I am female a maths teacher mother of four and wife of one ! I am 54.

Does that conjure up an image of continence or should it be incontinence to you?

I might look ‘ normal ‘it’s important that you know there’s a few broken bits inside. That’s a rush to a disabled loo if I dare run the gauntlet of accusing stares ( qv recent Twitter feeds)

There’s the postage stamp wipes the baby or bitty  botty tesco value wipe…or any other demeaning word

Oh I met my Labour candidate today. He was canvassing doorsteps. Aha I said can you help me I’m a bit confused about the stance you take on Health. In particular ‘ continence’… His blank look told it all. Had no idea what I was talking about. After some prompting by his co-canvasser who I recognised as a lovely nurse from my own GP practice. Oh yes he said the ‘nappies’ NHS supplies to adults. No no that is so not what I expected. Ignorance. Awareness. Help.

But then I see the CCG is £40m yes £40m over budget. Oh deary me. Hinging broke? Outsourcing. ? Profiteering? Er I better find out more.

The catheter CISC equipment and there you were thinking ISC is the government Intelligence and Security Community.

Tens ladies for those ‘oops’ moments …. Is that you? Me? Pads from the GP? Can you? Would you? Do you?

Self test your urine they tell you. Self management such a trend. But ooooo

Dipsticks £50 no prescription

Syringes and needles ? Oh yes for the bladder instillations not INSTALLATIONS as the spellcheck corrects.

The doctors who tell you : oh that’s a comment n problem for ladies of a certain age’ is it? REALLY?! Well I never …What are you going to do about it. What have you done about it?

Ladies: Have you ever tried to pee standing up? Watched by two make strangers? No this is not some sequel to fifty shades of grey… This is fifty shades of indignity otherwise known as URODYNAMICS. Little or no prior knowledge makes this shock tactic a tortuously embarrassing episode in the life of broken me

Men: have you ever tried  to pee with a catheter up your bum watched by a group of men and women?

Imagine it picture it what would YOU do?

As for Indwelling catheters now don’t get me started …. as Melanie Reid explains ….http://www.healthtalk.org/files/nursing_times_living-with-an-indwelling-urinary-catheter.pdf

Or Since the introduction of the Foley
catheter in 1937, its design has not really
changed. People wanted a new design
that would reduce complications,
promote independence and be more
discreet. Users who lacked dexterity
hoped a new design would allow them to
empty the drainage bag themselves, and
a few wanted a device they could change
themselves. Some felt strongly about
“having a bag of urine strapped to the
leg” and wanted a more discreet catheter
or one that stored urine inside the body.
Others stressed the importance of a
catheter that helped cut the risk of UTIs,
blockages and leaking, and did not cause
trauma around the catheter site,
soreness or overgrowth of granul

What do I want you to do with all this information ? Well I just would like you to imagine yourself in my place. To treat me as you would any patient. A personalised individualised approach and please let me pop to the disable loo – maybe there’s a reason. Try please to understand what it’s like being ( broken) me. We are not all the same. BB conditions cover a plethora of issues. Please don’t define me by my issues. Please know me for who I am and what I love but not my ‘label’

Other references

https://healthunlocked.com/amneasier/posts/308938/continence-some-thoughts-part-2