Parminder
Parminder experiences urinary incontinence, along with IBS and endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes). She thinks her bowel and bladder issues are connected to problems with her endometrial tissue but is struggling to receive thorough medical care.
Parminder does not have children. She has a partner but is currently living with her family. Parminder lives with a disability and works full-time. Her ethnicity is Asian-Indian.
Condition: urinary incontinence
More about me...
Parminder had issues with urinary incontinence for a while but became concerned when it got "significantly worse" in her early twenties. She began to have accidents and often couldn't make it to the toilet on time. Parminder feels that her GP was "really quick" to "brush off" her worries. Later, urine samples found blood in her urine without any signs of infection. Again, her GP dismissed these results. Parminder had to take additional tests before receiving a referral, which she considers a "waste" of her time and the NHS's resources. At the moment, she is still waiting on a referral to urology. She has been trying to lessen her symptoms through womb massages and dietary changes.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Parminder temporarily took out private health insurance to ensure she and her brother would have guaranteed access to care. She went to see a private gastroenterologist about the blood in her stools and urine. The gastroenterologist suggested that she likely had endometriosis (a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes); this may have damaged her bowel and bladder tissue. Parminder is awaiting laparoscopic surgery. She worries that without a colorectal surgeon and urologist present, the surgery will be "pointless" as she may need additional operations. Parminder feels "frustrated" to be "going round in round in circles". She hopes that a thorough surgery will help with her incontinence problems.
Parminder has seen healthcare providers at four different hospitals and multiple departments, which has caused issues with communication. Parminder's experiences with gynaecology and urogynaecology services have been "quite poor". In one case, a doctor questioned her endometriosis diagnosis "as if I'd made up the whole condition" even though Parminder received the diagnosis at the same hospital. She has yet to receive physiotherapy and acupuncture referrals, which her doctor said would only be issued if she agreed to go on hormonal contraception. Parminder wonders if doctors treat her differently because she has multiple health problems and referrals. Parminder feels doctors have treated her as though her symptoms are "literally not real".
Parminder's incontinence has caused problems in her work life. While she is more easily able to access a toilet while working from home, it has still been "really hard to manage". She often worries about sitting through meetings or being late because of her bladder. At the moment, Parminder is looking to change employers because of her boss's insensitivity towards her health problems. She is focusing on finding a role within a larger company that has a designated HR department so her health needs have to be respected.
Recent Covid-19 regulations made it difficult for Parminder to do the "simplest thing" like walking in the park or going to a restaurant. Parminder has needed to adjust her wardrobe to include trousers that she can take off quickly. She wears incontinence pads but finds they don't make "that much difference," as she still needs to change them often. Parminder's partner has been "quite supportive" of her needs. She thinks he may be more understanding "than most" because he also lives with a disability.
Parminder considers it a "massive problem" that medical departments work "in isolation". She is disappointed at the lack of "working together" despite her bowel and bladder problems being connected to her endometriosis. Parminder is also struck by how "normal" private care is now to the point that an A&E doctor recommended she seek private care. In the future, Parminder hopes that people will be more understanding and patient towards people with bowel and bladder problems. She encourages healthcare workers to take these symptoms seriously and try their best to communicate between departments.
