Incontinence doesn’t have to be a struggle when you know exactly what you need. Here are the three things you need to know to get the perfect products for your needs.
As we’ve often mentioned, incontinence is the kind of issue that leaves people at a loss, leaving them with endless questions – where do I start? What do I need? What products are best?
In this post, we are going to illuminate a path through all the confusion with a simple guideline to the three most basic things you need to know to get started on the task of staying dry throughout the day and night.
Absorbency level
The first thing you need to know when buying products to stay dry is the level of incontinence you are dealing with. When leaks happen, is it just a dribble or a heavy void? Does it happen all the time, or is it only occasional? Is it urinary incontinence, or are you dealing with bowel incontinence, as well?
Once you know what level of incontinence you have, you’ll be able to figure out which level of absorbency you need, what kind of products to consider and how many levels of protection will be necessary.
So, first things first, use this chart to ascertain which level of incontinence you or your loved one is dealing with, and the corresponding absorbency level you’ll need:
Determining the right level of absorbency is very important, since products that are insufficiently absorbent will leave a big mess to clean up, while products that are unnecessarily absorbent are a waste of money and may be uncomfortable for the user.
Avoid doubling up wearable incontinence products such as protective underwear or briefs (unless the products are specifically designed to be used in that way) in an effort to improve absorbency – always start with the right level absorbency to get maximum comfort and effectiveness.
Product types
Once you’ve determined the level of incontinence, the next step is learning what options are available out there.
For example, there are incontinence liners (which are not the same – and cannot be replaced by – ladies’ sanitary pads) and guards, pull up underwear and briefs with tabs for more serious cases of incontinence – and each one has a different use.
For nighttime leaks, you can look into different chucks and/or mattress protectors, and there’s also the option of using plastic pants (waterproof cover-ups for adult diapers) to improve leakage protection.
Indeed, there are endless options, but once you know what exists on the market, you can make a more educated and informed decision, and you’ll know what products make sense to look into and which are irrelevant for your condition.
For a clear and thorough guide to the types of incontinence products available, go here.
Size
The last thing to know before choosing incontinence products is the size of the incontinent individual. For most products, a waist size will suffice.
This is important to keep in mind because if the product is the wrong size, it will be ineffective. The product has to be large enough to offer secure coverage, but snug enough to avoid leakage.
Incontinence can be confusing and difficult to manage – sometimes even more so than other medical conditions. That’s why we have a department dedicated to incontinence support to give you the guidance you need to find the best solutions for yourself or your loved ones. Call today for expert advice: 1-877-813-7799.
Disclaimer: No information presented on this website or in this guide is medical advice or intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician. All information on this website concerning medical conditions is from publicly available sources.