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Dear Advice Doctor,

I’ve been given a new assignment at work. By itself I have no bone to pick with my supervisors. I’m happy to take on new responsibilities. The issue I have is that the job itself is based on a completely erroneous premise. The basic idea does not hold water, and when it fails it will be my fault. Your advice, please.

Dear Groomed,

— Groomed to fail?

What is commendable is simply that you brought this matter into the spotlight. When people can’t hold their water (often called incontinence, specifically urinary incontinence) they’re often too embarrassed to get treatment. They hope it will go away on its own — which can happen but probably won’t. Unfortunately, in their desire to avoid a little embarrassment they might almost guarantee greater embarrassment when the almost inevitable accident happens in some public setting.

One word of reassurance: doctors and nurses have seen it all and heard it all. Many physicians practice their craft in specialties, and for incontinence that specialty would usually be urology. Trust me when I tell you, every urologist has dealt with this condition a thousand times this year alone. They aren’t going to be embarrassed to discuss it, and neither should you. They are experts in helping people with this specific problem, and others like it.

Something else about seeking medical attention, even if it might be just a little embarrassing: most of us would gladly trade a few minutes of embarrassment for years of cure every day of the week. And doctors can definitely cure this condition in most cases. There are all kinds of treatment options available, often starting with exercise and physical and behavioral therapy. Medications and surgical options are usually not on the list of treatment options, at least not at first.

It is certainly not a rare problem, and when you think about it, every one of us was incontinent for the first year or two of our lives. We’ve been in this situation before and got out of it. We’re older now but maybe we can get out of it again. For instance, pregnancy is a common cause of incontinence, an obviosly temporary situation.

For readers out there with any other medical problem that might be a little delicate, please remember this article and its reminder that our doctors have seen it all. That statement applies to dozens of medical issues, so just relax and go get help.

Thanks again for writing. I hope I answered your question. Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.