Faith Regional Health Services | living WELL | Spring 2021

FRHS.ORG 13 Overactive bladder? Botox can help “If you’re someone who knows where all the restrooms are within a 30-minute drive from your house, it’s time to contact your doctor.” —Yemi Akin-Olugbade, MD YOU MAY BE familiar with Botox being used for cosmetic reasons, but did you know it has many medical uses that go beyond improving one’s looks? Chronic migraines, excessive underarm sweating and even overactive bladders can all be treated with Botox. Yemi Akin-Olugbade, MD, a urologist at Faith Regional Physician Services Urology, offers Botox as a treatment option for urge incontinence, when the need to urinate comes on suddenly before you can get to the bathroom. After Botox is injected into the bladder, it works by blocking and calming down the sensitivity receptors in the bladder muscle. The procedure is done right in the clinic with local anesthetic. There’s no recov- ery time, and patients can resume normal activities right away. “Patients should notice an improvement in urinary symptoms within two weeks of the injection,” says Dr. Yemi. “While it may last up to one year in pa- tients, on average the effect lasts five to six months before the patient needs to come in for a repeat treatment.” Effective for both women and men Botox to treat an overactive bladder is typically of- fered after other treatment options have not been successful. While women may be more likely to experience incontinence issues, men can have bladder issues too. Botox has been proven to be an effective treatment for both genders. If you’re experiencing a leaky bladder, speak up. Incontinence can often be controlled or cured. The first step is talking with your primary care provider. If you’re not seeing an improvement in your symp- toms, you can schedule an appointment, or get a referral from your provider, with a urologist who is specially trained in conditions involving the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Yemi Akin-Olugbade, MD Feel better, faster. The upside of Botox? There’s no recovery time, and patients can resume normal activities right away. For an appointment with Dr. Yemi, call 402-844-8341 .