Although millions of people suffer from incontinence, it does not make working with incontinence easy. The following are a few tips for minimizing leaks and incidences while working:
Get the right absorbent products: Many women try to use menstrual pads to help handle their incontinence. They are not adequate. It is important to use the proper products as they hold more fluid, offer greater protection, and have added benefits such as odor control and skin protection.
Use odor preventers: Look for products that offer advanced odor control for long days at the office. Most products developed specifically for incontinence have slow-release capsules that when they come in contact with fluid will release a pleasant scent or neutralize unpleasant scents. In addition, you could buy a spray that is an odor absorber for days when the protection in the product is not enough.
Control consumption of fluids: Dehydrating yourself will make your bladder more irritated, and increase incontinence, but that does not mean you can't be careful about WHEN you consume. If, for example, you know you have a long meeting, limit consumption before hand so you can better make it through.
Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a natural diuretic, which increases risk of accident. If you want to make it through the work day without incident, lay off the coffee and caffeinated beverages.
Wear dark colors: Black pants and skirts are not just classic and timeless, but they can also help hide problems, such as leaks. In addition to wearing clothes that could help hide problems, keep an extra change of clothes in your car or at the office just in case.
Strengthen your pelvic muscles by practicing Kegels. Kegles can be done discretely no matter where you are, which means that even when sitting in a meeting you can be working on strengthening the pelvic floor. These muscles control the bladder, so if you have stress incontinence, this can help. To do Kegels, you want to contract the muscles that you would use to stop the flow of urine. Then hold for three seconds, and relax. Do this in sets of 10, each day. If you do leak when you laugh, cough, etc. try tightening those muscles before you do so to help prevent leakage.
Try bladder training. It can be frustrating to have incontinence at work, but the longer you can go between restroom visits, the better. Try taking planned trips every two hours to help train your bathroom, and then gradually lengthen that time, while practicing deep breathing and relaxation to help you make it through urges. Let the clock help you dictate your bladder habits, rather than urges.
Dianna Malkowski is a Physician Assistant and Mayo Clinic trained nutritionist who helps customers of The CareGiver Partnership with questions to their caregiving questions. She invites you to visit http://blog.caregiverpartnership.com for more helpful family caregiver information. Also find over 1000 family caregiver resources at http://www.caregiverpartnership.com/resources/categories/.
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