Questions
As a child, did you have problems with staying dry or avoiding messing yourself during the day at any point after the age of about 4?
I recall having a small number of accidents, primarily when out of the house in unfamiliar environments; my parents had a very unrealistic view of how long I should be able to wait
As a child, did you have problems with staying dry or avoiding messing yourself during the night at any point after the age of about 6?
Not that I recall
Do you currently experience, or have you previously experienced, the need to urinate eight (8) or more times per day?
Yes, it varies but if I'm hydrating properly I'll go as many as 12-14 times daily
Do you currently experience, or have you previously experienced, faecal staining on your underwear despite conscientiously and carefully wiping and cleaning yourself?
All the time
Do you currently experience, or have you previously experienced, the need to urinate during the night, such that you consistently wake up two (2) or more times per night?
I usually don't get up that I'm aware of but recently I've begun getting up once a night
Have you ever had to rush to the toilet because you were afraid you might otherwise wet or mess yourself, whether or not you feel like there was any reason to believe that in hindsight?
I frequently find myself feeling a strong urge, especially with a BM
Have you ever refused to do, or been reluctant to do, any activity or task because you're worried you might have an accident, whether or not you feel like there was any reason to believe that in hindsight?
Not that I can think of immediately
Regardless of whether you actually have any trouble staying dry and clean in practice, do you feel like you have to put in any conscious effort to maintain your continence? Regardless of whether you have any reason to believe your continence is compromised, do you find yourself feeling worried that it might not hold up?
I am actively aware that it seems to be degrading, I definitely feel more aware of it than ever.
Regardless of whether you actually have any trouble staying dry and clean in practice, do you feel like it's harder work to maintain your continence, or like your continence is more likely to fail, than it was some time ago, e.g. a few years ago?
Most certainly, in my teen years it felt rock solid and I could go long periods without needing the bathroom up to 2-3 hrs after the initial urge
Do you currently experience, or have you previously experienced, incidents where you coughed, laughed, sneezed, engaged in exercise, did manual work, etc., and then became aware you had wet or messed yourself to any degree as a result?
Yes, I find my underwear frequently becomes damp without my knowing by the end of day
Do you currently experience, or have you previously experienced, a sudden, compelling physiological need to urinate or defecate which is difficult to defer?
Frequently
As a result of the "sudden, compelling physiological need" described above, have you ever actually wet or messed yourself?
As a transgender person, the ability to find an unoccupied bathroom that accomodates me in the workplace hinders my ability to make it in time. So yes.
Do you consider yourself completely continent, more-or-less continent, or something else? Please provide details.
Becoming gradually less continent, more-or-less.
Do you have a clinical diagnosis or confident self-diagnosis of any of the following conditions?
ADHD predominantly inattentive, a/k/a ADD ✅
ADHD predominantly hyperactive
autism ✅
dysautonomia, autonomic dysfunction, or autonomic dysregulation
Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), any type
EDS, hypermobile type (hEDS) specifically
fibromyalgia
mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
orthostatic intolerance (OI)
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), any type
POTS, central hyperadrenergic type (hyperPOTS) specifically
sensory processing disorder (SPD)
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (Type1) ✅
Do you experience the recurring or ongoing desire to lose control of your bladder and/or your bowels? Have you ever tried to? Do you have any plans to?
I had thoughts like this since I was about 12, and continue to; I wager my continence is a matter of time and I would rather embrace it and go full-monty than remain in a midspace.