Erin,
It has been a very long time since I was a fifteen-year-old girl, but I remember well all of the strange things that my body seemed to be doing at the time and how awkward some of them made me feel. That said, here are a couple of practical-until... suggestions:
1. Does your school have a nurse and/or social worker on staff? If so, these might be helpful folks for you to talk to (start with the nurse.) The nurse can be your advocate to explain the medical issues to your mother, and the social worker may be able to connect you with some financial help so you can get the appropriate protective products.
2. Is there a Health or Family Life teacher you'd feel comfortable discussing this with?
3. Maxi pads and other menstrual protection products are not designed to catch and hold urine: menstrual fluid is thicker and usually comes out more slowly. What you need are the products in the "adult hygiene" (or some such words) area.
4. Have you had Covid-19? I have heard that some people who continue to have Covid-19 symptoms long after they have recovered from the disease have found that existing urinary incontinence problems have gotten worse. I haven't heard anything about new cases, but it may be worth looking into.
From what you have said about your mother's feeling that protective products are too expensive, I suspect that money may be short in your family. If this is the case, and your family receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children, food assistance (I cannot remember the name of the program), Social Security benefits for children, or Child Health Plus benefits, ask your mother to talk with your case manager about possible benefits that would help with the cost of such products.
I wish you the best, and I hope that the cause is identified soon so the medical folks can help cure, or, at least help you manage, your incontinence.
Diana
