A patient advocate with overactive bladder talks about how the condition affected her ability to work and the importance of getting treatment.
Darlene C. worked as a nurse for nearly three decades. About 10 years ago, she was in the parking lot at work when a van hit her. The collision left her with a spinal cord injury, which affected the nerves controlling her bladder, causing symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB).
OAB involves sudden urges to urinate that can be difficult to control. It can lead to urinary incontinence (urine leakage). Treatment may involve a combination of lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy, and medication. A doctor may recommend nerve stimulation or botulinum toxin injections if other treatments are ineffective.
Some people with OAB might benefit from workplace accommodations, which are changes to a work environment or job that help people with disabilities perform their duties and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Deciding whether to ask for workplace accommodations is a personal choice.
We spoke with Darlene to learn how OAB affected her work, how she has managed the condition, and what tips she has for others.
This interview has been edited for brevity, length, and clarity.
I was incontinent. Urine would just come out and leak all over the place. I’d have to be in the bathroom all the time.
I was getting urinary tract infections because I was damp. I was getting vaginal irritation. I was using different kinds of wipes and would sometimes carry a washcloth to take care of my private area.
I wasn’t drinking because I didn’t want to urinate, so then I’d get dehydrated.
Psychologically, I was not happy about it. I felt dirty. I felt like I smelled like urine.
And it wasn’t just the bladder. I had a broken jaw and an injury to the spinal cord. I couldn’t lift, I couldn’t push, I couldn’t pull. It wasn’t conducive to what my job description was. I couldn’t be 100% of a nurse.
My employer knew I was managing challenges. They knew about the jaw and the spine. But they didn’t know about the bladder specifically, and I didn’t really advocate for or say much about it because the stigma’s embarrassing.
I wore [absorbent undergarments]. I’d always bring wipes with me. And the first thing I’d look for when I went anywhere was the bathroom — where’s the bathroom?
I did go on medication, but it didn’t agree with me. It caused nausea and headache, and it really wasn’t working for me. A treatment might work well for some people but not for other people.
I eventually made an appointment at a women’s health center and saw a doctor who specializes in female incontinence. I love him!
He diagnosed me with neurogenic bladder and said I could have posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) treatments. A nurse practitioner would put a little needle in my ankle that was attached to a wire and a remote control. I would sit there for 20 minutes and give intermittent pulses to the tibial nerve, which would stop the bladder spasms.
By the third week of these treatments, I noticed I didn’t have to wear [absorbent undergarments] during the day and wasn’t damp at night. It didn’t cure it all, but I was good. I was leaking just a little, but I was able to get back to life.
About a year later, symptoms started up again. My doctor said I was a candidate for the
When I got that implant, my life turned completely around.
Get medical help! Don’t live with it until you can’t live with it anymore, like I did. If I’d gotten the treatment I needed earlier, it would have changed things physically and psychologically. I wouldn’t have had to leave my post at work and be in the bathroom all day.
Get information. Look around and find a doctor who focuses on incontinence and knows what they’re talking about.
Prepare yourself with [absorbent undergarments or pads] and cleaning materials.
Look into the Family and Medical Leave Act. Look into accommodations. If your doctor writes it up, your work may allow you to go to the bathroom at any time of day, and it should not be held against you.
As far as telling co-workers, it depends on your workplace. Personally, I keep my business to myself. That’s just how I feel. Some people might be supportive, but some might say, “Oh, she’s always in the bathroom. It’s not fair.”
Know that you’re not alone. There are other people out there like you.
Learn more about workplace accommodations
A workplace accommodation is an adjustment to a job, work environment, or hiring process that helps someone with a disability successfully perform their tasks and enjoy equal employment opportunities.
You have a legal right to reasonable accommodations under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if you:
- are qualified for the job
- meet the legal definition of having a disability
- need an accommodation due to your disability
- work for an organization that has at least 15 employees
Most organizations with fewer than 15 employees aren’t legally required to provide reasonable accommodations, but they may voluntarily choose to do so.
You can visit the Job Accommodation Network to learn more about your rights and to find tips on requesting accommodations.
Darlene C. is a 68-year-old resident of Suffolk County, New York, who worked for nearly three decades as a nurse. She developed overactive bladder symptoms due to neurogenic bladder, which was caused by a spinal cord injury. She advocates for the importance of getting treatment for overactive bladder from a healthcare professional who specializes in incontinence.