NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION 1024x145 1
Donate Now
Search
Donate Now
Subscribe
NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION
Search
Donate Now
[give_form id="19690"]

Patient Perspective: Allison’s Story

Browse By Topic
Urinary incontinence
Bowel health
Pelvic floor
Caregiving
More +
Search
URINARY INCONTINENCE
BOWEL HEALTH
PELVIC HEALTH
CAREGIVING
MORE+

I’m a survivor. I’ve lived through the joy (and scars) of giving birth to three boys, experienced two job layoffs, suffered through one divorce, and most recently, battled (and beat the shit out of) breast cancer. I didn’t really expect, after all that, to be so impacted by something as trivial as incontinence.

I first started having symptoms during my cancer treatments – my doctor said that it could sometimes be a side effect of chemo – but thought that it would go away once chemo was over. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

A year after completing treatment, I was still experiencing leakage.  At first, I just lived with it, thinking it would go away on it’s own. I packed extra underwear and experimented with various incontinence pads to help me manage.

I finally decided to talk to my doctor when it was clear that my leaky bladder wasn’t getting any better. My doctor had me make some diet adjustments, prescribed a medication to help stop the leaks, and sent me to a physical therapist to help me learn how to strengthen up my pelvic floor.

I’ve had one year of regular PT sessions and I am happy to say that I rarely have leaks anymore (even after I stopped taking the medication).

I’ve lived through a lot of setbacks in my life. But after surviving all of the hardships, I certainly wasn’t going to let something like incontinence control me. Life is just too short to live with something that’s so treatable.

Ladies – find the help if you need it.

Alison B., San Diego, CA

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

A blue and white circular badge with the text TRUSTED PARTNER on top, SERVICE EXCELLENCE on the bottom, NAFC 2026 in the center, and white stars on a ribbon-like design on each side.

Click here for more about our Trusted Partners, including special offers on products and services.

cartoon image of sad girl with call out for pelvic floor training kit.

Related Articles

A smiling young woman sits with a display of incontinence products. Text describes how she and her mother, both passionate health advocates, invented solutions after noticing missing options. The image promotes the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

How One Young Woman Turned Incontinence Into Innovation

Growing up with spina bifida meant Bella Duarte-Crespo faced challenges most children never have to think about, including managing bladder and bowel incontinence at school. When she and her mother couldn’t find a product that met her needs, they decided to create one themselves.

In this inspiring episode, Bella shares how a personal struggle became the foundation for a fast-growing business, a passion for design and a lifelong commitment to disability advocacy. Along the way, she discusses living with spina bifida, overcoming embarrassment, building confidence and why being prepared has become her key to living life without leaks.

Whether you’re living with incontinence, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for a story of resilience and determination, Bella’s journey is sure to inspire.

A person wearing a peach top and beige skirt holds a teal awareness ribbon pinned to their waist, standing against a light green background—highlighting the importance of gut health and raising awareness about how to improve gut health.

Bladder & Urological Cancer Awareness: What You Need to Know

When it comes to cancer awareness, conditions such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer often receive the most attention. Yet cancers of the urinary tract and male reproductive system—collectively known as urological or genitourinary cancers—affect hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

A woman in a beige coat smiles and looks up while holding a blue umbrella on a city street, surrounded by modern glass buildings—a perfect scene to reflect on how to improve gut health and embrace the secrets of your gut for overall well-being.

Not All Leaks Are the Same: Understanding the Difference Between LBL (Light Bladder Leakage) and HBL (Heavy Bladder Leaks)

Most incontinence products on the market were made for Light Bladder Leakage (LBL), such as the occasional drip or the small dribble triggered by a sneeze or laugh. For millions of people, that’s not the full story. Heavy Bladder Leaks (HBL) involve larger volumes and/or multiple full releases throughout the day or night. Store-brand products, even those labeled “maximum” or “overnight”, aren’t designed to handle that level of need.
If products keep failing, it can start to feel personal. But when a product was never built for your reality in the first place, that’s not a personal failure. It’s a product gap.
Understanding the difference between LBL and HBL is the first step toward finding trusted protection that actually works.

A smiling young woman sits with a display of incontinence products. Text describes how she and her mother, both passionate health advocates, invented solutions after noticing missing options. The image promotes the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

How One Young Woman Turned Incontinence Into Innovation

Growing up with spina bifida meant Bella Duarte-Crespo faced challenges most children never have to think about, including managing bladder and bowel incontinence at school. When she and her mother couldn’t find a product that met her needs, they decided to create one themselves.

In this inspiring episode, Bella shares how a personal struggle became the foundation for a fast-growing business, a passion for design and a lifelong commitment to disability advocacy. Along the way, she discusses living with spina bifida, overcoming embarrassment, building confidence and why being prepared has become her key to living life without leaks.

Whether you’re living with incontinence, caring for someone who is, or simply looking for a story of resilience and determination, Bella’s journey is sure to inspire.