Incontinence knickers

[Ihateslugs]

Can anyone recommend incontinence pants that they use that are capable of coping with a fairly large amount of urine, rather than just leakage after a sneeze or cough? I see a number of products advertised on Facebook or other SM platforms but am dubious about buying from unknown companies. The period pants I have seen are good for soaking up small, constant trickles but not a sudden flow!

My main problem is when I’m in my house and I feel the need for a wee. As I head to the bathroom, I start to get the urge to wee and often I wet myself before I get there, soaking through my clothes and sometimes dribbling onto the floor. Sometimes if I stop and do some deep breathing and distraction techniques I can control the urge but leaks are becoming more frequent. I am fed up changing my clothes several times a day and wiping the floor - laminate fortunately!

I am 67, have had three children without any complications and am very overweight, about 7 stones. I have restricted mobility due to arthritis ( both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid ) so take a while getting to the bathroom using walking sticks or a wheeled walker. I need to drink a lot of water, up to 2 litres a day minimum, due to various medications that I take daily.

I wear thick pads most of the time but they get uncomfortable and need to be disposed of in the bin. I’m looking for recommendations preferably from people with personal experience of using incontinence knickers. Price is not really a concern if I can be sure that they work!

I graduated from trickles to more frequent and heavier flows, and I didn't find any pants which worked well, allowing flow around the edge and down my thighs. The worst ones were M&S which weren't actually waterproof. I now use washable pads with the pants, and the best ones I've found are from a company called "Honour your flow", (which is a title fitting for periods but not I think pee). They are soft, comfortable*, absorbent, and they do a more absorbent version which I use at night. They wash easily, so no problem with binning, and I have not had leaks, either through like M&S or round the edge.
*Don't know I'm wearing them.

Thanks, I’ll have a look at this company. You say you wear them with the pants - which pants are you referring to, those from the same company, M&S ones or just regular knickers?

I do have some washable pads from Mobi I think but they do not stay in place very well and slip out at times, they are held in place by a press stud on the wings.

I’ve just looked at this company, they look as if they might be suitable! Could I ask which size of pad you use please? As I am an obese size 24, I am thinking of the Mega pads which seem to be the largest for heavy flow. At £18 each it will be a big investment, I think I’ll need a minimum of 6 to last me two or three days in between washing.

They are certainly larger than the ones I have tried and appear to be shaped well to fit the gusset part of knickers. The fastening with two press studs will be an improvement as well I think.

Do you have any advice on storing used ones - in a waterproof bag or maybe a bucket of water?

I use pants from Cheeky Wipes, but didn't name them as I don't like their pads. They don't have side leaks with the Honour you Flow pads but their own aren't comfortable. I'm size 18, and use regular pads, I should use their chat to think about your needs. I've found the ones with an insert booster pad good at night.
I generally keep them in a wet bag and wash on the second day, using a rinse plus extra rinse programme which runs for an hour. They don't need detergent. I don't wash them with other washing, just the pants and pads, as I'm a bit squeamish about that, and also like to keep that area of me detergent free.

I did have a disaster when I broke my arm and couldn't do the wash. I stored some of the wet pads in a plastic bag until I could and the result was that they grew mould. The Cheeky Wipes partly disintegrated. HyF survived but are going through a succession of soaks with Napisan, as the white ones have turned grey! The pants were fine. Don't leave them too long. Urine may be sterile on exit, but it is a good nutrient for nasties. I'm not sure about keeping them in water, unless with Napisan or similar. (I also have a problem with keeping the matter private, which a bucket wouldn't be.)

I know men have incontinence problems (but only a tiny stretch of shelf in the supermarket compared with us), but I think someone should be looking at stopping it. I've got a possible decade of this to deal with! Pelvic floor exercises haven't helped me, as they don't affect the sphincter!

I have used HyF with normal knickers in extremis, of the big girl's cotton style from M&S or Sainsburys, and they were successful, but I wouldn't rely on them for a day out. Because I already had bought Cheeky pants I didn't try HyF ones.

