Posted by
a friend on December 03, 1999 at 03:50:27:
In Reply to: Dementia and Incontinence.. any connection posted by Robin on November 25, 1999 at 03:34:33:
: My 84 year old mother suffers from constant incontinence. She is in the early stages of dementia and I would like to know if the two are somehow related.I have sought help from a urologist ( who stated bladder completely worn out) and a neurologist (who stated her brain didn't send the right signals) and to her family internist (who stated she's just old). Where do I turn for help? My mother is too embarrased to leave her home, afraid she will have an "accident", and has become almost a recluse.Does anyone have any suggestions where I can turn to for help?
: Thanks.
This is a common problem for aged women, but can be helped. Take her to a good gynocologist.
They have ways to help her short of surgery, which may not be good at her age. The bladder does stretch and muscles fail. She might try a pessary if I spelled it right. It is an apparatus that fits inside her to hold the bladder in place. Some elderly have surgery that actually closes the vagina which does not injure a sexually inactive lady, and keeps the baldder where it belongs and cures the incontinence.
There are options to explore, but insist that she be helped not just diagnosed. A GYN that specializes in elders is the one to see.
