John Davis

Some communities have authorized an extra bin for those with incontinence. The down side is that you must disclose your medical status in what in some instances is part of the public record. You may have to push for that special consideration. --John

I just conducted some brief Google searches on the topic and located a few published medical studies that found a link between anxiety or depression and incontinence. Anxiety or depression are listed as "risk factors" with a fairly high degree of causality. It is good to know that it is more than just speculation on my part. In my case, very strong anxiety contributes to, or causes, bowel accidents. Medical studies said that this is related to the body's "flight or fight" reaction to threats. Under threats our bodies make more adrenaline and other physiological changes occur that contribute to both urinary and fecal incontinence. --John

What about stress and incontinence? Although we all react differently to stress, there does appear to be a link. Whan I have a period of severe stress, my incontinence definitely is worse.☹️ Stress affects not only my urinary incontinence but also my fecal incontince.😱 During a bad period of stress, all I need is to have more bladder or bowel accidents, but they often do happen. I have had this happen enough in my life that I have established a firm link between the two - at least for me. Then, the reverse occurs. Bladder accidents, and particularly bowel accidents, spin me up emotionally and my stress levels soar even higher. That, of course, tends to stimulate more accidents. So, I think there is a linkage between stress and incontinence where each influences the other. Mind you, I am not aware of medical studies on this, although they probably exist. As I said, we all react differently and it may not be the same for you. How do you handle stress and incontinence? Does it affect only your bladder incontinence or also bowel incontinence? --John

Very few people know of my incontinence. Those are close family, medical practitioners, and a very few others whom I trust. It is not so much that I am "hiding" the fact as that I do not advertise it. If you met me, there is no reason why you would suspect that I am wearing diapers.🙂 I wear highly absorbent premium diapers with a booster pad, a thin cotton pullup, and plastic pants, but my jeans and trousers have been selected to conceal the diaper very effectively. My biggest giveaway would not be my person, but the delivery of large boxes and a lot of trash I generate. --John

I am very thankful for my diapers. But, it takes a lot of my time to plan, order, and inventory all my incontinence-related supplies. A con is all the heavy diaper trash that needs to be disposed. --John

Yes, for both pee and poop. For urine the internal standing leak guards help keep the fluid over the mat until it has time to be absorbed. --John

Most of us who are fecal incontinent recognize that internal standing leak guards can play a significant role in preventing fecal leaks. But, what should we look for? I don't know of any formal studies on the subject. How high do you think the internal standing leak guards need to be in order to be effective at preventing stool from coming in contact wth the leg gathers? IMO, leakguards that are 1 ½" tall are very effective while 2" is ideal. Anything is better than nothing, but the ¾" tall leak guards found on many inexpensive diapers are only marginally effective and I frequently have found stool overflowing those leak guards.😱 What do you say? --John

That is one reason why I use the MegaMax Air diapers. They have the highest absorbency of any breathable diaper I have found so far. The waistbands stretch, but not terribly. I wear a PUL diaper cover and a onesie. The onesie supports the diaper. We agree on that. Initially it felt uncomfortable to me. --John

I mix in more breathable diapers along with my usual plastic-backed ones. Breathable diaper covers (PUL) are cooler than vinyl or rubber. Sometimes I wear a onesie Polo shirt instead of a short-sleeved shirt over a onesie. As Scarth has mentioned, hydration is important. --John

Slomo, good points. Although I use a booster and you don't, we are in agreement re the important points. I always examine the cost of a booster pad versus the difference in price to get a better diaper. Actually, I try to see whether using a booster pad in two or more diapers will save me from having to use an extra diaper. Usually large booster pads are unnecessary. The "sweet spot" often is the medium or small size. Large boosters have the same problem as the diapers themselves - much of the rear of the pad is still dry when you change the diaper. --John

Will your booster pads explode? Well, not exactly “explode.” One manufacturer brags about the ultra-high absorbent capacity of its booster pads, although they do not list the actual capacity. Then they caution users against flooding these very booster pads. Users report that some booster pads can split or burst, spreading saturated SAP gel crystals “everywhere."😱 Reportedly they swell up without leaking a drop until they suddenly “explode.” Several brands of booster pads share this tendency to over-absorb and then split or burst. These boosters usually are those that, in advertising, stress their ultra-high absorbency. The problem seems to be that the manufacturer did not provide casings large enough to contain the SAP gel crystals when at maximum absorbency. Although one can plan to change their diaper before these booster pads are maximally soaked, that seems to defeat their very purpose. I hate having to clean up SAP gel crystals and am sure you will share my sentiments. Fortunately, most booster pads available from mainstream manufacturers and medical supply houses do not share this fault and will provide reliable and trouble-free service. --John

I always buy my diapers online. Quality diapers just are not available in drugstores. Also, my local drugstores stock only pullups - not tabbed diapers. I should note that I normally purchase diapers by the case for extra savings - an option not available at a local retail store. --John

Zombie, I like your ideas for designs. --John

Slomo, that's right. I had an imaging tech tell me the same thing. the last thing they want is to have a mess on the imaging table. --John

Hello and welcome bedwettersteve. Your username tells us a lot. Please tell us some more about yourself. --John

