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The ‘Incontinence’ Poem

Read this simple poem by Prof Jo Booth to help you remember the common types of incontinence.
© Association for Continence Advice. CC BY-NC 4.0

Here is a simple poem to help you remember the common types of incontinence:

Stress equals ‘squirts’, when the pressure is on;
Cough, sneeze or trampoline and the urine is gone.
Urgency means ‘hurry, I just gotta go’….
Pee runs downs my legs, if my response is too slow.
Mixed is most common, the older we get;
But is it the ‘urge’ or the ‘stress’ that makes us most wet?
When I strain but my pee stops/starts and stream’s slow,
and ends with a dribble; it’ll be overflow.
If it’s my health, not my bladder, stops me getting to a loo,
Functional leaks may occur, of both pee and poo;
So, its crucial to assess, and decide on my type,
To personalise my treatment, and make sure it is right.

Jo Booth 2018

© Association for Continence Advice. CC BY-NC 4.0
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Understanding Continence Promotion: Effective Management of Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction in Adults

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