Hello....
Firstly I am writing to hopefully make new friends having found this site via Allanda and Google!
Before making this post I have read many of the articles and can see that there are people here with a wide range of conditions and problems so I can start by telling you about myself.
I am just into my 40's and was born with a bladder dysfunction. In my infancy, bedwetting and daytime 'accidents' were just put down to anxiety and stress and in my junior years I was never properly examined, apart from having a rectal probe when aged eight.
From age six I was put into council care and went through a succession of assessment centres and children's homes. So my junior years having to wear nappies was not a pleasant time, particularly at school and as you might imagine I wasn't the most popular kid to have at friends sleepovers!
At age twelve I went to a new children's home and they at least tried to address my problem by getting me to toilet-train each day so that I could wear regular underwear, this was when I got my first pack of briefs and could feel normal like other kids, still wearing the protection obviously at night.
It wasn't until my early twenties that I plucked up the courage to see a specialist, mainly because of this being one of those things that is embarrassing and that you tend to hide away, that said it has never stopped me having girlfriends and more than that, they in turn supported me and understood my problems.
When I did see a consultant I went through some rather unpleasant tests in which it showed that when reaching a certain level my bladder contracted involuntarily and heavy amounts of urine was being discharged and the bladder emptying to completion and my not being able to control the flow once I got the urge to go.
Another problem I've always had is omni-directional streaming. This is also highly embarrassing and means in the normal run of things I couldn't use a public urinal, always choosing to sit in a cubicle. I would like very much if any other men here have the same or knows anything about this to reply because this is also something that I have never asked a doctor or nurse about.
I'm still annoyed that I wasn't properly diagnosed as a child but have to say that I have never let this control my life (I control it) and I do feel like a survivor! And that's why I feel it is important to gain some empathy and support and I'm glad that there are forums around for this purpose.
In essence I would particularly like to correspond with women who have a similar condition and have to wear protection as I am interested in how this affects the opposite sex. Not seeking a girlfriend, just someone who understands all these problems and it's always good to share a problem.
At the moment I am using Tena Slip and Flex (supplied by the NHS as I'm currently not working) but in the past I have used Attends and am looking at Abena products as I have heard good things about them. I have waterproof pants also and wear these 24/7 as I've done for all these years though soon I have an appointment to see an incontinence nurse to discuss how I am now with my condition and I am told that there are pelvic floor exercises and bladder re-training that may help. I take oxybutnin tablets three times daily.
Well I thank people for reading this and hope to make some new friends here on this board.
Craig.