25 Years Old With Bladder Problems

[Hank02]

Several years ago I was in a car accident. I was not injured in the accident, however several months later I started to have urgency and later minor to moderate incontinence during the day and enuresis. I have been going through the whole "see a million doctors" thing and have had little improvement. I hope to find a solution soon, but I'm working on coping right now. I don't think I have IC, but some of the symptoms are the same and I have dealt with the same exact anxiety and depression that others with IC go through. I know this board is supposed to be just for IC, but it seems like everyone here is really supportive and have similar symptoms. I just finished college at the University of Kansas. I have dealt with the humiliation of having to wear 'protection' and being terrified of being found out. I haven't really dated much at all and have limited my social activities. I'm currently trying to get back into a social and dating life with or without bladder problems. What I would like to find are other people close to my age who have had similar experiences and would be interested in talking to someone like myself who can be supportive and fun to talk to about anything. I hope I can make a few new friends here :).

[traceann]

Hello and :welcome: to the ICN! As you've no doubt seen by now, we've all had our urinary issues to deal with, lol, so we can totally understand where you are coming from, even if it's not IC you are dealing with. Most ICers are pretty friendly and supportive no matter what the issues are! ;)

Once again, welcome!

[ICNDonna]

:welcome:

I have to wonder if you may have a pelvic floor problem --- I know PFD can cause some incontinence in some people. You might want to ask for a referral to a physical therapist to check that out. I just hope you're able to get some help.

Donna

[maryla]

Hello and welcome,

You will find LOADS of support here. I have dealt with bladder problems most of my life, before being d'x with IC 5 years ago, so, yes, most of us can relate to what you are going through. And thank you for reaching out to us, it helps us to help others.

Hugs and blessings

[eyeliner128]

Well, I'm almost 17, so I can definitely relate to the social setting thing. I've had IC since I was 12, so I never really got into the social scene, had many friends, or dated. I find that, on the seldom occasions I do go out with friends, I'm stubborn enough to tell my IC to back off (lol).

From your symptoms, it's not necessarily a tell-tale case of IC, if you have IC at all. But since I only had pelvic pain, no one thought I had IC, either, but I had a very bad case of it. I'd definitely discuss the possibility with a urologist. Unfortunately, the diagnosing is hellish...I had to get a cystoscopy with hydrodistention to figure out I had IC.

As soon as you get on Elmiron (if you have IC) for about 4 or 5 months, your symptoms will probably get drastically better, most people's do. Elmiron repairs the damage done by IC, but does not cure it.

You mentioned a car accident. Trauma has been shown to make IC symptoms "come out of hiding" in alot of cases, from something like a bad bladder infection, to something like a car crash.

Anyways, I know there's not alot of us "young'ns" with IC, I've never met anyone younger than 22.

[rgreen]

Anyways, I know there's not alot of us "young'ns" with IC, I've never met anyone younger than 22.


Now you can add to your list, I'm only 20 and I've been diagnosed with IC as well as some other urological related issues. :hi:

[rgreen]

Hank02, first of all :welcome:
I too am fairly new to this board and let me tell you, when I found this board I was elated. I was so happy to find others I could speak to and share my thoughts/feelings with knowing they too were going through the same things.

I am around your age, I am 20, I have been dealing with urological issues for about 2 years now, many IC related, but also some urological issues that are not IC. I too have the incontinence and have had to wear "protection" you are definitely not alone. My history and story of urological problems goes way back and is quite long, but know that you are not alone, and whether you have IC or not, the people on this forum are *so* support of one another it is absolutely wonderful. I'm happy to have found them and I think you'll find comfort in it as well. As for wanting to talk to someone your age, you are more than welcome to PM me at anytime and we can talk, I took enjoy talking to others who can really know what I am talking about. And I've learned you can't really know unless you've gone through or are going through them yourself. So drop me a line anytime you want!

Also--you mentioned a car accident, did they ever do any MRI's of your spine or anything like that? I know sometimes with incontinence it could be something neurological and you said these started at the onset after the car accident. I know some of my incontinence issues are neurologically related etc... so just curious about that!

[amylr]

Now you can add to your list, I'm only 20 and I've been diagnosed with IC as well as some other urological related issues. :hi:

Ya'll can add me on to the list as well. Im 18 and was told I have IC about 4 months ago.

[rgreen]

Ya'll can add me on to the list as well. Im 18 and was told I have IC about 4 months ago.

You know this makes me feel a little better, don't get me wrong I love talking and getting advice from each and every individual but knowing there are others out there the same age frame is an added bonus of comfort.

[SharonA]

As you can see from my picture, I am not in my 20s, but I wanted to say :welcome: to the IC Network...:):):)

[KarenAnne]

Hi & :welcome: I hope you can get some help soon & start feeling better.

[Hank02]

Thank you all so much for replying to my thread!
It seems that for IC patients pain and frequency are much more common than incontinence or "leakage." If not perhaps the topic is still highly taboo. I haven't found very much discussion regarding living with such issues and dealing with "protection" in social situations and making life more viable with
such issues. I could be wrong, but I think leakage is still very taboo in society at large, if not particularly in our particular age group. I really don't think people would be all that accepting having learned that one of their friends or romantic partners has bladder problems and has to wear protection. Perhaps the taboo is not necessarily incontinence or bladder problems, but the use of protection its self?

As far as my particular issues go; I don't believe that I have IC as I don't have any pain issues, but I do have frequency. The Docs seem to think that
it is some sort or nerve issue and have told me that usually nerves or spinal damage doesn't heal by itself (parapalegics rarely regain the use of their legs etc.) and that there really isn't all that much they can do about it. I could learn to use catheters and the like, but I'm sure that many if not most of you know exactly how that is.

Anyway, It is encourging that so many of you can lead fully engaged lives which is remarkable. I'm taking strides myself to do so as well. People with these sorts of problems tend to isolate themselves, and have a whole new set of problems when they want to emerge from this isolation. I don't know if this is often reccomended to new folks around here (and perhaps it is most often too late by the time people post here) but maybe one of the first things people should be told is to not isolate themselves. To contradict my self, maybe bladder issues and isolation are necessarily correlated. That would be unfortunate and if true I would attribute to societal taboos. People seem very uncomfortable with such topics and adult discussion and understanding seem all but impossible. Once you are past the age of a toddler you are supposed to have complete control of your bladder and use of protection by anyone older is not something the average person can reconcile.

Thanks again for reading my thread, and I apologize for going on at such length but I do think that putting your ideas and feelings out there is cathartic maybe my experience will give comfort to someone who is reading this.

-Hank

[ICNDonna]

Hank, you are very right that when people have any kind of medical problem, it can be very easy to become isolated --- but as you know, over the long run, it just makes the situation worse.

Fortunately there are bladder control products on the market that are very effective in preventing any leakage and odor. And they are made so they don't show under clothing (the exception being very tight pants).

Warm healing thoughts heading your way.
Donna