U & I : Real Stories of Overactive Bladder

Due to the highly intimate and embarrassing nature of OAB to some patients, it’s said that patients keep their experience “locked up inside”. This can be for various reasons such as stigma, being worried about what others think, and a feeling of helplessness. Despite this, better communication strategies have made it easier for patients to overcome feelings like shame, and build more confident ways of communicating with others.

In this episode, we speak to Susannah Fraser from Bladder Health UK and retired uro-gynaecology nurse Paula Pitcher will explore how they shifted their emotional approach to OAB, and felt comfortable communicating to others about their condition.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202106-11

‘Coping’ with a condition touches on many areas, and means something different to each patient. Tailored strategies can be extremely helpful and make it easier for patients to cope with OAB and preventing OAB from getting in the way of a happy life.

This episode will explore OAB anxiety, and enhance more broadly into other problems that OAB causes. In particular, we will touch on OAB management during Covid-19, when many needed to rethink how OAB affected their lives.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202109-14

Management of OAB can be complicated, and can include a combination of physical training, prescribed medicines, and lifestyle changes. Each option that can be offered will differ based on a patient’s profile, but the aim will be the same - reduce OAB voiding events.

This episode will explore how one patient had adapted to prescribed OAB treatments and managed the urge. We will touch on a number of different areas from the patient’s perspective, from challenges adapting to ‘new normal’ to building support networks.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202106-11

Diagnosing OAB is complicated because overall awareness of OAB is relatively low, and this means that diagnosis may take longer than expected. Patients may be embarrassed to discuss incontinence matters with their GP and so find themselves living with uncertainty, potential feelings of embarrassment and an feeling unsure how to make necessary life changes.

In this episode, Prof. Drake will speak to a patient who has experienced the diagnosis process first hand. Together they will cover a range of topics including the emotional and medical journey involved in diagnosing and treating OAB.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202106-11

Spontaneous voiding is a serious concern for OAB patients, and this can happen for a number of reasons, including poor OAB management, treatment not working (e.g. pelvic floor training not having an impact), and disease progression. For this reason, many OAB patients are often anxious because voiding can happen when they least expect it and when they least want it. With this in mind, many patients have build up coping strategies that help them reduce anxiety, overcome self-esteem concerns and build mitigating strategies to become more confident.

Chris offers his personal perspective of spontaneous voiding and share a very human experience of how to cope with this issue.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202106-11

In this bonus clip Chris discusses the struggle of opening up, brought on by the fear of judgment from others about his condition.

Approval code: INT-M-BET-202106-12