From Robin’s Desk |
A Time for Transitions
Hi, and welcome to the September edition of the Continence Connection Newsletter!
Well, as I write this the A/C is off and the window is open on a bright, sunny but cool day. The calendar says it’s the third week of September, and this is truly a time of transitions.
For starters, the kids are all in school, summer vacation has transitioned into back to school. The new school year is highlighted by some major transitions for the family. My oldest daughter, now 19, faces the biggest transition, from summer home to her junior year in college. My son, 14, starts 9th grade and takes the big step into high school. My youngest—12, moves up to 7th grade transitioning to the dead center of junior high. |
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Before you know it, summer will have changed to Fall. All the rain, heat and humidity are already giving way to dry warm days and crisp cool evenings. The grass is growing a little slower now and there are hints of color changes on some of the trees in the neighborhood. All that rain this summer should make for lots of vibrant colors later in the Fall. That means a transition from lawnmower to rake and leaf blower.
There’s even a transition going on at the fruit and vegetable stands. The transition from seed, to flower to fruit is in full swing. Peaches, cherries and plumbs are making room for the apples, squash and pumpkins. Pretty soon the apple orchards will be opening up for picking your own. Its great fun and something I hope you get to enjoy as much as we do.
Finally, with the transition of the season there are the necessary fashion changes. Sweaters and jackets, darker colors and heavier fabrics are making it to the front of our wardrobes. As seasons, temperatures and clothes change so might your protection requirements. The cool weather may keep you outside more and longer nights may bring you to bed earlier. No matter what your transition — Continence Connection is here with the products just right for the lifestyle you choose. |
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Let me end here so you can transition to the featured article and the product spotlight of the month. Take care and we’ll visit again in October.
Robin |
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| Information For Your Well-Being |
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Coping with Incontinence at Work
Customer calls, sales meetings, flight schedules. Incontinence can be enough of a challenge in many aspects of daily living, but none is potentially as difficult to deal with as incontinence in the workplace. Until you find the right treatment for incontinence, here are some tips and strategies that will help you handle it in the workplace. |
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Dress for success. Lose the light-colored business attire and stick with dark clothing. It will hide any “problems” that present themselves in the course of your day. If possible, bring a back-up change of clothing to keep at work.
Know your products. You don’t have to leak out of your incontinence product. There are products that work and they can’t all be found at your local super-store. You get what you pay for. You may pay a little more for a higher quality product but it will go a long way and provide you with security and confidence.
Nix the Joe. Try eliminating caffeine from your body for two weeks. Chances are, your body is going to respond and you will see a difference in your level of continence. Caffeine is not only a bladder irritant but also a diuretic that will cause your incontinence to be worse.
Squeeze when you sneeze! This is called pelvic bracing. You must squeeze your pelvic floor muscles tightly before you cough or sneeze or hold them as tight as possible during periods of physical activity.
Practice Kegels exercises. This is exercise you can do wherever you are and nobody will ever know. Set up a “trigger” for yourself such as at a stop-light where you will do your Kegels. For a fun Kegel song, e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.
Do quick flicks. “Fast twitch” fibers in your pelvic floor muscles are good for “quick flicks,” which is a fast tightening and release of rectal muscles that prevents the feeling of urgency. Doing this when the urgency is intense, and the bladder is in spasm, will help you prevent the flood from coming on.
Consider a pessary. For women, pessaries were used successfully for years and are being used more and more today. They are a removable vaginal device and help support pelvic organs that have fallen.
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Train your bladder. Over time, lengthen the time between bathroom trips. If you stick with a well-planned |
bladder program, you will see your habits change and you in more control over your continence.
Relax. Don’t underestimate the power in deep breathing and working through urgency until the sensation dissipates. After the urge passes, wait 5-10 minutes and go to the bathroom even if you don't feel like you need to anymore. Slowly increase the amount of waiting time and you will improve bladder control.
Robin Howe, BSN RN ▪ ContinenceConnection.com ▪ 888-356-6993
Copyright © 2008 Robin Howe, RN - All Rights Reserved.
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| Product of the Month |
Something New in Adult Protection
Announcing…
Abena Abri-Form X-Plus Air Plus
Continence Connection is not just an internet retailer selling products and services for people facing the challenges of living with incontinence.
What we really do for our clients is give them their freedom and independence. Whatever challenges you face, we’re always looking for new products and services to help you get those two benefits: To maintain your independence and to be free of any shame or embarrassment the problem may cause you.
The new Abena Abri-Form X-Plus Air Plus is a product that can give you, relatives or friends those benefits, even if they experience heavy urinary and/or fecal incontinence.
Unlike other heavy adult diapers with plastic backing, the Abri-Form X-Plus Air Plus has a cloth-like backing making in much quieter and more discreet so no one has to know your using it. The X-Plus Air Plus helps you remain discreet with extreme containment for no leakage, even on the sides of the product.
The other advantage of the Abri-Form X-Plus Air Plus is its built-in comfort features. The cloth-like backing can breathe so you’re more comfortable with a cooler feel than plastic products. A soft inner liner and wetness indicators that change color when wet, provide maximum comfort and reduce skin irritation. No plastic backing allows air flow through the diaper but still offers the very same protection found in adult diapers with a plastic backing, even the original X-Plus!
Click over to Continence Connection for the best pricing on the Internet for Abena X-Plus Air-Plus. We are even include the shipping in this offer! The Abena Abri-Form X-Plus Air Plus is latex free and come in medium, large and extra large sizes. Offer is for a limited only.
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