everyone feels some discomfort about bringing up this topic. people (especially women) with incontinence problems tend not to bring them up during a routine examination. unfortunately some health care professionals don't automatically ask questions about urine leakage timing amount and frequency of incontinence episodes. one way for anyone to feel empowered about this difficult topic is to arrive for a medical appointment with some written descriptions about the problem. this can be as simple as a list of symptoms but what i find most useful is a three day bladder diary that details exactly what is going on with a patient. . in addition you can answer a standard set of questions in writing and share them during your appointment. this is an easy way to steer the conversation in the right direction. you can say something like "i jotted down some items that i want to share with you so i wouldn't forget. " here are some standard questions that will help you describe your problem: do i have strong sudden urges to urinate? do i urinate more than 8 times in a 24-hour period? do i have uncontrollable urges to urinate that sometimes result in wetting accidents? do i leak urine on the way to the bathroom? do i leak urine when i laugh or cough or when i participate in active sports? do i frequently get up two or more times during the night to go to the bathroom? do i avoid places because i do not know if there is a restroom near by? do i go to the bathroom so often that it interferes with my activities? do i frequently limit my fluid intake when i'm away from home so that i won't need to worry about finding a restroom? when i'm in an unfamiliar place do i make sure i know where the restroom is? do i use absorbent pads to keep from wetting my clothes? remember that you and your doctor or other health care provider (nurse practitioner physician assistant) are partners in solving your health problems. the better the information about them you share the more likely you will both be successful. there are many types of solutions for incontinence issues so go to your appointment expecting to control or completely resolve your urinary symptoms. and if the first treatment you try doesn't work keep trying. no one should live with incontinence controlling their life. hi diane here are answers to some standard questions that you asked: do i have strong sudden urges to urinate? (yes there is a sudden urge to urinate) do i urinate more than 8 times in a 24-hour period? (no but atleast 5-6 times during 24 hours) do i have uncontrollable urges to urinate that sometimes result in wetting accidents? (yes it happens sometimes and sometimes at night too) do i leak urine on the way to the bathroom? (yes urine leakage is there on my way to bathroom) do i leak urine when i laugh or cough or when i participate in active sports? (yes cough and sneeze results in leakage) do i frequently get up two or more times during the night to go to the bathroom? (i have to get up at least once during night) do i avoid places because i do not know if there is a restroom nearby? (yes i am worried if i am at such place) do i go to the bathroom so often that it interferes with my activities? (no not very often to interfere activities) do i frequently limit my fluid intake when i'm away from home so that i won't need to worry about finding a restroom? (yes i have to limit fluid intake during day and at bedtime as well) when i'm in an unfamiliar place do i make sure i know where the restroom is? (yes i do make sure about rest room) do i use absorbent pads to keep from wetting my clothes? (no i don’t use it but am worried because when there is leakage on my way to rest room it becomes a problem) i am suffering from urine incontinence. i am a working lady and am worried. i am 43 and feel like it is increasing with age. as i read from an article here it is mix incontinence. i cant control when i cough or sneeze and also when i bend. kindly suggest if there is any medication for it that i can take? please guide what shall i do now to get rid of this problem. thanks
how can i discuss incontinence with my doctor or other health care professional?