Airline’s reaction to loss of bladder control helps raise awareness in Chicago, IL

Airlines are making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. This spring a woman who suffers from an overactive bladder condition spoke out when she was denied the use of the airplane’s restroom. She had to urinate in a cup because she was unable to hold it. It’s not hard to imagine that this was an embarrassing and horrifying situation.

In Chicago and across the country, countless adults have not inquired medical help and suffer in silence. Dr. Sanjay Gandhi of Partners in Pelvic Health in Park City, IL, understands and encourages people to seek medical help. Under the guidance of a physician, the condition can be properly diagnosed and often treated.

Diagnosis

Overactive bladder causes the patient to feel a sudden need to urinate. Because the urge is so strong, it can be difficult to stop and can cause involuntary loss of urine, known as urge incontinence. In some cases, diagnosis simply requires an explanation of the symptoms. In other cases, a better understanding can be gained through urodynamic testing.

Treatments

Treatment for overactive bladder and incontinence can include:

• Behavioral interventions such as pelvic floor exercises, scheduled bathroom breaks, using absorbent pads or undergarments.
• Medications are available to help relax the bladder and the amount of times one may leak urine.
• Medical procedures such as nerve stimulation, Botox injections, and surgery to add support to the bladder may be offered to address the problem.

You don’t have to live with an overactive bladder. Call Partners in Pelvic Health at (844) 327-1188 today.