What do I need to know about bladder leaks? Are there tips?

Dos and don'ts for managing incontinence or bladder leak

Do. . .

• Tell your doctor! People wait an average of five years to tell their family physician they are struggling with incontinence. There are things you can do now to reduce the impact of bladder leak on your life!
• Walk, run, swim, bike—move! Exercise will help control urinary incontinence and bladder leak.
• Lose weight. Extra weight means more pressure on the bladder and more urinary incontinence.
• Try to have regular bowel movements as this will also help with urinary incontinence.
• Stay hydrated and make regular trips—every three to four hours—to the washroom to “beat the urge” to urinate.
• Understand that you have choices - products today come in a wide range including disposable adult briefs (diapers), underwear (pull ups), and pads to swimwear solutions, bed or chair pads and cleansing wipes.

Do not. . .

• Let your incontinence sentence men to house arrest
• Drink coffee, cola or other caffeinated drinks. Avoiding them can help reduce bladder leak.
• Smoke. Try quitting smoking one more time. You never know! 
• Use menstrual products for incontinence. You’ll have fewer skin issues, less odour if you use proper incontinence products. 
• Play high-impact sports as this can make bladder leak worse.

Other helpful hints

"Doubling up" pads or liners can help reduce leaks and embarrassing wet stains on your clothes. Make sure, however, that pad or liner #1 does not have waterproof backing.

This will allow moisture to go through liner #1 and into liner #2. If they both have waterproof backing, the moisture cannot get through to liner #2.

Otherwise, double padding can double your protection - or double your risk.

Below, you'll see an example of a product designed for double-padding - it's a 'flow-through' incontinence product - Tranquility TopLiner Booster Pads. They offer added protection to any disposable undergarment. Use them with another disposable product to 'boost' absorbency:

Lastly, check with your physician to ensure your medication is not having a negative effect on your incontinence.

← Previous Post Next Post →