Incontinence is nothing to sneeze at – just ask Calhoun’s Jennifer Tyler.

“It was making my life miserable,” she said. “It’s something that no one wants to talk about, but was something that I was forced to think about and deal with every single day of my life.”

Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine and is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Ordinary sudden movements that most people take for granted, such as sneezing, coughing, or even laughing, can result in embarrassing situations for incontinence sufferers. As a registered nurse, Tyler, 41, knew all about the condition and was determined to get it treated.

“A lot of people live with this condition, thinking that it’s just something to goes along with having babies or getting older,” Tyler said. “But I was fed up with it and did not want to live with it any longer.”

Tyler made an appointment with Dr. Jason Crane of Gordon Urology and within days, her problem was solved.

“It has changed my life,” Tyler said. “I couldn’t believe how easy the procedure was or how quickly it solved my problem.”

Dr. Crane, a board-certified urologist on the staff of Gordon Hospital, performed a procedure called Macroplastique, a less-invasive treatment option for adult female stress urinary incontinence.

“Macroplastique is a soft-tissue urethral bulking agent that is injected into the tissues surrounding the urethra,” Dr. Crane explained. “The increased ‘bulk’ allows the urethra to close more effectively and prevents urine from leaking.”

The outpatient procedure typically takes approximately 30 minutes to perform, and the patient is able to resume normal daily activities and return to work within a few days.

“This procedure has helped many women lead more normal lives without having to worrying about the embarrassing issues that accompany incontinence,” Dr. Crane added.

On Sunday, May 23, Dr. Crane will be speaking at the Gordon Hospital Spirit of Women event, “When Your Plumbing Leaks,” planned for 2 p.m. at The Home Depot in Calhoun.

“During this event, a Home Depot expert will give a presentation on the basics of home plumbing – how it works and what causes it not to work,” says Karen Shaw, coordinator of the Spirit of Women program at Gordon Hospital. “Immediately following this presentation, Dr. Crane will discuss our biological plumbing and how it can be fixed when it doesn’t work like it should.”

The event is free, but registration is required by calling 706-879-4764 or email gordonspirit@ahss.org. Door prizes will be available and all attendees will receive a free gift.