incontinence as a disability?

[loobylouloos]

Donning my hard hat here.
Since the birth of my son 18months ago I have been incontinent of urine and mildly of faeces – urge incontinence rather than the stress incontinence which is common after child birth. When I need to go I have a couple of minutes at best to find a loo. I have wet myself and soiled myself in public (luckily very close to home when I soiled myself).

It significantly affects my life - I will not go anywhere where I do not know there to be many public toilets, I can’t lift anything heavier than my son, and he is starting to get too heavy, I have not yet gone anywhere unfamiliar due to not knowing about toilets and I can’t do things I used to do such as run, trampoline, rock climb or lift weights.
My job is not office based – I go out to see clients, either somewhere public or their own homes, there is not always a toilet available. I have to go to the loo before leaving for the appointment and know every supermarket/ mcdonalds etc local to where I am going. I have spare clothes and wet wipes in my car.

I have had numerous gynae appointments and 8 months of women’s health physio. It has improved but is unlikely to improve further; surgery is not an option (as it will not fix the issue).

I’ve been back at work 4 months now and it is starting to affect my ability to do my job, I can’t do long appointments or be away from the office for longer periods, I have to leave meetings to use the loo – sometimes every half hour or more frequently.

I haven’t told anyone at work as I was hoping it would improve further but it looks like I’m going to have to. Would this come under disability legislation? I could have reasonable adjustments made (e.g. my boss knowing why I leave meetings frequently, making sure I can come back to the office between appointments etc).

Would I also be able to use disabled toilets? So far I haven’t but I also don’t go anywhere where there is likely to be a queue, as I couldn’t wait in a queue. Many of the disabled toilets have a key – do you have to have a GP letter or such to get a key?
I feel like I’m being disingenuous about it possibly being a disability, but it is really really affecting my life and I don’t know what to do.

It would definitely count as a disability as other prior posters have said - the test is significant and long term negative effect on your ability to do day to day activities - which from what you've described it does! It's worth nothing as well that for certain health problems the test is for the outcome without medication (I notice you said you were medicated) - so for instance migraines which require daily medication for management (not cure) would qualify whereas severe shortsightedness won't if it can be managed by spectacles/visual aids.

So occupational health at work will recognise it and should be able (and willing) to help!

You need to tell work so they can make reasonable adjustments - in this case offering you office based work and use of the disabled loo. I have IBS which means I can't wait & my workplace have offered me a radar key, so you should def get it

Hi, I have ms which often effects the bladder, and certainly has affected mine. I suffer from both frequency and urgency, and have had many accidents, like you.

My specialist bladder nurse has suggested botox injections into my bladder. It's a very hew treatment but seems to be quite effective - not for everyone, but the large majority. The injection lasts about 6 months. I have just had the preliminary test to see if I'm bad enough to warrant it, and am waiting to hear. (THe next step, for me, would otherwise be catheterisation, which I would quite like to put off as long as possible!)

Ask your gp about it.

@UnweavedRainbow
]
I was a bit hurried. I'm eligible to claim care allowance or ask for a care package because I receive higher rate care component of DLA. I don't do that. Instead, I've been awarded Severe Disability Premium. I'd never heard of it until I was awarded it.

It's meant to level the financial playing field between claimants who have a carer or claim care allowance, and those who don't. It's means tested and paid as Pension Guarantee Credit. It adds a maximum (currently) of £62.68 a week to the amount the government says an individual needs to live on. I don't get anything like the possible maximum because of my pensions, but it does open the door to other means-tested benefits. I'm going to look into a Disabled Facilities Grant when I get into my new home. It's a two-storey house because of the space and storage, and cheaper than a bungalow (rip off prices), but will borrow, if I can, to install a house lift if I'm not thought eligible for that kind of help. Otherwise, a stair lift.

I don't have to switch to PIP because I was over 65 and already receiving DLA on 8 May 2013, the date PIP replaced DLA.

I've just submitted the application for the DLA renewal. Fingers crossed.

Not read the full thread but you can buy a Radar key on Amazon. I got mine from the local council, think it was £3.50 but cheaper on Amazon (or ebay).

Hi,
Sorry to hear about predicament. It's not nice or easy to cope with. I am surprised that you've not been referred to an incontinence nurse for assessment. You can either do this yourself or its much quicker for your GP to refere you. They can then refer you to see other departments that you may need to see and they should supply you with protection/pads to help you be socially continent.
The radar key, I got my'n from the council offices reception, cost £5 and I filled a short form out asking why I needed it.
I started suffering issues after my abuse as a child but was so ashamed and embarrassed I kept quiet for over ten years. I've had all the tests and pills but I now just wear pads 24/7. These are supplied by my continence service, though I do buy my own too from Dorset Nursing Supplies.
I do get told off sometimes for using the disabled toilets because people think it's for people in wheelchairs only, I've had a few heated discussions about disability and my human rights not to be publicly humiliated for using them, one with a service station manager who was very rude. I ended shutting her up by showing her a little of my pad, then threatened to sue......
Good luck, I hope you can get it soughted out.