INCONTINENCE

Some types of urinary incontinence may indicate an underlying condition such as cystitis, which is chronic inflammation of the bladder causing people with it to urinate, sometimes painfully, between 40 and 60 times a day. Faecal incontinence may occur when stool becomes watery, as is the case in diarrhoea. Other causes of stool incontinence are: constipation, which may lead to a weak anal sphincter muscle, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel, haemorrhoids, nerve damage, and neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Incontinence can also lead to skin irritation on the buttocks, hips, genitals, or between the pelvis and rectum.

PTA: Guten Tag.
Female customer: Do you speak English?

Yes, I do. What can I do for you?
Could we go somewhere more private, please?

We have the back office just behind me for such purposes. Please, take a seat. How may I help you?
Oh, this is so embarrassing! I am afraid that I have urinary incontinence!

There’s no need to be embarrassed! A lot of people have it! It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
But it is a bit taboo, isn’t it?

Of course it’s not something that people talk about in public! In Germany, we have an aging society, and the older one gets the more likely it is that incontinence occurs. I need to ask you a few questions so that we can see how best to help you.
Okay, go ahead.

Do you feel that you need to use the toilet more often than usual?
Not that much, no.

Well that’s good.
Why?

If you needed to go very often, it could indicate that you have cystitis. Do you experience any pain when passing water?
No, I just lose a few drops for no apparent reason. And it’s causing skin irritation.

You could have something called stress incontinence.
But I’m not stressed at the moment!

It’s related to pressure on the bladder. It can happen in pregnancy, when people are overweight, or when lifting heavy objects. Some people even experience it when they sneeze!
That’s it, my pollen allergy is causing me to sneeze quite suddenly.

I see. We have these discreet incontinence pads for sensitive skin and for your kind of incontinence. This cream acts as a barrier to the skin irritation caused by losing a few drops. By the way, do you need antihistamines?
No thank you, but I will take those other products that you recommended.

Good. Will that be all?
Thanks again and goodbye.

You can find this article on page 92 in DIE PTA IN DER APOTHEKE 03/2021.

Catherine Croghan, Lecturer in English and native speaker