Panty liners

[HappydaysArehere]

I need to wear liners as I tend to feel damp at times and change myself several times a day (just in case). However, I often feel sore in places around areas which the panty liners come in contact. I went to the doctors about a year ago and asked about this. I mentioned that I had been using baby wipes after urinating as that made me feel cleaner. She was certain that this was something I shouldn't do. I stopped using them. Now I am wondering about the pads. I used to use Alldays, the long ones. Now I am using Carefree plus. Has anyone got any ideas about panty liners? Would be grateful for any advice.

Could you use plain cotton washable ones?
Or change your knickers twice a day?
I'd hate to wear pantyliners all the time - no wonder you are uncomfortable.

Are you leaking urine? If so please go back to your doctor for help with this.

Thank you Wereolf. I have heard of washable cotton liners but have not seen them anywhere. Perhaps you mean something I have to adapt to suit the purpose! I often change pants during the day but feel really insecure when I am wearing trousers. I live in dread of "smelling" in the event of any drops of urine getting through to the trouser material. I had two anterior repairs by the time I was thirty.(prolapse ops as a result of childbirth). The first was when I was just 25. Now I am getting old my muscles don't behave as they should. It is a real nuisance as I feel the need to wipe right back to my backside which is why I used to feel the need for the baby wipes(Huggies). Yes, I am a bit of a state to say the least. Thank you for answering.

Please don't put up with this. You should go back to the dr and ask to see a women's physio or talk about a TVT procedure. It is possible to strengthen your muscles again and you may need some help from oestrogen creams if you are near the menopause, which will help tone your tissues.
Don't use wipes- they will be scented and cause irritation. If you need pads use ones meant for the job like Tena Lady which are supposed to hide odours.
But please get help- you can be cured of this leaking.

Thank you Pinkfrocks. I am past the age for oestrogen creams. My pelvic floor has always been weak and I have tried excercises but I think I need to talk again to the doctor. Lately there always seems to be something and I hate going too often. Bad back, bladder infection, kidneys showing a need to have another test in six months, possibility of my hip replacement beginning to wear. I am 73, active, eat healthily, not overweight but lately I feel age is catching up with me that is why I only go to the doctor when really necessary. Thank you again.

You are not too old for oestrogen creams- my mum uses it and she is 80+. Some women in their 90s use it. They can be used by anyone even the elderly! In fact you may well see an improvement especially if you are having other problems. Ask your GP and even ask for a referral to a gynae for an assessment and treatment.

You're not a state. Please reconsider what PPs have said and go to the Dr.
It sounds like Tena might be more suited but here's an example of the washable liners anyway. You can get organic cotton etc. www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=washable+panty+liner
I hope you find a solution.

You shouldn't need to put up with this.

You need advice from Gussiegrips, I saw her on MN recently, hopefully she's around.

Cheeky mama light pads are great, they are designed for light flow/urine leaks etc. You just chuck them in the wash - you wouldn't need to soak if it's not blood... Expensive but mind have been through the wash loads and show no wear. Comfy and breathable too.

cheeky mama link

I am exactly the same. Due to a recent illness I seem to have to use tena ladies on a regular basis as I only have to cough and there is leakage. Never had this problem before and I get paranoid that I can not always change my clothes and that I my not be fresh. I find if I use the proper tena lady products it is like taking a razor blade to my delicate areas if I use for more than a couple of days. Vrhe same if I use always products. I have found tescos do pads and wilkos do pants that do not give the same issues. as with sanitary products because I cant use anyyhing lijwcalwats I only buy the cheapest ones which are basically wads if cotton wool as these are the only ones that don't make me walk like John Wayne. It's horrible but couldn't bring myself to washing something.

it's an obvious question OP but are you or have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises? There is a great link somewhere here to the GussieGrips video. You need to do 10 long holds and 10 short pull ups 3 times a day- for 3 months. A women's physio can check you are doing them correctly.

Here is the GussieGrips guest post - lots of useful info www.mumsnet.com/Talk/guest_posts/a2085688-Guest-post-Stress-incontinence-Fallen-fanjos-are-a-feminist-issue

It is definitely worth rethinking the too old for vaginal oestrogen issue. It will help make the pelvic floor exercises more effective, stopping tissues losing their elasticity.

It may also help with the soreness - lack of oestrogen in the privates may be the reason you are so sensitive to the pads and dampness.

It also helps with urge incontinence, which can be exacerbated by low oestrogen, and most people have a mixture of these problems.

And the oestrogen goes straight to where it is needed, without any need for progesterone/hrt etc.

