If you are the caregiver of an elderly loved one, who you suspect is suffering from incontinence then one of the fist and most important steps that you should take is to seek a medical evaluation. It is important to understand that incontinence is not a normal part of aging, and is often caused by serious, but treatable conditions.

Having a medical evaluation can help both the caregiver and the senior understand what is causing the incontinence and how to treat it. However, it is important to go to the first doctor’s visit after doing some preparation. This doctor’s visit will focus on gaining some information from the senior and the senior and caregiver being given information in return. This makes it crucial to go prepared ahead of time.

Here is what you need to know about preparing for your first doctor’s appointment for incontinence-

– It may start before you get there-Your doctor may need some information from you that will need to gather, before you even leave home. Many times the doctor will send a questionnaire that needs to be filled out, before seeing the patient. The health care provider uses the information from this questionnaire to a preliminary assessment, of the symptoms of your incontinence. In addition, the patient is asked to a voiding diary, for at least a few days. This will record when, how much, and what kind of fluids are being consumed. In addition, the diary will indicate when the patient urinated and when they experienced incontinence. If the patient is unable to do prepare himself, then the caregiver will need to step in and help with this.

– It starts with the primary care provider-Most patients will first see their primary doctor, who will then determine if the patient needs to see a specialist. This can be a urologist who specializes in urinary disorders, or for some women they may be referred to a uro-gynecologist.

– It really is all about the preparation-Because incontinence is not a visual problem, or even an easy problem, the amount of preparation that you do, will largely determine who well the visit with the doctor ends up being. There are several steps that you can take that will improve the effectiveness of seeing the doctor.

– These include but are not limited to:

1. Write down all symptoms-It is crucial to list any symptoms that you have having, regardless of whether or not you think they are important or related to the incontinence. The bottom line is that if you feel different in any way, let your doctor know.

2. Write down all medications-Because medications can contribute to incontinence, it is crucial to let your doctor know everything that you are taking. This includes any vitamins or herbal supplements that the senior is taking, as well. In addition, you should list all doses and how often the medication is taken.

3. Write down all questions-It is always stressful to visit the doctor, and dealing with incontinence can make both the senior and the caregiver feel overwhelmed. This makes it essential to write down all of the questions that you want to ask, so you don’t forget anything.

Author Bio: Want to know about Incontinence products? Incontinence is not a normal part of the aging process. Seniors are more at risk of developing incontinence from a variety of different factors. Visit for more Adult incontinence products

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: incontinence products, adult incontinence products, incontinence supplies, incontinence pads