Incontinence
plagues most elderly persons. It begins to plague women
much earlier—after childbirth, for instance. Surgically shortening
the bands that hold the bladder in position (called bladder
“lifting”) can give temporary relief, but the surgeon may be the
first to tell you that it is a temporary fix. Still, it is so shocking
not to be able to run a few steps or sneeze or cough without
wetting the underwear, that anything seems better than doing
nothing. Surgeons will tell you that the bands have been
“overstretched.”
The real reason why nothing, not even surgery, is permanent
is that the support bands are weak. Bacterial invasion causes
most of this weakness. Low potassium levels (due to excess
potassium losses by the adrenals) causes more weakness. When
you kill bacteria (and Schistosomes and Ascaris and other parasites
that bring in bacteria) and blood potassium levels go up, the
problem is solved. Overnight you may throw those pads away.
Even though you needed three pads to be “safe” you will not
need any. Whether you have killed bacteria permanently
determines whether you have permanently cured the condition.
Make sure all dairy foods are absolutely sterile. Ask that the milk
be boiled for ten seconds and other foods that can't be sterilized
are not on the menu, like sour cream. Sour cream has too much
tyramine to be safe. Tyramine is a bacterial by product that is
quite toxic; it is rather high in aged cheese, also. With the food
bacteria, Salmonellas and Shigella, out of the way and parasites
being killed regularly, you can focus attention on the adrenals
which control potassium levels.
Be careful not to rave about the foods that your loved one
cannot eat.
Eating more potassium in food is a good nutrition project.
Bananas are the top choice. Fresh fruit salad and baked potatoes
and soup also provides a lot. Mixing potassium salt with regular
salt, half and half, for the shaker is another easy trick, even if you
only use it in cooking where the taste cannot be detected.
Potassium by prescription is often used by clinicians to conserve
body potassium during diuretic use. This need not be stopped (if
the pills are not polluted) although taking potassium pills is less
useful than salting it in because the adrenals will let any big dose
escape anyway. A sign of too much potassium is a slow pulse.
It may be necessary to wear some kind of incontinence underwear.
Try to avoid them at night, though, so the skin can
breathe freely. Bring a commode near the bed for the night, rather
than diapering your loved one (but don't call them diapers; say
“underwear”). Absorbent pants of all kinds are heavily
chemicalized. This is absorbed by the skin and adds to the toxin
level. Less will be absorbed if you powder the skin with cornstarch
first. Use them minimally and line them with tissue or
paper towel. Chair and bed pads, too, are chemicalized. Don't sit
on them with bare skin. To facilitate getting to the commode
quickly in the night, dress the elderly in a short night shirt, no
pajamas or long gown. Bed socks on the feet help with warmth.
Wash the body parts daily, around the urinary and rectal
outlet, using borax water. Follow with 5% grain alcohol. Put
washcloth in laundry after a single use. Nothing, not even brain
improvement, impresses and encourages an elderly person as
much as seeing the incontinence lessen. This bit of progress will
put him or her solidly on your side. When they believe in you, it
makes your task more rewarding. Remember to enjoy and celebrate
your achievements together; don't make a grim business out
of it.
