Every now and again when I am writing this blog, I make a comment or tell a story about something that has happened or is happening in my life which seems to generate a lot of feedback and discussion.
A recent post I made about continence has been one of those. When I had posted to my blog, I also copied it onto a Facebook page for people with MS and Parkinson’s. I was surprised and delighted at how many comments I got from people and how they were all positive. It felt really good that I had started a discussion about the issues we have with continence and many who responded agreed that they did not usually talk about these things with anyone. I felt particularly pleased when one of the people who commented said that she had not talked to anyone about her continence issues as she had been too embarrassed. She said, however, that after reading my post on the subject, it was time she didn’t just accept that continence issues were affecting her, but needed to find out what could be done. She said, on reading my blog, that I had inspired her to talk to her GP to get some help for her issues.
This is what I have always hoped for in my blog and in posts I put on the Facebook Group page, that by modelling good self-care and advocacy and by sharing my story, that I can help and encourage others to seek help and support.
The funny thing is, I went to a fish and chip night for our bowling club on Friday night and I was sitting next to one of my new bowling friends and another lady. They were in conversation and I heard them talking about a gel/cream that was good for irritated skin due to urine leakage and wearing pads. I joined in their chat and talked about my post on my blog and we started talking about continence issues and it turned out we all had similar issues. It was nice to feel that we had connected and were comfortable talking about these things. We all agreed that we didn’t usually really talk to anyone about these issues and that even our husbands probably weren’t fully aware of our continence challenges.
It is heartening to be part of these conversations and to encourage women friends to talk about these things. I certainly didn’t realise that my new friend also had some significant issues.
It’s good to feel that I am not the only one battling with continence.
My journey with Parkinsons 