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Active Living
Managing Urinary Incontinence By Gwen Morrison
Protective undergarments are basically disposable underpants for adults that are worn much like regular underwear. These undergarments are equipped to handle medium to heavy urine collection.
For heavy incontinence, the most absorbent, full-sized undergarments are recommended. Although these are the most bulky of all the products available, they offer the best protection when dealing with heavy inconti
At the age of 53, Paul Stewart from London, England, lost his daytime bladder control. Having suffered with nighttime incontinence in his youth, he was now unable to control his bladder during the day. "I was very reluctant to wear protection," he says. "I found that I was avoiding social contact and finding reasons not to go out in public. Eventually, I went for an assessment, and the result was a revelation for me. I was equipped with a kit that was comfortable, undetectable and absolutely reliable. I got my life back! No one else needed to know, and the awful fear of having a public accident just disappeared."
Stewart attributes his confidence to the cleverly-designed hypoallergenic sheath catheters that he also wears during the daytime and the thirsty, modern, gel-type absorbent pads. "Incontinence is no longer on our agenda because it no longer gets in the way," he says.
The advantages of both the absorbent pads and the undergarments are obvious to the patients who use them. The products also have been treated to neutralize urine acidity, which helps control skin irritation from exposure to urine and also helps control odor. The absorbency products are designed to keep moisture away from the body, allowing for maximum comfort.
Although most undergarments are designed to be disposable, there are absorbent cloth garments available. The advantage of the non-disposable undergarment is the decreased expense; the disadvantage is, of course, that they require laundering.
Also on the market are absorbent mattres pads that can be used at night for added protection against leakage or overflow.
