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The Top 12 Questions About Incontinence
What Caregivers Should Be Asking Loved Ones' Doctors
By Melissa Granberry
Bladder leakage can be unsettling for those experiencing it, but there is much that can be done to treat and manage the condition. One of the first steps you should take if a loved one you care for is suffering from incontinence is to speak with their doctor, who can help devise a treatment plan to improve your loved one's quality of life.
However, many patients are afraid to bring up the topic with their doctor. "Patients have a tremendous reluctance to speak about this problem," says Dr. Victor Nitti, urologist at NYU Medical Center and vice chairman of urology at the NYU School of Medicine. In fact, he says that less than half of patients with incontinence talk with their doctor about it.
That's where you can step in as a caregiver. Discuss with your loved one the importance of talking to a doctor about the condition, encourage them to do so and be there to support them during the office visit. If they're too embarrassed or simply unable, step in as their advocate to ask the important questions to help improve their care.
This month we have teamed up with leading physicians to share some of the most commonly asked questions, as well as questions that patients and caregivers should be asking their doctors but are not. They include:
"Incontinence is not a normal part of aging and should be brought to the attention of the doctor," says Donna Schempp, program director at the Family Caregiver Alliance in San Francisco, Calif. "There are all kinds of treatment options available now."
"Yes, there are things that can be done," says Dr. Nitti. "It really depends upon the type of incontinence one has and what one is willing to do to have their incontinence improved or eliminated."
Treatment options include behavioral modification, medications and/or surgery. Products such as absorbent pads, absorbent undergarments and external collection devices are also available to help patients and their caregivers manage the condition.
