Life Without Leaks

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we sit down with Dr. Mia Duncan, a dual board-certified urologist and urogynecologist, to explore the connection between bladder health and longevity. 

Dr. Duncan explains why incontinence is often just the “tip of the iceberg,” and how early bladder symptoms can signal broader health issues. From root-cause diagnosis and bladder diaries to sleep disruption, UTIs, and prevention strategies, this conversation offers practical insights to help listeners take control of their health, now and for the long term. 

To learn more about Dr. Duncan and Columbus Urogynecology, visit here. 

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this deeply honest episode of Life Without Leaks, we talks with Judy, a retired school secretary whose bowel incontinence began after surviving stage three endometrial cancer.

Following chemotherapy, radiation and extensive lymph node removal, Judy gradually developed worsening bowel control issues that now affect nearly every aspect of her life. From constant urgency and frequent accidents to recurring bowel obstructions and emergency hospital visits, she shares the physical and emotional toll of living with treatment-related damage.

Judy discusses the therapies she has tried - pelvic floor physical therapy, advanced chair-based treatments, medication adjustments - and the difficult decisions she now faces, including whether surgery or an ostomy might offer relief. She also speaks candidly about anxiety, social isolation and the importance of close friendships in helping her cope.

This episode sheds light on the often-unspoken long-term side effects of cancer treatment and the resilience required to keep moving forward. If you or someone you love is struggling with bowel issues after cancer, Judy’s story offers compassion, honesty and hope.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we speak with Dr. Ryan O’Leary, advanced fellow in inflammatory bowel disease, about one of the most disruptive - and misunderstood - GI symptoms: bowel urgency.

Dr. O’Leary breaks down the difference between IBD and IBS, explaining how Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis differ from non-inflammatory bowel conditions, and why some patients can actually have both. He dives into what bowel urgency really is, what’s happening physiologically in the body and why it can significantly impact sleep, work and quality of life.

The conversation explores how urgency can stem from multiple causes, from inflammation to medications to underlying medical conditions, and emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis. Dr. O’Leary also highlights the encouraging reality that modern treatments for IBD are highly effective, allowing many patients to return to full, active lives.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your symptoms are “normal” or worth bringing up to your doctor, this episode offers clarity, reassurance and practical next steps.

Learn more about a wide range of bowel conditions and get free resources here. 

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we speak with Andy, a 40-year-old truck driver from Utah, about his 12-year struggle with urgency and bowel incontinence and the turning point that finally led him to seek help.

After years of attempting to mask his symptoms with daily, over-the-counter medication and suffering in quiet isolation, a public accident pushed Andy to have the difficult conversation he had avoided for over a decade. What followed was a diagnosis of celiac disease - an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten - and a treatment plan that transformed his quality of life.

Andy shares what it was like to live in silence, the fear of speaking up, the relief of finally getting answers and the dramatic improvements that came with dietary changes. His story highlights the emotional toll of untreated symptoms and the power of persistence, proper testing and lifestyle adjustments.

If you’ve been coping alone, this episode is a reminder: answers are possible, and relief may be closer than you think.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

What happens when you’re constantly scanning for the nearest bathroom? When social plans, work schedules and even sleep revolve around the fear of not making it in time?

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we welcome Dr. Ehsan Navabi, the director of the IBD Center and the GI Motility Disorders Lab at United Medical Doctors in California, to take a closer look at one of the most disruptive digestive symptoms patients face: bowel urgency.

 Dr. Navabi explains how persistent urgency is more than an inconvenience - it can reshape daily life and significantly affect mental health.

We explore why urgency develops, how the brain-gut axis amplifies symptoms and why anxiety and bowel disorders often feed into each other. Dr. Navabi also discusses common but overlooked causes as well as inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Most importantly, he emphasizes that urgency is treatable. With proper diagnosis, multidisciplinary care and early intervention, many patients can regain predictability, confidence and freedom.

If urgency is quietly controlling your schedule, this episode offers reassurance: you don’t have to plan your life around a bathroom — and help is available.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this insightful episode of Life Without Leaks, we sit down with veteran nurse and caregiver Ruth Naismith to explore the often-overlooked emotional side of incontinence. Drawing from over 35 years of clinical experience - and a deeply personal caregiving journey - Ruth shares candid insights into the stress, stigma and life-changing impact incontinence can have on both patients and those who care for them.

