What Should I Ask My Doctor About Incontinence?

There are things people find difficult or embarrassing to discuss with their doctors. Incontinence is often one of them. However, it is important to remember that your doctor is professionally trained in handling health issues, including toilet habits.

Your doctor would rather you discuss any health issues you have, even if they’re of an intimate nature, before the problem gets worse.

To help you get the conversation started, we’ve got a list of questions you can ask your doctor.

How to Start an Incontinence Discussion with Your Doctor

Did you know that most of the time, incontinence can be improved or cured? The first step to improving your condition is to begin the discussion with your doctor. Your doctor can’t begin to help you if you don’t tell them what’s happening. Come to your appointment prepared with the information you want to discuss about your bladder of bowels. This helps you remember all the issues you want to discuss and gives your doctor a good overview of your symptoms. Remember you know your body, routines, and any changes. Your input is vital in the process of getting better.

What to Consider Before Seeing Your Doctor

Before attending your appointment, it is a good idea to think about the things you want to discuss with your GP. This might include:

  • Is it bladder or bowel incontinence?
  • Do you know when it started?
  • How often are you incontinent?
  • When is your incontinence worse?
  • How heavy is the incontinence?
    • Is it a small amount of urine or faeces or full saturation?
  • Have you noticed a fever at all?
  • Is it painful to use the toilet?
  • Are you taking any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications?

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

One you have considered the points above, it is a good idea to think about the specific questions you might want to ask your doctor. These might include:

  • What type/s of incontinence could this be?
  • Could my incontinence be associated with lifestyle, medications, pregnancy, menopause, childbirth, hereditary issues, or another medical condition?
  • Would hormone replacement therapy help treat my incontinence if it is related to menopause?
  • If my incontinence is related to a medial condition, will treating the condition improve my incontinence?
  • Should I keep a bladder or bowel diary?
  • What type of tests will I need?
  • If I choose not to undertake treatment, will my symptoms get better or worse?
  • How can I reduce my risk of odours, rashes, and other issues associated with incontinence?
  • What diet and lifestyle changes will I need to make to manage my incontinence?
  • Should I do pelvic floor exercises?
  • If you do recommend pelvic floor exercises, do you have a guide on how to do them or recommend a therapist?
  • Why do you recommend this particular treatment?
  • What can I expect before, during and after this treatment?
  • If this treatment is unsuccessful, what are our other options?
  • What are the potential side effects of incontinence medications?
  • If I experience severe side effects, what should I do?

Questions Your Doctor May Ask

So you feel more comfortable having this discussion with your doctor, we’ve have added a list of questions below that your doctor may ask. As with all medical issues, your doctor will ask for your symptoms, medical history, surgical history, and family medial history. These questions might include:

  • Do you have issues with bladder or bowel control?
  • Are you constipated?
  • Do you have trouble holding your bowels or urine?
  • How often do you wake up at night to use the bathroom?
  • Do you feel that you empty your bowels or bladder completely?
  • How often do you use the bathroom during the day?
  • Do you experience leaks when doing physical activities like exercising, lifting, coughing or sneezing?
  • How much do you drink during the day?
  • Have you felt a sudden urge to urinate or loose your bowels that didn’t allow you to get to the toilet fast enough?
  • How much urine or faecal matter do you lose during these times?
  • Is it painful or uncomfortable to use the bathroom?
  • Do you feel any dropping of the bladder or uterus, or do you feel any building from your vagina?
  • Is there a pulling or pressure in your pelvis, especially if you’ve been standing for a long time?
  • Have your sexual habits changed?
  • Do you wear protective pads to try to control your leakage?

Holistic Incontinence carries a wide range of supplies to help you manage your incontinence. Explore our products today or have a friendly chat with our team today. We can help you find the right options.