Incontinence, when there is loss of bladder or bowel control, severely diminishes a person’s quality of life.

What’s more, the complexity of many different sub types of bladder and bowel dysfunction including urge incontinence, stress incontinence, overactive bladder, underactive bladder, urinary retention, fecal incontinence and others, has led to a complicated thicket of treatment options without clear consensus.

But sacral neuromodulation (SNM), a simple placement of a tiny pacemaker-like device, appears to simplify the treatment and provide enviable results by restoring control and quality of life across a range of conditions.

This form of treatment is FDA approved for bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence, and overactive bladder, and it may prove to be a simpler and more effective treatment for other related bladder conditions as well.

Little formal research adequately compares the results of different treatment interventions with clear head-to-head comparison groups. But our experience at The Continence Center is that neuromodulation provides relief of symptoms with a simple, less invasive outpatient procedure.

SNM and Surgery, Compared

What is frequently lost in the academic discussions is that sacral neuromodulation is often compared with surgery and is thought of as an advanced or “third line” therapy.

But should it really be held back and reserved for individuals only after everything else fails?

While sacral neuromodulation does involve a procedure, that’s where the common points with surgery end. Sacral neuromodulation is far less invasive, consisting of a 25-minute procedure under local anesthetic with some needle pokes and a half-inch incision to slip the device under the skin.

The side effects are therefore minimal. If, in a truly rare case, the device was causing a side effect or not delivering the hoped-for results, one could simply turn it off and ignore it. In the absolute worst case, it could be easily removed with another 20-minute procedure.

There is no mesh or material interfering with the vulnerable tissues of the bladder or urethra, there is no general anesthesia required, there is no side effect of causing obstruction to bladder emptying. So, we must think of it in a different category than surgery since it is significantly less invasive and simpler, safer, with little downside compared to surgery.

Parsing Data from Academic Studies

Another important consideration is that the academic studies generally compare the results of SNM in a very broad, generalized way, often using reported results from combinations of published studies. Yet there is a tremendous range of success based upon the precision with which the neuromodulation lead is placed, and the experience of the surgeon.

In a recently published article, the review of 87 published studies showed that factors such as age, prior surgery, spine or back surgery, and a host of other parameters were not predictive of the success of therapy.

This is somewhat surprising since doctors often refer to those factors to explain the variation in results of treatments. There is not yet a consensus method of measuring the precision of device placement, a key factor we have seen evolve at The Continence Center as determining success.

The Bottom Line

In our experience at The Continence Center, bowel and bladder leakage are best treated with evaluation to exclude specific causes, followed by a program of pelvic floor exercise therapy, behavioral education, and sacral neuromodulation for most cases.

It’s a strategy that delivers over 90% success in therapy.Providing sacral neuromodulation as the cornerstone therapy offers the distinct advantage of avoiding chronic daily medications whose cost and side effects are now widely known, and avoiding invasive surgery which offers lower effectiveness with higher rates of potential complications.

If symptoms of incontinence are impacting your quality of life, it’s important to understand that you have options for resolving them.

Learn more about SNM by contacting The Continence Center at Sasse Surgical in Nevada.

What treatment methods of incontinence are you familiar with? Have you tried them yourself? What were the results? Have you been treated with sacral neuromodulation? What did the invasion feel like and what were the results?

The power of TikTok strikes again. Unlike the lube-as-primer videos and some other questionable viral hacks, we’re big fans of this trending product. CTZN Cosmetics lipsticks are going viral on TikTok — so much so, the brand’s website crashed, according to the company. But basically every makeup brand hawks nude lipstick, so what makes these so special? Well, the company was actually started to bring nude lipstick and other ultra-flattering shades to people of color who are underrepresented in the beauty industry.

Sisters Aleena, Aleezeh and Naseeha Khan have the unique experience of being born in the U.S. and raised in the U.A.E. with Pakistani ethnicity. No matter where they lived, they didn’t see themselves represented in major beauty campaigns. They set out to change that with CTZN Cosmetics and 25 shades of “nude.”

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

CTZN Cosmetics.

The most popular product is this Nudiversal Lip Duo, which has a comfortable matte lipstick on one end and a hydrating lip gloss on the other. It goes perfectly with the creamy, long-lasting Lipstroke Waterproof Lip Liner ($16 at Nordstrom). They go so well together in fact, TikToker @erinduganjurchak was obsessed the second she applied the lip duo — er, trio. “Dare I say, that is my perfect nude?” she says. When @mikaylanogueira tries her perfect nude, she’s just as obsessed.

Both beauty pros are especially impressed with the brand’s online matching tool that helps you find your nude, even if you like one shade darker or lighter than your skin tone. After applying the matte lipstick and gloss, @mikaylanogueira says, “That’s fucking perfect!” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Hurry and grab a shade or two before TikTok sells them out.

