Taking Charge of Bladder Health #DependFitFlex

Bladder control and incontinence. It is nothing to be ashamed of but for so many individuals it is the hardest subject to talk about. Millions of Canadians will experience some form of bladder control issue whether it be from child birth, surgery and a medical condition (such as a prolapse).

It is so important for individuals to reach out for help without fear of embarrassment or shame. If we really knew how many people were suffering from this it would be that much easier to talk about!

I began to experience bladder problems while pregnant with my second son. As many of you may be aware pregnancy and childbirth can cause many bladder issues including frequency and leaking. These symptoms should never be overlooked but when I mentioned it to my doctor they felt it would go away after he was born (the idea that the decreased pressure on the bladder will decrease after delivery thereby eliminating my symptoms). Several months after an extremely difficult labour my symptoms were not disappearing but I was too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about them – do you know how awful that is? The one person that I should be able to tell anything to and I was too afraid to talk to her because I was embarrassed!

Instead I allowed myself to suffer in silence for another year and a half until I finally broke down in her office and told her the truth. I was terrified of what she would think of me and angry with my body for betraying me (how could my body have done this to me?!). She held my hand and told me I was not alone and how common these problems are in my age group (not to mention chiding me for not coming to her sooner). She decided to send me to a specialist just in case and for that I was grateful as it turned out I had a cystocele that was causing the majority of my problems. I cried in the specialist’s office when she told me – I had allowed my fear and embarrassment to stop myself from seeking help earlier.

Why are we so scared to talk about bladder and bladder related health issues? Join Depend and myself this month as we get comfortable talking about bladder health and learning when to seek help! Let’s end the stigma of bladder health issues and get back to being healthy!

Here are some tips for taking control of bladder issues:

• Exercise! It is important to maintain a healthy weight to control pressure on the bladder – the more weight you carry in the abdomen can aggravate bladder issues. Try to include both cardio and exercises that work on improving your abdominal wall.
• For women, kegels are so important! Especially before, during and after child birth. Make sure you are doing them right – if you don’t know how ask. It will help strengthen the vaginal walls and maintain the strength of the pelvic muscles.
• Include a healthy diet and avoid caffeine and sugary drinks that will contribute to bladder issues.
• Seek help – make sure you rule out causes such as an urinary tract infection first. Do not be afraid to ask for help – your doctor is there to help you!
• Wear comfortable protection like Depend fit flex that will allow you to carry on with your active lifestyle without fear. Don’t use products that were not meant for bladder incontinence – it can lead to more anxiety and fear over embarrassment.