Woman with 'shy bladder' claims hospital failed to accommodate her on drug test

A would-be administrator who failed a job-related drug test due to anxiety over giving a urine sample has sued Iowa Methodist Medical Center for failing to make a reasonable accommodation to her alleged disability.

Federal court papers filed in Des Moines this month accuse Iowa Methodist of violating Jennifer Conner’s rights after the hospital determined that Conner failed a company-ordered drug test last June because she did not complete it.

Conner, who graduated from Des Moines University in May 2012 with a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, applied for a job as organ transplant financial coordinator with Iowa Methodist Transplant Center. She was offered the job on June 22 and told to report three days later for a required drug test.

Court papers say Conner was diagnosed during adolescence with paruresis, commonly referred to as “shy bladder” syndrome. It’s an anxiety condition that creates an inability to urinate in public restrooms or in close proximity to other people.

Documents say Conner previously had managed the condition by using single-stall restrooms or by running water to cover the sound of her urinating, court documents say. “If Conner cannot flush the toilet or run the water in the sink, she is generally unable to urinate in a public restroom,” according to the lawsuit.

Court papers say nurses at the assigned facility placed Conner in a room without running water, then knocked on the door to check on her after only 4 minutes. Two minutes later, nurses knocked again, according to the complaint, increasing Conner’s anxiety.

How to Stop Shy Bladder Syndrome Shy bladder (also known as paruresis) affects 7% of the adult population in the United States.

For some people, shy bladder is an occasional annoyance, remedied by something as simple as turning on a faucet. For others, it is a persistent nightmare, making it impossible to urinate with only the threat of someone possibly nearby.

Unfortunately, this condition has been dismissed by urologists, who largely consider it a psychological issue, as well as by psychologists, who largely consider it a phobia with underlying causes (anxiety disorder).

To start, here are three rules you must follow to cure your shy bladder...

Tip #1: Realize That A Cure Exists

Unless you require a catheter to urinate, there is nothing physically preventing you from peeing in public. This is a problem that can be solved.

Your shy bladder might be based on anxiety - unnecessary fear or shame- or it may simply be a conditioned response from childhood that has not been "unlearned."

Either way, this problem can be cured, either with cognitive behavioral therapy or a specialized program based solely on solving your shy bladder.