Dorinda Medley’s Pink and Red Tie Dye Sweatsuit on Instagram

Dorinda Medley Instagram Fashion 2021

Not only is Dorinda Medley officially the hostess with the mostest (can’t wait to watch RHUGT Season 2 at Bluestone Manor!), but also the one with presumably the comfiest pink and red tie dye sweatsuit. And if you want it for yourself, well then scroll on down below because shopping it right now is totally a piece of cake gluten free pumpkin bread. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her PJ Salvage Hoodie on Sale

Click Here to Shop the Matching Sweatpants on Sale

Click Here to Shop Matching Shorts on Sale

Photo: @DorindaMedley

Originally posted at: Dorinda Medley’s Pink and Red Tie Dye Sweatsuit

Lisa Barlow’s Black Aviator Shield Sunglasses on Instastories

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Instagram Fashion 2021

LOVE THAT! And no, we’re not just reciting Lisa Barlow’s signature catchphrase (that she apparently now has emblazoned on a neon sign!), but also talking about her black aviator shield sunglasses on Instastories. Which we’ve linked down below so you that you too can go ahead and show them some love.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Dior Sunglasses in 3 Colours

Click Here For Additional Stock

And Here For More Stock

And Here For Even More Stock

Photo: @LisaBarlow14

Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Black Aviator Shield Sunglasses

It’s long been a truism of scientific research that optimists – people with a hopeful and positive outlook on life – are healthier, happier, and live longer.

However, a recent study takes this finding one step further, stating that optimists not only enjoy an 11-to-15% longer life span on average, but also have far greater odds of achieving “exceptional longevity,” defined as living to the age of 85 or more.

Your first thought might be “Sounds nice,” closely followed by, “But who can be an optimist in this crazy chaotic world of ours?” Indeed. It would appear to be virtually impossible. But here’s the thing. Optimism isn’t an all-or-nothing condition.

You’re not automatically a pessimist if you don’t feel particularly optimistic. Although some people may be born more optimistic than others, the good news is that optimism can be developed. It’s actually a lot less challenging than you might think.

Yes, even in our upside-down world. Yes, even in the midst of a pandemic, erratic climate changes, and turbulent socio-political times.

The Three Things! Game

I’m reminded of a theatre game we used to play, back when I was taking improv classes, called “Three Things!” We stood on stage in a circle, all of us shouted “Three Things!” whereupon one player would name a category.

The player standing next to them had to call out three things that fit that category and do so at the speed of light. It would then be that player’s turn to name a category for the next player to fill. Of course, the idea was to stump each other with ridiculous and/or obviously challenging categories.

So, categories like “Events on Mars!” “Names of Famous Dinosaurs!” “Colors of 1990 Football Jerseys!” made for hilarity, as realism was not required. If anything, coming up with clever responses at warp-speed was the true measure of success.

How might this game help develop optimism? By naming three things you like about anything and everything that crosses your path during your day. In this case, things you genuinely like, since you’re looking to increase your optimism, not get more laughs.

For example, the water glass on the desk in front of me. Three things! I like the shape of the glass, how the light strikes it, and having water handy.

Or the leaf-blower the gardener is using. Three things! Now this is more difficult given that I don’t like noise, and the leaf-blower is an instant noise-generator.

But the three things I like about the leaf-blower are: It cleans off my patio. The gardener only turns it on for 10 minutes. The silence I appreciate doubly when he turns it off.

Finding Optimism

How about the more serious events of life? My best friend’s brother-in-law just died unexpectedly of a heart attack. What could I possibly like about that event? Not the event itself, that would be grim. But how about what I could like, given the situation.

All right, so “Three Things!” One, I like that I can be here to support my friend in her grief. Two, I like that, as awful as it was for her brother-in-law to pass so suddenly, there is the comfort of him not having suffered a long debilitating illness.

Finally, I like that my friend and her husband have a solid and loving marriage, which will help them both through this time.

Of course, it’s much easier to find three things to like about a meal, your pet, or a fine sunny day. But the more you train your mind to explore things to like about anything and everything – that pesky co-worker, your partner’s opinions, your health concerns – the more you increase your optimistic quotient, and with that, your chances of a happy, healthy, “exceptionally long-lived” life.

Take Nana Jo Morrow, for example. For the past 20 years, Nana Jo has been volunteering at an elementary school in Oregon, helping children learn to read, write, and spell. This, despite the fact that Nana Jo is blind in one eye.

Nana Joe is known for her cheerful good nature, kindness, and bubbly personality, which inspires all. Now, Nana Jo could have focused on her sight issues, resented a half-seen life, and groaned her way through her days. Instead, she focuses on what she can do, what she likes about her life, on what gives joy to both her and those around her.

Let Nana Jo inspire you to an optimistic point of view. Play the “Three Things!” game as often as you can throughout your day. Let consistent recognition of what you like bring a smile to your heart as it increases your chances of “exceptional longevity.”

What do you do to stay optimistic even during trying times? Do you have any example of how optimism helped you through a serious life event? Have you played the “Three Things!” game before? How can optimism help you enjoy “exceptional longevity”? Please share your thoughts and comments below.