A dry cleaning business owner in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Sarah Stevenson, has shared her struggle with severe incontinence, revealing that it was so bad she wet herself on her wedding day and often wore a nappy. Sarah, 34, has dealt with bladder issues since childhood, regularly wetting the bed and experiencing multiple accidents each day. She described being unable to control her bladder even when awake, leading to the necessity of carrying spare clothes everywhere she went. Sarah’s condition prevented her from sneezing, jumping, or running without leaking urine, making activities like trampolining impossible.
After reaching a breaking point upon wetting the bed on the morning of her wedding, Sarah sought medical help and found relief through Botox injections into her overactive bladder, reducing unexpected spasms. She recalled starting treatment at an incontinence clinic around age 15 and experiencing accidents from as early as four years old. Despite trying various treatments, including medication, Sarah continued to face daily challenges with incontinence, affecting her social life and causing emotional distress.
Sarah expressed the impact of her incontinence as ‘soul-destroying,’ often facing judgement for not outgrowing the condition. She recounted instances of losing control of her bladder in public and resorting to wearing adult nappies on long days without easy access to toilets. Simple actions like sneezing or running would trigger leaks, limiting her ability to engage in everyday activities. The emotional toll was particularly evident on her wedding day, where anxiety about having an accident overshadowed the celebration.
Since starting Botox treatment seven years ago, Sarah noted significant improvements in her bladder function, allowing her to feel more like a ‘normal person.’ The injections helped reduce bladder spasms, enabling her to regulate her bladder capacity and eliminate accidents. Sarah encouraged others facing similar challenges not to be ashamed and to seek available support, emphasising the importance of mental resilience and hope for better days ahead.