Health Expert Jennifer G shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/926959/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/926959/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/926959/index http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/120829/husband Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0400 Jennifer G My husband is my main support system when it comes to my multiple sclerosis and accompanying incontinence. So I've taken some time to interview Bill to bring his thoughts and opinions to this forum:   Q:  In what ways do you think we've both been most impacted by my incontinence?   A:  One of the main ways that we've been impacted has been with the increased difficulty we have trying to plan trips, especially day trips... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/120829/husband http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/119752/diagnosed Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:34:00 -0400 Jennifer G You've established that you have a form of incontinence, but what do you do now?  The initial doctors' visits, testing, diagnosis, and possible treatments are now in motion or complete, but here is where you can change your current knowledge and lifestyle:   Following Up With Doctors   Now is a good time to consider following up with your diagnosing physician, in case you have new questions.  Also, if you aren't satisfied... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/119752/diagnosed http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/118497/telling Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:05:00 -0400 Jennifer G When I first had issues with bladder and bowel incontinence, I was newly diagnosed with mutiple sclerosis and going through a very bad relapse. I was having steroid treatment and I had wet the bed two times at my mother's house (she and my father were taking care of me as my husband worked to keep us afloat.) Being on the verge of a nervous breakdown from the rollercoaster ride of steroids certainly wasn't helpful, but this time in my life was... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/118497/telling http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/117511/diagnose Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:49:00 -0400 Jennifer G Since there are various types of incontinence, there are also several ways to diagnose the type of incontinence a patient has.  Exams range from simple to more lengthy/extensive:   Patient  Medical  History A very basic way to determine the causes of incontinence problems can simply be to track the incontinence’s onset, characteristics, other patient health issues, and outside incidentals.  Issues of pain (with... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/117511/diagnose http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/115349/urinary Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:18:00 -0400 Jennifer G Incontinence can be caused by at least eight different urinary issues.  Sounds like a lot, huh?  I hadn't any idea about this until I investigated it myself.  With my multiple sclerosis I know that my brain sends messages that become faulty (due to damaged nerves) and my bladder sphincter sometimes doesn't open or more often it wants to open frequently, which causes issues of incontinence.   What follows is a basic rundown... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/115349/urinary http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/116338/reduction Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:25:00 -0400 Jennifer G Current Media and Support Services Reduce the Stigma of Incontinence   There was a time when when the topic of incontinence was taboo.  I mean completely unmentionable, even in private discussions. It's amazing to think that before modern medicine evolved and ads for everything from erectile dysfunction drugs to bipolar disorder remedies started gracing television screens and computer monitors, there was a secrecy about--let's admit... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/116338/reduction http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/113396/bringing Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:30:00 -0400 Jennifer G It's been a few years since my multiple sclerosis attack which markedly changed my bladder and bowel functionings. I think this was the point where I started to consider coping techniques to get beyond the stress and unpredictability of my situation. Before this time, I wasn't sure if was definitely the MS or maybe other issues, including natural aging. But then it was apparent that my condition was making both my bladder and bowel systems weak... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/113396/bringing http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/112176/beginning Wed, 26 May 2010 16:36:00 -0400 Jennifer G After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, I found myself in the midst of a bunch of small but continual attacks. It's funny with MS: sometimes attacks are very definite and impairments can be obvious and other times things are more subtle and  patients question what's going on. The latter was true for me when I began treatment for my MS in 2005.   Although I was on medication, I continued to experience bladder and bowel... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/112176/beginning http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/111127/beginning Tue, 11 May 2010 15:21:00 -0400 Jennifer G I like to be honest about things, especially about any of my multiple sclerosis symptoms. I used to stress out and hide problems from people because my MS symptoms are kind of weird: tingling, numbness, weakness, trouble remembering things, and occasional trouble swallowing (to name just a few). I hid a couple of my BIGGEST symptoms for a long time because they're pretty much embarrassing: bladder and bowel... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/111127/beginning http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/109620/glad Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:00:00 -0400 Jennifer G I've found my way to this forum and I'm so glad to be here. I hafta tell you that it's been a long time coming: my background and my personal situations have all conspired to get me to this moment...   I'm a former ultrasound technologist-turned-freelance health writer. For the past twelve years I have been successfully living with multiple sclerosis and I'm an active patient advocate as well as a volunteer. During my ultrasound career I... http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/926959/109620/glad