2008-Jan-22 - Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine that could occur during many activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercise, other physical activities, and even as little as just standing.  Stress urinary incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women.  According to information found on Healthline, Studies have shown that about 50% of all women have occasional urinary incontinence, and as many as 10% have frequent incontinence.  Nearly 20% of women over the age of 75 experience daily urinary incontinence.  There are many different risk factors for Stress Incontinence that include; being female, getting older, childbirth, smoking, obesity, and chronic coughing. 

The first step to control stress incontinence is see your physician and have a physical examination to determine the exact cause.  Causes could include prior injury to the urethral area, neurological injury, some medications, or after surgery of the prostate or pelvic area.  Once your physician has determined the cause then you are ready for treatment.  There are many different types of treatment that may be suggested.  The four major categories of treatment are behavioral changes, pelvic floor muscle training, medication, and surgery.

One thing to remember is that everything that happens is caused by something.  So you should always see your physician if you are having any of these problems.

2007-Dec-21 - Adult Protective Underwear

2007-Aug-24 - Adult Diaper Information - Which one is right for me?

Because of the multitude of choices of adult diapers available on the market, it is difficult to decide which product is correct for your needs. Hopefully, this blog will help you with the decision making process.

The majority of incontinent people require a moderate/heavy brief that will hold a normal void (loss of urine).  That is the reason why these are the most common diapers seen on store shelves or online.  These types of products range in price form $40.00 to $120.00 per case and most manufactures produce them. You can choose from a low quality latex diaper to one that is cloth-like and can hold up to 3 to 4 voids (loss of urine).

When making your decision, keep in mind that comfort and ease are just as important as function.  Adult diapers made of cloth-like material are much quieter and rustle free for the more active person. A latex diaper may be better solution for a bed-ridden person because they slide easier and do not get bunched up.  Also when purchasing adult diapers some other things to consider are a wetness indicator, quality of leg gathers and re-attachability. Remember most people with incontinence void 3 or 4 small times, so make sure the diaper can handle this and not be soaked after the first time.  A good diaper will have a blue layer (moisture absorption material)  that will wick (remove) away the moisture and keep you dry. With fecal incontinence you will need an overnight diaper with good leg gathers. If you see any kind of rash or irritation use a cream with dimethicone and a cloth-like diaper since it breathes.

Finally, remember that the fit of the diaper is critical to its performance.  When measuring for adult diapers remember it is not the waist size but hip size that is measured.

When I first started purchasing adult diapers for a relative, we started with a moderate/heavy diaper and quickly realized this was not going to be adequate. We changed to an overnight diaper, which did control the leakage and odor properly. I would recommend this strategy of starting with a middle of the road diaper in price and quality then decide which direction you need to go in.

2007-Aug-13 - Adult Incontinenece Information

Twenty million adult Americans are afflicted with adult incontinence.

Because of the odor and leakage that accompany the condition a person feels embarrassed, uncomfortable, and suffers from a lowered self image. Fortunately, these conditions can be controlled by proper products, such as adult diapers.

There are as many products available as types of adult incontinence, and knowledge of the resources at one’s disposal will go a long way in management of the condition.

Sometimes pressure on the bladder overrides the mechanism which normally keeps the bladder closed. This type of incontinence is called “stress urinary incontinence”. Typically, the loss of urine occurs when the person coughs, laughs, sneezes, exercises, or lifts a heavy object. The most beneficial products for this type are panty liners, male guards and adult diapers.

Urge incontinence is a sudden urge to urinate with loss of urine before you can reach a toilet. Millions of Americans are afflicted with an overactive bladder (OAB) and symptoms of frequency and urgency, although they may not actually leak urine. The products that work best for this person are adult diapers and protective underwear.

I created this blog because there is so little information on this subject in layman terms. I have a family member that recently was diagnosed with urge incontinence and I found it confusing trying to ascertain which products would work best. Adult diapers are the most widely used products for incontinence but I found that there may be better solutions. Remember, proper management of the condition will alleviate embarrassment, discomfort, and go a long way to allowing a sufferer to regain their life.