MANAGING INCONTINENCE: A Guide to Living with the Loss of Urinary Control

A helpful, practical guide for the many suffering from this quality-of-life disorder. Incontinence (""passing body wastes in the wrong place involuntarily"") is a symptom, rather than a disease, the authors note. They generally assume the underlying disease is under investigation or taken care of (it may be partial paralysis following an accident or stroke, for example) and concentrate on controlling and correcting this one particular symptom. The authors identify five types of incontinence: stress, urge, overflow, total, and enuresis (bedwetting); and then set about offering practical help on dealing with each. First, they banish the atmosphere of shame and secrecy surrounding incontinence, with plenty of case histories of those who handle the problem daily (it is not limited to the elderly or disabled). Physiological workings are explained in detail, and then psychological reactions and coping mechanisms are carefully explored. Then, medical treatment measures, and ""products and devices"" for daily use are described. Finally, the authors look at special issues such as sexuality and incontinence, always with an eye towards minimizing the discomfort and embarrassment associated with the disorder. All matter-of-fact and clear, it may have a surprisingly wide audience. A helpful resource.