Urinary Incontinence – Keeping it to yourself does not help!
We have talked many times about incontinence, namely,the involuntarily loss of urine. It is a highly intimate sphere that is hardly touched upon. Many people hide symptoms of bladder weakness for three, even five years, and just try to live with their problems. They give up travelling, entertainment or even avoid contact with other people, including their own families, children and grand children
Fortunately though, bladder weakness can be treated. So what does the examination process entail?
This first step is to visit the doctor without hesitation. He or she will distinguish real incontinence from other bladder problems that are attributed to haphazard inflammation, infection or side effects of medicines.
If the exclusion of these other incontinence factors has been undertaken and the complaints still prevail, special medical treatment is needed.
The family doctor, having analyzed the symptoms, can decide if the woman suffering from incontinence has to consult a gynecologist, urologist or neurologist. The specialist starts the examination with thorough questioning and asks for how long the urination disorder has been present. He or she inquires about the environment in which the incontinence was first noticed. Moreover, the specialist wants to know if the incontinence is present during stress, defecation, sneezing and coughing, walking the stairs, or maybe in bed.
He or she will also ask how many times before the patient has given birth, what was the weight of the babies at birth and how long labour and delivery lasted. Furthermore, he or she will ask the patient about her previous operations and the medicines that she takes
Diagnostic examinations take place after interrogation. These examinations are painless and can be carried out on one attendance! In each case, a urine test is required; that means a simple laboratory examination based on the urine sample.
If it is necessary, the doctor will complete a urine propagation from irraditionary urine (and not catheterization)
In a more complicated situation, instruments are applied in the examination.
What are these instrumental examinations? In the course of Urodynamic studies, the probe is naturally placed up in the urethra, that helps in examining the work of the bladder and the urethra. Cistoscopy, which if conducted, means the examination of the interior of the bladder, by using on endoscope that leads in through the urethra.
In the course of ultrasonic examination, a probe is placed on the abdomen, enabling the doctor to get a full picture of the bladder, kidneys and the womb. The descending urography means that the patient gets contrast medium intravenously with which the state of kidneys and the bladder can be examined. These latter examinations are only carried out in special situations to make an accurate diagnosis.
Bladder weakness can turn from a temporary problem to a serious and chronic one, if the person hesitates to contact a doctor who can provide help.
For more information in connection with incontinence, visit www.tena.com, www.ics.org or write to inf0@megaimporters.co.ke
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