The Ultimate Guide to Double Incontinence
Double incontinence is the name for the particular type of incontinence where you have little to no control over both your bladder and bowels.
It can be distressing to live with, so it's important to understand the causes, symptoms, and ways to manage it so you can live a more comfortable, fulfilling life.
If you're living with double incontinence or know someone who does, this ultimate guide will tell you everything you need to know to deal with the condition.
- What is double incontinence?
- What causes double incontinence?
- How do lifestyle habits affect incontinence?
- How do I manage my double incontinence?
What is double incontinence?
Double incontinence happens when you have little to no bladder control on top of unpredictable bowel habits. It's the catch-all term for the combination of faecal and urinary incontinence and can come with major physical and emotional challenges.
The Social Challenges
Since double incontinence combines several symptoms of urinary and faecal incontinence, it can be very unpredictable. This can become stressful and potentially cause the person to withdraw from daily life.
On top of this, people with double incontinence need to be constantly aware of their body's signals and plan bathroom trips strategically. This alone can be distracting and a burden when socialising.
The Emotional Challenges
Similarly, the fear of leaks and accidents from not reaching a toilet in time can lead to anxiety and a reluctance to get involved in social gatherings or anything requiring extended time away from a bathroom. This can cause social isolation over time, as well as low self-esteem and even depression.
The Physical Challenges
Naturally, there are also some physical hurdles that double incontinence brings with it. For example, the skin around the genitals and buttocks can become irritated and even infected if exposed to urine or faeces for too long.
If urinary incontinence wakes you up at night, it can disrupt your sleep pattern, cause fatigue, and worsen your productivity throughout the day.
What causes double incontinence?
It's tough to determine exactly what causes double incontinence, but a few factors may contribute. Alone, they may result in just one type of incontinence, but double incontinence occurs when these factors combine.
Nerve damage and neurological conditions
One reason we know when to go to the toilet on time is that certain nerves in our bodies tell our brains when it’s time to go. If those nerves become damaged due to physical injury or neurological illness (e.g., Parkinson's, stroke, etc.), we may not know that we need to go to the bathroom until it’s too late.
Complications from surgery
If you’ve previously undergone some kind of pelvic surgery (e.g. prostate surgery, hysterectomy), you might have suffered from some nerve or muscle damage that controlled urine and bowel function.
Weak pelvic floor muscles
The pelvic floor is responsible for keeping urine flow under control. It’s made up of muscles that support the bladder, urethra, and lower bowel. When these muscles weaken, the organs can sag or become misaligned, leading to urinary incontinence symptoms.
Can lifestyle habits cause double incontinence?
Many lifestyle habits can affect the body in a way that causes incontinence symptoms. For example, excessive coffee and alcohol intake, as well as spicy foods, can irritate the bladder and weaken the pelvic muscles, leading to double incontinence symptoms.
If you suffer from chronic constipation, this can also strain the pelvic floor muscles, worsening symptoms further.
Carrying excess weight and heavy lifting can also put undue pressure on the pelvic organs, like the bladder, making it harder for them to function.
How do I manage my double incontinence?
Double incontinence seems impossible to manage, but luckily, there are a few effective ways to reduce and even improve symptoms.
Pelvic floor muscle training
The pelvic floor is involved in bladder and bowel control, so strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can help you regain some control over time.
Fortunately, pelvic floor muscle training (AKA kegel exercises) can be relatively simple. Start by tensing the muscles you would use to stop urine flow. Hold these contractions for 2-3 seconds, then relax for 4-5 more seconds.
Repeat 8-12 times, and try to perform three sets per day, gradually increasing contraction duration as you get stronger.
Diet and lifestyle changes
We know to avoid spicy food, alcohol, and excess caffeine as they can irritate the bladder, but you should also make sure you have enough fibre and water in your diet. This reduces your chances of becoming constipated and straining your pelvic floor. Keeping a healthy weight and regularly exercising can also reduce pressure on your pelvic organs, allowing them to work normally.
Incontinence pads and pants
One of the easiest ways to manage double incontinence symptoms in your daily life is using incontinence products. For double incontinence, adult nappies are an ideal solution due to a range of features:
- Odour-control technology to trap unpleasant smells
- Leak-proof, absorbent materials
- Secure, comfortable fit
- Discreet design
Do you want to handle your double incontinence with adult nappies that cost less than the supermarket brands? Incontinence UK has got you covered. With our range of incontinence pants, pads, and adult nappies, you can expect reliability and comfort at an affordable price.
And with premium brands like Drylife and TENA, you won’t find a better choice for incontinence products online. Subscribe and Save today to save 10% on all orders, and reliable, convenient doorstep delivery at a frequency that best suits you.
