was able to access toilets to change, but I took on a new position that required me to work 12-hour shifts with nowhere to change. I ended up wearing a tab diaper with boosters. It was bulky and made me walk slightly differently. I bought shirts that were too big for me but hung down long enough to hide all of it.

So that's where I am today. I have been dealing with this for so long that I really don't care who knows.

 

Thank you for reading our customer stories. NorthShore works to remove the confusion and isolation surrounding incontinence, helping individuals better understand that “incontinence is very common, often treatable, and regardless, very manageable.” — Adam Greenberg, President & Founder of NorthShore We are grateful for the opportunity to share these journeys and provide products that help people live life to the fullest. Learn more about sharing your story through the NorthShore Hero Club. Have a story to share? Submit it below to help others feel less alone.

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