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Dear Ann Landers,
hank you so much for printing the informa-tion about the American Enuresis Foundation. It was a lifesaver for me. Our 9-year-old son had been a chronic bed-wetter for years. The problem had lowered his self-esteem to the point where he would not spend the night at a friend's house. We tried medication and reducing fluids before bedtime, both of which were ineffective. We had seen several doctors, and none was helpful. When I saw your column, I immediately wrote the American Enure-sis Foundation. To make a long story short, we ended up with a 30-day program and a safe electronic monitoring device. This proved 100 per-cent effective. We now know that our son has a sleep disorder and he needed to be trained to wake up from his deep sleep to go to the bath-room. Thanks again for bringing the American Enuresis Foundation to our attention. -Dry and Happy in Alabama
Dear Ala.,
I appreciate your letting me know the program worked for your son. Many wrote to say it worked for their children, too. Un-fortunately, many elderly people also wrote, not aware that this orga-nization is for bed-wetters, not incontinent folks. Please be aware that the program is expensive because it is tailored to the individual. For more information, send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: American Eneuresis Foundation, P.O. Box 33061, Tulsa, OK 74153-1061. Adults who sufferfrom incontinence should see a urologist and find out if there's an organic problem. (In older women who have had children, the complaint is not uncommon. A surgical procedure is often the answer for them.) If there is no organic problem, the solution might be a special medication. Involuntary action can sometimes be controlled by exercise and/or drugs. By all means, check it out with a doctor. For more information, contact: Simon Foundation for Incontinence P.O. Box 815 Wilmette, IL 60091 (800) 2 3-SIMON (708) 864-3913 (Support and advocacy group for people suffering from incontinence)