I am wondering what other peoples experiences in hospital have been if you wear diapers/nappies to manage your incontinence.
I started to lose bladder control as a result of a spinal injury almost 40 years ago now. Subsequent spinal issues and surgeries meant I increasingly lost control and I now where diapers/adult nappies 24/7. I tried meds, catheters etc in the past but for me found wearing adult nappies gave me confidence I needed to lead a normal and active life, advised and supported by my specialist nurse continence adviser.
Over the years I’ve had quite a few stays in hospital some better than others! Without doubt the worst was a week in hospital when I was regularly left in a wet nappy unable to change for up to 8 hours and on top of that having to provide my own nappies. Sadly that was a general NHS hospital where the staff were under so much pressure. Being catheterised is a real issue and not the answer as I always get a UTI.
On the other extreme all my major operations have been in private hospitals thanks to health insurance. On these occasions most of the time I have been able to change myself sometimes with a bit of help but during a recent hospital stay following another operation I was immobile and had to rely on the nurses changing me. The nurses would regularly check how wet my nappy was and change me if necessary. I was rather embarrassed to start with but they made it easier by telling me as soon as I had come round after the operation that they had already put a dry nappy on me and would come and check how I was and not to worry about it. Outside of family no friends know I have to wear nappies 24/7 so it was both difficult and reassuring to accept having to be changed.
What are other people’s experiences of hospital visits?
I started to lose bladder control as a result of a spinal injury almost 40 years ago now. Subsequent spinal issues and surgeries meant I increasingly lost control and I now where diapers/adult nappies 24/7. I tried meds, catheters etc in the past but for me found wearing adult nappies gave me confidence I needed to lead a normal and active life, advised and supported by my specialist nurse continence adviser.
Over the years I’ve had quite a few stays in hospital some better than others! Without doubt the worst was a week in hospital when I was regularly left in a wet nappy unable to change for up to 8 hours and on top of that having to provide my own nappies. Sadly that was a general NHS hospital where the staff were under so much pressure. Being catheterised is a real issue and not the answer as I always get a UTI.
On the other extreme all my major operations have been in private hospitals thanks to health insurance. On these occasions most of the time I have been able to change myself sometimes with a bit of help but during a recent hospital stay following another operation I was immobile and had to rely on the nurses changing me. The nurses would regularly check how wet my nappy was and change me if necessary. I was rather embarrassed to start with but they made it easier by telling me as soon as I had come round after the operation that they had already put a dry nappy on me and would come and check how I was and not to worry about it. Outside of family no friends know I have to wear nappies 24/7 so it was both difficult and reassuring to accept having to be changed.
What are other people’s experiences of hospital visits?
