Momma told me it took me a long time to talk as a toddler. (Look at me go now!) So when I started running around the house-running here, there and everywhere, it was hard for her to figure out what I wanted.

     At last I found it...my potty.

     She said after I finished relieving myself of the large volume of urine in my little bladder, I said "Whew!"

     I have been making a break for it ever since.

     I experienced frequent urination even when I was young. I remember reading in the 1970's how one employer's interview question revolved around how many times one urinated throughout the day. I cannot even make this up.

     Evidently, constant urination meant that one was neurotic. It was a word thrown around back in the day like narcissistic is thrown around today.

     Fast forward to my bladder now in menopause. It is like my urge to urinate is on steroids.

     Believe it or not, vaginal estrogen cream helps vaginal atrophy as well as urinary symptoms if applied to the urethra and vulvar area in addition to the vaginal canal.

     Aging is definitely not for the faint of heart.

     Any number of urinary symptoms occur in menopause, not the least of which is a weakening of the pelvic floor sometimes causing the bladder to fall through the vaginal canal called prolapse. Also, some women experience retention. Simply put, it is a condition in which the bladder remains full after urination. The person can only urinate a little, or not at all, resulting in the person feeling a lot of uncomfortable pressure and discomfort.

     Incontinence can be an issue, too. It can be limited to leakage when one coughs or sneezes or full -blown incontinence when complete loss of control occurs.

     Surgery, pessaries, catheters and/or physical therapy are only a few of the examples of how women can be helped when the urinary system goes awry.

     Seeking help from a primary care physician who can offer treatment or a referral to a specialist is extremely important, especially because these symptoms can worsen without treatment.

     As women, we deal with so many issues that are embarrassing even though these issues should not be a source of humiliation. It should not be humiliating to take care of ourselves.

     I have a supply of incontinent products in my closet just in case I need them. Before I purchased them, I had to come to terms with the fact that I may need them soon. I definitely did not want to run into anyone when I purchased these products. Nowadays, this protection can be ordered from the mail to be discreet. T.V. ads make them fashionable with various designs.

     It took me a long time to realize that there is not a reason to be embarrassed by the purchase or use of incontinence products. The person I may run into may be using them herself. There are so many things that are taboo in society. Urinary symptoms accommodations should not be one of them.

Postscript: At the end of a long day, there is nothing like using Mary Kay's Indulge Soothing Eye Gel to reduce puffiness.

 

                                                            GOD FIRST, FAMILY SECOND, CAREER THIRD