www.incontinentsupport.org

Hello Everyone I'm new here to the forums, I browsed this site a little bit and it looks like a clean site that isn't plagued by AB/Dl's and real people with real problems that you can get support from. I'm 23 years old I have Bipolar disorder that I was diagnosed with at the age of 19, since then I been on 20 different medications (not all at once) and in that period of time I have gotten incontinence as one of the side effects with my tardive dyskinesia. The incontinence that I suffer with is Overactive bladder/Spasmodic and IBS I have seen a urologist for 2 years thats what I was diagnosed with. I have tried a couple meds for my incontinence like DDAVP and enablex (enablex I had a bad side effect I had severe abdominal pains that sent me to the ER), neither of them was covered by my insurance and my urologist kept putting me on meds that wasnt covered by my insurance and cost way to much to pay out of pocket so I have been wearing diapers 24/7.
At night when I sleep I'm a heavy wetter so I wear abena x-plus, and during the day I leak quite a bit throughout the day and I usually have to go to the bathroom a lot, so I wear tena ultra briefs with the velcro tapes that can be refastened during the day. It is very embarassing to me when I think of it that I have to wear diapers but its been almost 3 years and I have gotten used it, I think there's people out there my age that has the same problem as me but I still feel lonely. I'm finally on a stable medication combo for my bipolar (lithium, zoloft, trilafon and I have a sleep med but forget the name my mom regulates my meds) and I view wearing diapers as the lesser evil between wearing a protective peice of clothing or having unstable moods and end up in the psych hospital.

Welcome to the site. Definitely good people with good information here. Take your time a read a lot of posts if you are looking for more ways to deal with different issues.

Doug

Shyguy,
Wow reading your post feels like your talking about me. Dejavu man. I am 28 yrs old. I also have Bipolar Disorder, type 1. I take Lithium and Saphris. I also have been on every med under the sun. Tried lots of em. I have been in the psych hospital like 9 or 10 times. Lost count. I have urge incontinence, OAB, and I've been worked up for IBS though was never diagnosed with it. I just get alot of diarrhea and often leak on myself. Not fun. The Lithium can make your incontinence worse and it causes upset stomach. Antipsychotics can also effect incontinence. I have been to the urologist and gastroenterologist, had all kinds of invasive tests done...colonoscopy, cystoscopy, urodynamics, the works...nothing conclusive found. The Uro doc just said that he thinks my psych meds make me leak. I am in the process of getting a second opinion with a very good hospital here in town to double check things out. I think I'm retaining urine. Or maybe I just have really weak pelvic floor muscles. Anyway, I wear Abena Extras and Xplus. Mainly Xplus and I wet like 10x a day. The Lithium messed up my thyroid and made me gain weight. I've lost like 20 lbs since going on Synthroid to correct it. But I agree with you. I would rather wear diapers and have stable moods than be in the hospital all the time. The VA pays for my diapers anyway. I'm a medically retired U.S. Marine Sergeant. I got out on disability for the bipolar. If your looking for a bipolar forum...just google "Forum About Bipolar" . Its run by about.com and it is really good and active with lots of members. I go there sometimes. Good place for support. I frequent this site like every day...so if you ever need support and your talking about Bipolar Disorder and Incontinence...I can definitely relate. Welcome!

Hello shyguy88, welcome to the forum, I am sure you will enjoy your time here gathering info, and messaging with people in the same leaky boat as you have found yourself in. I joined about 3 months ago, but have had incontinence issues for 15+ years. There are some really helpful/knowlegable folks here, never at a loss for advice. No AB/Dl issues either, found enough of that on other info sites, but this one is great. Take care, Puffy

Hi Shyguy88,

Welcome! I am also relatively new to this forum and have found it to be a true blessing.

Your experience with a conection between bipolar, litium and incontinens made me think. And then reading Dons post about the same conection, really made me wake up, and go check some dates concerning my medication

I was diagnosed with bipolar (type 2, with the hypomani and severe deperesions) about a year ago (at an age of almost 40). I have also been diagnosed with PTSD years ago, after a childhood I would not wish on my worst enemy.
I'm curently on Lamictal, an antidepressant in low dosage, a blodpressure medication (beta blokker and diuretic) and a simular type of thyrodmedication as Synthroid, just with a Europeean name.

I have always had a weak muscles in the pelvic bottom, as a result of injuries from sexual abuse during childhood. But have been doing ok since I have been doing a lot of exercises to keep the musceltone ok.
About a year ago, I started having smal urin leaks, typical for women who has given birth, so no big deal. But then it just got worse and worse. Mid oktober last year it had gotten so bad that I had to give up on the inco-pads, and move into diapers. It was bouth a blessing and a curse. Feeling secure conserning leaks really did help a lot getting back my sosial life. But beeing an active and physical healty woman of 40, having to wear full time diapers, really took me down. Yeah, mentaly in to the basement.
Naturally I have been driving myself almost crazy wondering what might be wrong with me. The leaks did not make sence. My husband sugesting it might be just a freak combination of weak pelvic muscels and from beating up my back one to many times during sports. But my back is basicaly doing ok, so I don't put any fait in that. (On the good side, he also sugested to blame the old backinjuries as a cause if/when someone found out aboth my incontinense.)

Of cause, it doesn't help that I am hysteric about going to see a doctor about my problem. Just the thought about an examination makes me dead afraid, brings back ghosts from the past with really bad flashbacks.

It never occured to me that there were a corresponding timeline beween my inco-problem getting worse and the increasing dosage of lamictal. Looking at it now, reading about the sideeffects of the different types of medications, and considering the mix of medications, I can see that there might be something there.
But as you guys are saying, it is better to be incontinent than admitted to the psyke-ward, or even worse.

But at least, this is something I can discuss with my doctor, hopefully without the immediate exam down below.