*We spoke to actress, advocate, and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete about her current projects and her journey with overactive bladder (OAB).
OAB is a condition affecting more than 33 million Americans. According to the Mayo Clinic, Overactive bladder “causes sudden urges to urinate that may be hard to control. There might be a need to pass urine many times during the day and night. There also might be loss of urine that isn’t intended, called urgency incontinence.”
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. (SMPA) recently announced the continuation of its partnership with Holly to reach people with OAB through the Time To Go™ campaign. The platform is designed to highlight the impact of OAB symptoms and educate on disease management, including information on treatment options, such as GEMTESA® (vibegron).
In this exclusive with the Hollywood icon, Holly opened up about her experience managing the symptoms and the importance of speaking up about this often-overlooked issue. She also explained how her treatment with GEMTESA has helped her take control of her health.
“I wanna say like three years ago, I noticed that I was having to go like all the time. The frequency and the leakage episodes and the urgency to go was something that was really different for me,” Robinson explained. “I noticed it when people would mention it, like my kids would be like, ‘Mom, when you go to the movies…you’re going to the bathroom six, seven times.’ I was like, oh my gosh, I am. I didn’t even really notice it until people around me started bringing it to my attention. I also noticed that when I was on sets and I was doing movies, I would be going to the bathroom a lot,” she explained.
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“It wasn’t until I finally went and talked to a doctor that I got the diagnosis of OAB. And then there was an option to treat it,” Robinson Peete added.
“I went to my doctor and he talked to me about different options. And we came to the conclusion together that GEMTESA might be a good option for me. He was super honest with me about side effects… like urinary retention, allergic reaction with swelling of the lips face, and more common side effects like headache, UTI, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, nausea. He told me everything and I wanted him to be honest with me. And then my doctor and I decided that Gemtessa would be a good fit for me.”
Since taking GEMTESA, Robinson has “noticed an improvement in my OAB symptoms.”
“OAB is a chronic condition, meaning that the treatment can improve your symptoms but they don’t eliminate them. So it’s important to talk honestly with your doctor about treatment outcomes and goals,” Robinson said.
“..it’s so important to advocate for yourself,” she continued.
“So many times, especially with women, working women, we’re so busy doing everything for everybody else that we put ourselves at the back of the line. We kind of bury what’s going on and we don’t wanna have these conversations. But I am encouraging people through this campaign and my partnership to go have these conversations, get in front of a doctor, advocate for yourself, for your health, for your wellness, and you’re gonna get the information you need and possibly a treatment that can work for you.”
Elsewhere in our conversation, Holly shared details about her new animated project with Al Roker and how her role in “The Proud Family” impacted the autism community. Watch the clip below.
To learn more about OAB and GEMTESA visit TimeToGo.com.
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