What Big Pharmaceuticals and Urologists Don’t Want You to Know
My love of helping women reach their best health runs deep and is very personal. Few people know the journey I took to arrive at what I consider, my most private battle in my adult life - overcoming urinary incontinence without drugs or surgery. How did I do it?
As I mentioned in part 1 and part 2 of My Pelvic Floor Journey blog, you know that pee problems plagued me since I gave birth. I thought that only happened to old people! It really affected my social life.
Let’s face it, going to the bathroom constantly and being afraid to laugh, cough or sneeze, isn’t fun.
Before I became a clinician that teaches other women to stop peeing when they cough, sneeze or jump and control their overactive bladders, I tried all kinds of crazy products.
I remember one product in particular that you were supposed to insert into your ladyparts and squeeze. “OUCH” That contraption hurt!
And the “medicine”? A study done at the University of Minnesota found that 50% of women stop taking urinary incontinence medicine within one year because of the side effects. The most common side effects are dry mouth, constipation, dry skin, dry eyes, and upset stomach. And older people who use incontinence medications with antihistamines are more likely to experience abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death. As if that’s not enough, the medicine only stops incontinence in 2 out of 10 women and because constipation – a side effect of the medicine- increases urinary incontinence – you may be worse off after taking the medicine.
And Surgery? My urologists nonchalantly suggested I go through with the vaginal mesh procedure like she was mentioning the weather. The thought of allowing someone to cut my vagina – No way! Besides the side effects from the surgery can be:
- Erosion or protrusion of the mesh from the soft tissues
- Pain, including pain with intercourse
- Infections in the area of the mesh
- Urinary tract problems
- Bleeding from the mesh site
- Damage to nearby organs
I’ve heard recent reports that these complications “only” happen in one out of thirty women. Only? If you’re THE unlucky one out of thirty, that’s too high in my book.
My experience with urinary incontinence forced me to revisit overcoming expensive pads, bathroom mapping and did I mention the fear of smelling like a urinal? I learned that there is so much more to a successful program than just Kegels. Today, thanks to the complete pelvic floor program in 30 Day Bladder Fix ™, I and thousands of my patients all around the US, are pee accident free – without drugs or surgery! The drug companies won’t be happy and the urologists who perform costly surgeries won’t appreciate this simple cost effective program to cure urinary incontinence, but that’s OK. I’m making it my mission to help all women who suffer in embarrassing silence because like I said, my love of helping women overcome urinary incontinence is very personal.
Suzanne Andrews is a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician with 30 years exercise expertise. Airing to over 49 million on Public Television, Suzanne Andrews, a licensed Occupational Therapy Clinician, (they specialize in function) creates evidenced based fitness programs for specific health conditions. Originally created in 2008 with it’s first run on WDSC TV, Functional Fitness with Suzanne Andrews broadcasts on 113 Public Television stations.
