Mary's Story
Mary, who is 55 years old, is a mother and a housewife and also runs a Bed and Breakfast. She first suffered from urinary control problems about four years ago and lived with the condition for three years before finally deciding to do something about it. "I suffered from stress incontinence and if I went walking, or started coughing, sneezing or even laughing, I would wet myself a little. It really affected my daily life and I felt depressed and stressed because of it", she says.
In particular, Mary’s social life suffered because of the problem. "I wasn’t able to go out with my friends because that involved laughing and dancing", she says, "and I found myself making excuses and staying in rather than risk it". Eventually, the prospect of a ruined holiday prompted Mary to do something to solve the problem, and she subsequently arranged an appointment with a consultant urologist. She says she was surprised to find out that the problem was so common, especially in women. She has since found that other people she knows also suffer or have suffered from different forms of incontinence, and regrets not addressing the problem at an earlier time. |
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"I was kicking myself that I had not done something about it earlier. Especially when I realised that there was treatment that could help".
Mary says she had two choices to help solve the problem. The first was to undergo a programme of pelvic floor exercises and the second was surgery.
Having decided that in the long run she would probably need surgery anyway, she chose to undergo an operation immediately.
"I had the surgery and the problem was reduced. I suffered an infection, which I think is par for the course, but I just had that treated as well and now I’m fine. It doesn’t bother me anymore and I felt a different person", she says.
Mary now advises people who believe they might be suffering from a form of urinary control problems to seek medical help immediately.