Slomo made a good point about waist elastics being functional for those who pull the diaper down to sit on the toilet and then pull the diaper back up again. As that rarely is an option for me, I overlooked it. I fully agree re needing more colors. Sterile medical white is boring. I doubt that colors add significantly to the cost of a diaper. I think that blue can be the "stealth" color if we wear jeans. If the diaper sticks out above the jeans' waistband, the diaper really is not recognizable as a diaper to the general public. Nonetheless, most diaper manufacturers are afraid to leave off any features that appear on their competitor's diapers. --John

What do we really need in a diaper? What is essential? There is a trend among the manufacturers of premium quality diapers to put every feature on they can think of. Of course, all of that adds to the price of the diaper. Do we really need a wetness indicator? When these began, they were intended for caregivers, not for the wearer. After all, we can just reach down and determine how wet our diaper is. What about elastic waistbands? I would opine that most of us stretch the waistbands out when we fasten the wings of the diaper. The elastic is barely functional. Internal standing leak guards - they are optional for those who dribble and change frequently but are essential for most of us with OAB and all of us where are fecal incontinent. Good tapes - got to have them. I have never seen a diaper where I criticized the tapes for working too well. Leg elastics - we need good ones that are truly functional. I have worn many less expensive diapers where the leg elastics just did not work as they were too loose. Good backing material is essential. Must not tear, rip, or suffer pinhole defects. Absorbency must meet your needs. This includes not only total absorbency, but also the rate of absorbency. Don't forget second and third wettings. Front plastic taping zones may be controversial. I hate them as I don't need them. They interfere with how I want to tape my diaper. I tape my diapers once and the tape stays in place until I discard the diaper. What have I overlooked? What are your thoughts? --John

I just returned from getting a CT-Scan this morning for my back. When I arranged the appointment, I told the tech that I would be wearing a diaper. He said "not a problem." This morning at the hospital, when as I began to disrobe, I told the tech, "I'm wearing a diaper. Is that going to be a problem?" The tech said "Don't worry about it. It's not a problem." She never gave it a glance. Very professional. --John

Of course, too much fluff pulp can cause the problem of "press-out" where when one sits down, our weight causes a small amount of pee to be pressed out of the diaper's absorbent mat.😕 THis is because fluff does not "lock in" the pee as SAP does. However, that small amount of pee (usually very small) pressed out usually is absorbed back into the diaper. By increasing the amount of SAP, diaper manufacturers almost eliminated the press-out problem. However, by reducing the fluff they also eliminated most of the wicking.😱 Personally, I appreciate a soft, fluffy diaper. Many all-SAP or nearly all-SAP diapers are stiff and "crunchy." --John

That's correct. Some years ago, the ratio of fluff to SAP was about 50-50. That slowly was reduced. The general public is unaware of wicking problems caused by too much SAP and is sold on the "thinner is better" premise. --John

Can diapers be too thin? I say "yes." However, thinness saves manufacturers money as they can cram more diapers into a shipping container. The marketeers advertise having an "extra thin" diaper as a virtue. We have seen diapers slowly become thinner over a period of years. This has occurred as the percentage of fluff pulp in the absorbent mat of the diaper has been reduced - or even eliminated. Fluff pulp helps keep a diaper soft and improves wicking. However, SAP absorbs and holds more liquid than pulp fluff. So, we now are seeing the all-SAP diaper that is crazily absorbent and does not leak liquid. The downside is that all-SAP diapers tend to be stiff and do not wick well (if at all). Of course, the thinness of the diaper will disappear as it absorbs fluid. So, which do you prefer? A diaper with more fluff pulp or all-SAP? --John

Welcome All. I look forward to reading your posts. --John

Ridiculous yes, but true. Topic has been discussed on The Simon Foundation for Continence Web site. Fortunately such hospitals are rare. A medical friend (a PA) told me that many hospitals are overreacting against the risk of diaper rash as such incidents are tabulated along with bed sores and other factors in a hospital's ratings. --John

I have read about "no diapers" hospitals. They neither provide diapers nor will they change yours if you bring them. Patients have to pee and poop on a Chux pad. The reason given for this is to preserve the patients' skin health as that supposedly would be endangered if they wore a diaper. Presumably, anyone wearing a diaper will get diaper rash and that will make the hospital look bad. Personally, I think the reason is sheer profit💸💰. They save the cost of nursing time required to change diapers while subjecting the patient to humiliation and emotional stress. Has anyone encountered one of these or anything similar? --John

In other forums, wearing diapers to a medical appointment is a much debated topic, particularly among those who are ABDL. As most(?) of us here are in diapers 24/7 for medical reasons, I would like to ask whether anyone has ever received adverse comments from a physician or nurse because they were wearing a diaper. As I usually list incontinence and diaper wearing when I fill out the forms for a new doctor, there is no "shock and awe" if I neeed to disrobe. I rarely am questioned about it except to ask whether I am managing it well. Usually the doctor asks whether I am beeing seen by a urologist. Surprisingly, my most adverse push-back came from my urologist. As any urologist should, he regards his mission as hopefully "curing" me and getting me out of diapers. He is a good physician but must feel that I represent his failure as he has not "cured" me and I continue to wear diapers.😱 Seriously though, he has agreed, although reluctantly, that I have sound reasons for continuing to wear diapers. What about you guys? --John