New to incontinence..on the fence about accepting using diapers

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If part of your problem is weak muscles there must be something you can do about that. Maybe pelvic floor exercises?

 

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Jrpoorman really hit the nail on the head! The protection you wear is just underwear and those who raise their eyebrows over what someone may be wearing for underwear really need to get a life! You are handling your life as you see fit and that's what counts. We don't wear protection to please someone else but it should please us that we have found something we need and are doing something about it. One thing I read on a similar forum a long time ago said that diapers shouldn't define us as individuals although they are just a part of us. With the discreet protection that's offered these days then how would someone else even know that someone is wearing diapers unless that other person has some familiarity with incontinence.

 

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I’m 23 and dealing with quite similar issues. Unfortunately it is what it is. I’d rather wear diapers when my bladder is acting up then soak my pants in public

 

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I’ve dealt with lifelong urinary issues. Underdeveloped bladder. Sphincter won’t close. Constant bedwetting. Daytime accidents.

I’ve lost all control now and I’m in diapers 24/7.

I accepted my fate in my late 20s snd just embraced what I had to do. I don’t hide it anymore. All my friends know I wear diapers. They don’t care. I like to wear a diaper. I’m comfortable, secure, and happy in a diaper. I like myself the way I am. I don’t want to be any other way.

Good luck to you. I wish you the best.

 

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@Mchambers One way of looking at the issue of going 24/7 is that if you are wearing adequate protection and can change when you need to change, then you will dramatically decrease the chance of an accident that wets your pants. Believe me, that should be able to help you overcome any mental hurdles about wearing diapers all of the time. You will feel better because others are really not going to notice what you wear under your pants while there is a chance they'll notice if you are wet.

Whether or not you need to wear diapers 24/7 is a question only you can really answer though it sounds like you do need to. Please don't dehydrate to control, you need water. I dehydrated some and ended up with a kidney stone--now I stay hydrated though more incontinent. Like you I have some urge incontinence, it was disconcerting to suddenly realize you have to go and then start peeing without control. I am now used to that and, if wearing adequate protection, I am fine with sudden urges.

I wasn't as young--my incontinence came with prostate problems followed by surgery for prostate cancer and I am now in my 60s. What I did when I realized that I wasn't going to be able to stay dry without padding was throw away my underwear, made a big switch to Depends or NorthShore GoSupreme pull ups (daytime) and diapers (at night). Like others, I am happy with my decision because I can focus on what is important rather than not peeing in my pants all the time. My wife is very supportive.

 

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@Mchambers It's not a good idea to limit fluid intake as this will cause the urine to become concentrated and will aggravate the bladder more. Have you tried an external catheter with leg bag? These can last 24 hours and provide good protection. I have OAB and feel the urge to urinate after 20mins. I try to hold it to 1 hour and then have to go so I will either make it to the toilet in time or void into the leg bag to give me a rest from going to the toilet every 20 minutes. I recommend the company called Hollister as their products are great quality. Coloplast are another good company. An external catheter or urinal might be a good substitute for pads.

 

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When my problems got as bad as they are now, I faced a massive change in my lifestyle, or wearing protection all the time. I chose to go with the protection. It wasn't a difficult transition at the time, but as time passes, it's more (sometimes much more) of a pain in the neck. Still, I have my life, and considering everything else that was affected (or threatened) in the original cause of the incontinence, I think I came out on the winning end of this mess tthat is my life. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that things could be so much worse.

 

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What has everyone found to be the best thing to carry changing supplies and extra diapers in since they’re so big I haven’t quite found something that holds them well..do they make discrete style adult diaper bags or what do most of you find that works to carry/organize everything

 

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I use mostly a backpack. I’ve also used, at times, a computer laptop bag when I’ve only needed to conceal one or two diapers.

 

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Just use a laptop backpack. Things fit great

 

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I found a small backpack in great condition at a thrift store. It works very well and it isn't obvious to others that it's used to carry diapers and supplies. If I were you I'd definitely go the backpack route!

 

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Good post
@jason, great minds think alike

 

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5.11 makes a nice set of backpacks that have many places to put stuff. I can use it for a laptop, and still have a discrete pocket for my supplies.

 

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@Jason
Great minds think alike

 

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@Jason
Great minds think alike

@jrpoorman

I love it!

 

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@Mchambers a backpack big enough to hold spare pads, wipes, disabled key, rubbish bag for afterwards, and last of all lots of water or squash to keep hydrated. I found my bag got so big and heavy, its turned into a wheelie suitcase now lol

 

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That brings to mind the backpacks, some of which are truly humongous, that kids use to haul their books, lunches, school supplies, each day back and forth to school. So they should also be good for incon supplies! As for the best type just ask your nearest schoolchild for recommendations! After all thousands upon hundreds of thousands of kids surely can't be wrong!

 

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I keep a backpack in my car with my supplies. I don't carry any more than the most I will possibly need until I get back home.

 

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I carry an ortleib messenger backpack. Since it doesn’t have compartments I put all of my diapers and wipes in a second string backpack and put it inside. I know it seems like overkill but it’s really not. I’ll keep my laptop/iPad/phone charger/and a spare pair of shorts inside the main backpack. Since I use a wheelchair I just hang it on the back

 

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I had a nice messenger bag for a while. I actually got it when my kids were babies and used it as a diaper bag for them, so transitioning it to carry my supplies made sense. Unfortunately, I guess it was too nice, because somebody smashed my car window a few months ago and stole it. They probably thought it had a computer in it - too bad I had just the evening before remembered to take out the wet diaper that I'd changed at work and didn't want to dispose of in the trash can in the office bathroom. That would have been a fitting find for the thieves.

Now I use a cheaper-looking backpack with the logo of a local event. You can pick them up at thrift stores inexpensively, and the event logo makes it look like a freebie (which it actually was, some I participated in the event). It's also shall enough that nobody is going to think it has a laptop in it.