From navigating sudden health changes to managing the daily emotional toll of caregiving, this conversation sheds light on what it really means to support someone living with incontinence and how to effectively deal with leakage day and night. As a nurse consultant working with Attends, Ruth also shares practical perspective on how thoughtful product design - like the Sleep Comfort Premium Overnight Underwear - can play a meaningful role in helping people feel more secure, comfortable and confident.

Whether you're a caregiver, a patient or a healthcare professional, this episode delivers empathy, expertise and actionable advice to help you or someone you love live more fully and with less fear.

For more information about Attends, visit them online at Attends.com.

To explore available options in Sleep Comfort Premium Overnight Underwear, click here. 

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this powerful episode of Life Without Leaks, we're joined by Brad, a 44-year-old former Marine and outdoor enthusiast, who opens up about his long and deeply personal journey with bowel and urinary incontinence.

What began as rare, unexplained accidents slowly became more frequent and harder to ignore. Brad reveals the turning point that finally pushed him to say something to his doctor after years of silence. From frustrating diagnoses to discovering pelvic floor physical therapy, counseling and lifestyle adjustments, Brad walks listeners through the physical and emotional toll of living with unpredictable urgency.

This episode goes beyond symptoms and treatment. It explores mental health, dating, workplace accommodations, stigma and the power of acceptance. Brad’s message is clear: preparation, persistence and perspective can transform how you live, even when the leaks don’t disappear.

Honest. Raw. Empowering.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we're joined by Dr. Maria Roell, internal medicine resident at the Medical University of South Carolina, about bowel urgency and the conditions that commonly cause it.

Dr. Roell breaks down the often-confusing differences between IBS and IBD, explains what true medical bowel urgency feels like and outlines when symptoms may signal something more serious. She walks listeners through the diagnostic process - from detailed history and lab work to colonoscopy - and addresses common fears about testing.

The conversation also explores treatment pathways, including lifestyle and dietary changes, medications such as steroids and biologics and when surgery may be considered. Importantly, Dr. Roell discusses the emotional toll urgency can take — from anxiety to social isolation - and the life-changing relief that proper diagnosis and treatment can bring.

Her key message: bowel urgency is more common than people think, and it is treatable. If symptoms are affecting your quality of life, speak up. You are not alone, and help is available.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this deeply personal episode of Life Without Leaks, we speak with Olivia about her life-altering battle with severe ulcerative colitis.

What began as worsening digestive symptoms in her mid-20s quickly escalated into relentless pain, 30+ bathroom trips a day, extreme blood loss and multiple emergency room visits. After a delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatments, Olivia faced life-threatening complications, including a hemoglobin level so low doctors told her she might not survive another day.

Refusing to give up, she advocated for herself, found a new specialist and ultimately enrolled in a dual-drug clinical trial that changed everything. Today, she’s in remission, traveling freely, regaining healthy weight and living without the constant fear of urgency or accidents.

Olivia shares candid advice about self-advocacy, overcoming embarrassment, finding the right care team and preparing for the unexpected. Her message is powerful: don’t lose hope. Effective treatments exist, community matters and you deserve to fight for your health — and your life.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com. 

In this powerful episode of Life Without Leaks, we welcome world-renowned IBD expert Dr. Marla Dubinsky of Mount Sinai to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treatment. 

Dr. Dubinsky shares why early diagnosis and timely use of advanced therapies can dramatically change a patient’s long-term trajectory — and why too many people are still suffering unnecessarily. From delayed diagnoses and safety misconceptions to the stigma around bowel urgency and incontinence, this conversation tackles the real barriers patients face.

You’ll hear why symptom severity today doesn’t always predict future risk, why “mild” disease can still require serious treatment, and how modern therapies are reshaping outcomes. Most importantly, Dr. Dubinsky makes a compelling case that patients do not have to accept a life defined by flares, fear or leaks.

If you or someone you love is navigating IBD — or wondering when to seek care — this episode offers clarity, hope and actionable insight.

For more information about the National Association for Continence, click here, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Music:
Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Living with bladder leaks shouldn't mean worrying about whether your protection can keep up. LivDry makes premium incontinence products designed for moderate to heavy bladder leakage with options for daytime, overnight, and extra protection when you need it most. From comfortable protective underwear to high-capacity briefs and insert pads, LivDry is designed to help you find the right level of protection for your needs. Learn more about LivDry at livdryhealth.com.