Urinary Incontinence does not discriminate; it affects women and men, the young and the elderly. Although, women are affected more than men, due to childbirth.
Pregnant women or women who have given birth may experience stress incontinence – when you sneeze, laugh or cough some urine may leak out. Stress incontinence is the result of a weakening of the muscles that support your bladder.
Specific types of medication may also be the culprit of urinary incontinence. Men generally fall into this category – muscle relaxants, high blood pressure medication, sedatives, and heart medications are all known causes of urinary incontinence as a side effect.
If you are suffering from urinary problems, make a list of any symptoms you may have and pay a visit to general surgeon Dr. Elijah Mobley. He provides treatment plans and general surgery for the residents of San Dimas and the surrounding areas in Los Angeles County.
Before general surgeon Dr. Elijah Mobley talks about general surgery, an exam will be performed to check your overall health, including a urine sample. Then the doctor will discuss other treatment options, and you will be able to try them and see if there is any improvement in your urinary incontinence.
Treatment Options
Lifestyle Changes – Often times, some simple lifestyle changes will reduce or eliminate your urinary incontinence. Below is a list of some changes you can make to see if they help.
Limit the amount of fluids you drink. If you drink water daily, that is the one fluid you do not want to limit to much. Instead cut back on fluids such as coffee and soda. Much like water, coffee is a bladder stimulant and a diuretic and will make you urinate more often than normal.
Ladies, do some Kegel exercises several times a day, it only takes a few minutes, and they can be done anywhere. If you are not sure what a Kegel exercise is, ask Dr. Elijah Mobley.
Medications – There are over the counter medications such as Oxytrol. Prescription medications include Detrol, Myrbetriq and several other medications that fall under the anticholinergics/antimuscarinics medications.
Botox injections into the bladder muscle are usually the next step if medications do not work. The Botox relaxes the bladder and increases the storage capacity for urine resulting in fewer episodes of urine leakage.
For women who suffer from stress incontinence, a small plastic device called a pessary can be inserted into the vagina (during an office visit.) The device supports the neck portion of the bladder and helps stop urine leakage.
If none of the above treatments are successful, then general surgeon Dr. Elijah Mobley may suggest a general surgery procedure called the sling procedure – it is a strap of natural tissue or a mesh sling is used to support the urethra (the little tube that carries the urine.) There are other surgical procedures that can help with urinary incontinence. Dr. Elijah Mobley will be able to determine which procedure is right for you.
