Incontinence affects men, women, and children of all ages and races. Everyone has their own unique story to tell, and these are just a few. Please keep in mind that everyone’s situation is different, and what worked for one person may not work for another. These stories are told by the individual with incontinence, in their own words. We invite you to share your story with us.
My Story – Submitted by Lisa
After 12 years of dialysis I got a kidney that I call Hannah. This month [June 2023] made 7 years that I had my transplant. I haven’t passed urine in 4 years after the operation. I went often and I started to smell urine off and on with a little of wetness. With my bottom I developed hemorrhoids because when I was on dialysis your fluids are limited. Not until later I found them leaking after every bowel movement orContinue reading
My Story – Submitted by Brandon
I dealt with regular bed wetting (and a little day wetting) throughout most of my childhood. The issue mainly resolved by my late teen years, but now as an adult in my 30s, it has fully returned. I manage it by wearing disposable adult diapers to bed every night and sometimes while traveling too. After trying several different types, I found that the plastic-backed tab-style briefs definitely work the best. All others tend toContinue reading
“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.” – Jean Houston
Incontinence and Shame, Submitted by – Lianna
I don’t remember the first time I felt shame for my incontinence, but I remember the last time. It was just over a year ago. I had been laughing at something a coworker said, though I can’t recall what it was that I thought was so funny. That’s when it happens, you see, only when the force of the humor is so strong that I am completely overtaken with gut-bursting laughter, doubled over, my body curving in on itself as if it were trying to hold on to something invisible, some last tether to solidity, while everything else in me isContinue reading
My Story – Submitted by Anonymous
Hello. i absolutely love what y’all do. standing up for people that get judged and labeled by those without disabilities. i’ve been incontinent since the age of 14. before that as a young child i always had bed wetting issues. my parents were not so nice or understanding about it. especially my father. he was plain cruel. Continue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Marguerite
I have suffered from intractable urinary incontinence for 20 years with many treatments and no success. I have undergone the so-called gold standard Burch Procedure surgery during which time I acquired Clostridium difficile in the hospital. I have had vaginal mesh surgery. I have tried Medtronic’s Interstim implant in my buttocks to stimulate my sacral nerve (which later was removed as no longer functioning) and have had several infusions of botox in my bladder. I have had cocktails injected to treat (non existent) interstitial cystitis and now I rely on self-catheterization to Continue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Waldo
This story was originally published in the Danish magazine Vertel. You can access the original story and photos here: https://www.medireva.nl/wp-content/uploads/MEDIREVA-Vertel-lente-versie.pdf
Here is the author’s English translation, which he has asked that we share with you.
Dear reader,
I would like to share my personal story with you. I want to contribute to the elimination of the stigma and the taboo around incontinence. Continue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Jennifer
I was diagnosed in late 2016 with Stage 3 rectal cancer. I underwent 45 days of radiation and chemotherapy to my rectum and surrounding area. Six weeks later I had a lower anterior resection where the surgeon salvaged as much rectum as possible and reattached my sigmoid colon to the remaining rectum. I am currently undergoing clean-up chemo, however, as a result of radiation and surgery, I have been left with severe urinary and fecal incontinence. Continue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Gene
My name is Gene and I’m a 52 year old male. About 5 years ago I began to slowly lose control over my bladder due to a small bladder tumor. After having the tumor removed I found myself incontinent.
Being incontinent and trying to return to school or work seemed impossible for me at first. After my surgery I wasn’t able to return to my old job. Managing my problem at home was hard enough, but at work or school — no way!! There seemed to be little info available out there about practical day to day management. So I thought that this letter might help those out there that also find themselves at this point.Continue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Colin
It’s an issue the majority of people don’t want to discuss and when they do talk about it they do so in hushed tones. Cheryle B. Gartley, president of the Simon Foundation for Continence calls it “a closet issue within the closet issue of urinary incontinence.” I’m referring to adult bedwetting. The clinical term for it is nocturnal enuresis and though most people associate it with children and adolescents, there are a significant number of people who deal with this issue their entire life. Adult bedwetting may be moreContinue reading
My Story – Submitted by: Davida
What a beautiful day it was. July 27, 1997, the sky a brilliant blue and, in spite of the dazzling sunshine, cool and delicious. It was my birthday and I was riding Adoro, my thoroughbred four year old gelding, sweet and wise beyond his years. We were making circles in the corral when he stumbled. He never fell (and neither did I), but he tripped on something and stumbled, brought to his knees for only a moment. I fell forward onto my saddle’s high pommel (like the horn of a western saddle). As Adoro righted himself, I did too, but the damage had already been done. My impact with the saddle had destroyed my urethra and seriously injured my bladder. There was blood everywhere and, suddenly, I was incontinent.