I think the companies went from period pants to incontinence without really thinking about the difference in the two fluids, thick/thin and arriving continuously or in one fell gush, They are getting better. And for both, having to design for the most difficult part of the body.

Sorry to be a pain with my questions, I really do need to get this right! I think my previous pads which don’t seem to stay put are from Cheeky Wipes. I hope that the side wings on these HTF pads will help keep them in place and also prevent leak.

One last question ( for now!)! Which pants do you wear, just regular ones from any shop or do HTF sell incontinence pants - I could not see them on their website.

I will use the chat to get advice but as far as I have worked out based on my needs, the most expensive and largest pads, Mega Pads, seem to be the ones I would buy. They have the insert which apparently can be removed to speed up drying.

They remove themselves in the wash!
Normal knickers can be too narrow in the gusset to hold the pads.
Love Luna pants are definitely too narrow. Or at least the ones from a couple of years back. I see that designs have changed though.

https://www.ageukincontinence.co.uk/incontinence-shop/disposable-incontinence-products/disposable-pull-up-pants/vivactive-pants-plus-xl-1700ml-14-pack.html

My relative uses and recommends these.

Nc for this 😳
I am also yet to find a pair reusable knickers that suit me . None of the ones I have tried are absorbant enough.
Both tena and always make disposable ones but I find them incredibly uncomfortable and lumpy
So I stick to using disposable pads like them.
I hate the environmental impact but there's not a lot I can do about it.

I also find pads are much more convenient when at work , shopping , out with friends I dont want to have to carry around 4 or 5 pair of used washable knickers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Discreet-Incontinence-Sensitive-Bladder/dp/B08RB48GHS/ref=asc_df_B08RB48GHS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697195556283&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9729809514023471750&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046455&hvtargid=pla-1188003067664&psc=1&mcid=615b216a223938ed95ba581b2c8385ec&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697195556283&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9729809514023471750&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046455&hvtargid=pla-1188003067664&psc=1&gad_source=1

Hopefully my granny knickers will be big enough!

If you have to dispose of pads contact your council as you can get a special bin for this. My mum has a white outside bin for ‘medical waste’ it is picked up by a different refuse team (free) to dispose of them. I think it is treated similarly to the Sanitary bins in offices, public loos etc. Stops her bin being full as pads are so bulky .

That's really useful @BashfulClam thanks I will have a look.

Hoping it’s not just her council but it also meant they weren’t being chucked in landfill.

I had the same issue and it was embarrassing, restrictive and very uncomfortable. My GP referred me to a women's health physio. That did help a bit but physio referred me to a urology nurse. After scans to check how my bladder was actually emptying I had a ring pessary inserted that supports the bladder wall. The change is unbelievable. I'm not constantly worried about making it to the bathroom. I don't need pads. It's like I have a fully functioning bladder again. I'm very overweight too

I guess I really ought to see my gp but I am anxious about being told it’s because I am so overweight, I really don’t need to be told yet again that I just need to lose weight!

Tena ladies.
I am sure you can get a free sample from your pharmacy or the website.
They are discreet

During my broken arm episode I've used Tena - my council incinerates. I would have to do a rethink if landfill. I am not sure as I gave shelter to someone who needed pads, and I asked the nurses about medical waste and they had no information. not good,

Post menopause the vaginal walls thin. This affects the bladder hence leaks. I'm now on estriol cream. It's made a huge difference to my urge incontinence. I use a cane for spinal issues and am slow to get from A to B as well.

Please consider this with your GP.

Request a visit/appointment from a continence nurse
They will assess and provide what you need for free- you can self refer

Example
https://www.yorkhospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-of-services/continence-service/

I'm the same size as you. Nobody said that it was anything to do with my weight. We know it would help us if we lost weight. My doctor told me that I was caught between a rock and a hard place because I couldn't exercise without wetting myself. I am now able to start walking again. Short walks because I have to get back slowly but my bladder is not restricting me. Talk to your GP. If you want to ask me anything private message me

Thank you for you kind words, you have made me think!