Having a constant dribble of urine may mean that you might be suffering from one of the types of urinary incontinence known as overflow incontinence. You have to weigh things out first because if this happens just once or twice in your life, you don’t have a problem. Chances are- it’s just an accident. If, however, this happens to frequently, you have to go see your doctor. It might be difficult for you to talk about something so embarrassing but it’s for your own good that you get the right advice and the right treatment methods for dealing with it.
What Happens with Overflow Incontinence
You go about your day like normal and you feel the urge to go to the bathroom. When you do go, you only have a dribble of urine and not a complete stream. You’ll always be carrying the feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bladder. Even if you try to go, either a few drops come out or you have a very weak stream. There are many reasons for you to talk with your doctor, you’ll find just what is causing this for you and you can get on the path to getting cured.
The Causes for Overflow Incontinence
This type of incontinence is common in men but it also happens for women. For the most part, when a man has an enlarged prostate, the flow or urine is obstructed and so it can be difficult for a man to empty his bladder completely. If this is not the cause, it can be one of these:
- Weak bladder muscles. When this is the cause, it means that you don’t have enough power for squeezing your bladder empty.
- Obstruction in the urethra. These blockages might be urinary stones, tumors, scar tissue or swelling of the tissues in the urethra due to infection.
- Injury to nerves. When this happens, your body might display the problem in the form of overflow incontinence.
- Diseases. Diseases that lead to nerve damage like spinal bifida, diabetes, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can also be the cause.
- Medications. If you take medications like antidepressants or anticonvulsant, they produce an effect on your nerves where nerve signals can affect the bladder for the urge to urinate even if your bladder is not full. When you do try to relieve yourself, you’ll display overflow incontinence.
How Urinary Incontinence is Diagnosed
For the most part, you would only need to get a consultation with your doctor to find out if you’re suffering from overflow incontinence. He or she will take a look at your medical history and would also have to interview you about what you’re feeling. With questions like how often you go to the bathroom, do you leak urine in specific activities, do you feel pain when you urinate and the like, a doctor will get enough information to determine if what you’re suffering from is overflow incontinence.
On the other hand, tests together with the physical examination will be conducted. These tests will be to determine if there are any signs of damage for the nerves that work on your rectum and bladder. These tests that help with determining the cause are:
- Q-tip test
- Bladder stress test
- Urinalysis
- Ultrasound
- Catheterization
How to Treat Overflow Incontinence
- Medication – Through medications like prasozin, doxazosin and terazosin, some people successfully solve their problems with overflow incontinence. This drug is an alphaadrenergic blocker which helps the muscles of the urethra relax for the steady flow of urine.
- Catheterization – Besides being a way to determine incontinence, this can also be employed for treating the condition. This thin tube will be inserted in the urethra for being able to completely empty your bladder. For the most part, the doctor or nurse will teach you how to self catheterize for total relief when you go to the bathroom.
- Surgery – For the most severe causes of incontinence like blockage, surgery will have to be done to relieve the pressure and the encroachment on the urethra and bladder.
Getting help quickly when you think you have overflow incontinence will be the best way for coping and putting a stop to the problem. |
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