Laugh If You Must...

Another post from Mr. Xlink...

"Laugh If You Must..."

 by Xlink, Jul 30, 2011 at 02:48 PM

"But Don't You Pee?" 

Most of us take a lot of things for granted. Good health. Full faculties.. We are more concerned about the latest news. Or obsessing about the hottest gadget (When is Ipad 3 or Iphone 5 coming out?) The newest toy. Or making the highest mark.

Before I go any further, let me ask you this: How often do you experience locking your knees, gritting your teeth, and wildly looking for the sign that says “He or She”. Seldom. Sometimes. Often. Very Often. Okay. Even if you answer very often, pat yourself in the back. You still have good control of your situation. For there is a segment in our population suffering from a disorder that makes it a challenge for them to do this simple task. Where the above maneuver is simply useless. Unsuccessful. That even the most ordinary activities that require some strength or slight force can lead to a personal catastrophe. Even going to the gym is a challenge and participating in that popular Zumba class or Yoga requires a herculean effort. The culprit? Stress Incontinence. About 3-17% of the female population has it compared to a 3-11% in males.

Just imagine sharing a good joke with a friend and suddenly, you just feel like having an “accident”! Or.. being compelled to wear a pad whenever you go out of the house because one sudden jolt or unexpected motion can trigger that sensitive bladder to leak? Not funny at all.

Sadly enough, most of those affected delay treatment because of the sensitivity of the problem and avoids embarrassing themselves. So they suffer in silence. This may sound like another textbook case, or just a product of an active imagination until it hits you straight in the face. When you see it in someone you know. A friend. Or in a distressed patient. Then you feel their agony. The process that they have to go through just to be seen and be treated properly. “Hullo, I'm calling to make an appointment because uhmm... I cannot hold my pee.” Whew. Exactly....

It is beyond the scope of this blog to discuss the various etiologies and management of this not so uncommon problem (yup, sounds like a disclaimer!). My only simple intention is to make us more appreciative of what we have in the here and now.

So next time you laugh, or do your crunches, enjoy the moment. When you are trapped in the traffic or sits in the middle of the movie and feels annoyance creeping into you because you need to find the nearest exit, still thank your lucky stars. Your muscles are strong. Your pipes are working right. You are healthy. Kick that gloomy feeling away and stay happy.