Thank you everyone for your advice and links. I try the excercises but not to the extent that you indicate. I am about to look up all the links and video. I remember the doctor, about two years ago suggesting oestrogen. I reluctantly got it. I believe it was pessaries, but the contra indicators stated they were not to be used by anyone over sixty. As I had gone to her primarily because of the soreness I thought I wouldn't risk it as I had no sign of internal infection. I gave them back to the pharmacist. Years ago I was sent to a clinic to help the pelvic floor. I was even given the use of a strange piece of apparatus which I had to use between visits. It was as like a vibrator as you could imagine (which left my husband wondering when I retired to the bedroom in the afternoons). The nurse was amazed at my poor pelvic floor muscles. "Is that all" she would exclaim. However, I repeatedly did the excercises and there was less leakage. However, the excercises were maintained but not on a regular basis. When I revealed to the nurse that I always weed in a hovering position she maintained that was the problem as I wouldn't be emptying properly. I then tried sitting down which seemed not to operate as well but I persisted. About 13 years ago I mentioned to a doctor that I couldn't urinate without sitting down as my wee tended to not go straight down the pan. She just dismissed this with "it's just muscles". I then went to a beginners Pilates course which showed us how to breath and pull up the pelvic floor. That was the most successful method I had found but as I was in need of a new hip I had to curtail the classes. I am sorry to burden you all with this tail of woe but I now realise there is hope to help matters. I have been breathing and hopefully contracting muscles since receiving your first posts. I am now going on to the links. I can't thank you all enough. I feel armed for the fight and today I am abandoning the liners unless I am going out. I will be finding the alternatives that have been suggested.

I'm glad you have come back and posted again, so you can perhaps get more help.

With the exercises, you have to do them every day- for life. The long holds are for up to 10 seconds each - and I'd also suggest looking at the website of Michelle Kenway a specialist physio who is the Oz equivalent of Gussie! There are some easy to watch videos on her website and she does a pelvic floor safe DVD for exercises, because she says some Pilates makes the pelvic floor worse.

see her video on how to do your PFE

www.pelvicexercises.com.au/pelvic-exercises-women-video/

If you can't wee properly sitting down it's possible you have a 'kink' in your urethra. This means it's sagging which makes the flow harder. This can be fixed with a TVT procedure- a small piece of tape through the vagina which lifts the urethra back into its proper position.

You would be advised to use Ovestin cream or Vagifem pessaries before any op- (it's a day case and done with local not GA) to tone up your tissues.

You might need to use this topical HRT for up to a year to get really good results.

Don't take notice of the 'not for over 60s' info- that's nonsense and I once saw a woman aged about 90 being given instructions by the nurse at my consultant's office!

My mum who is 87 uses it for dryness.

You may well need this to strengthen your tissues and help take away urgency and frequency.

I wear liners every day and like the cheap ones from Asda best (about 49p for 30). They are soft and you hardly notice them but absorbent. I am worst when I am fatter - just a suggestion in case that's relevant.

Good luck!

If you feel you arent emptying your bladder properly, stay on the toilet and try to change position after your first wee. I lean forward and get a bigger flow out.

I really rate the always foam liners (the new ones). They don't 'bunch',it's the bunching that causes discomfort for me and I can imagine if you're older with more delicate skin it could cause chafing and sores. I also leak constantly, all day , and I'm only 37, my last baby (10 lb-er) was my undoing. Good luck xxx

I use bodyform long ones and have found them the comfiest. I also lean forward on the toilet to try and push the last bits of wee out

Thank you again. I have been doing my lift ups which are pretty pathetic but I am working on the idea that this is likely to improve if I keep at it, which I will. It should at the very least prevent things getting worse. Pinkfrocks, I will look at that video and thank you for the other info which I can hold in reserve. I need to see doctor in May about my kidney function so can discuss oestrogen,etc then. That will give me another three months of excercises. Also, I am endeavouring to lose 8 pounds in weight which will bring me down to what I should be. I have cut down caffeine, alcohol and all the rubbish and yesterday I went all day without panty liners. (I felt triumphant). I do shift about on the toilet but will definitely try the leaning forward. Thank you also for the info about other panty liners. I am going to e mail all this info from you lovely people so I can keep this as reference. Mumsnet is the best site ever.....I am so grateful.

Just one more thought- don't push to get drops of wee out- if you have a fallen bladder ( slight prolapse) or weak muscles, pushing makes the whole thing worse. best to lean forward but not push- then stand up and sit down again after a couple of minutes and have another little wee!

Thank you. That is really useful. I will do as you say.