Many people with incontinence make common mistakes when it comes time to things like choosing products and seeking treatment. Don't worry, we're here to help.
The 9 Most Common Incontinence Mistakes People Make
How Do I Know If I'm Using the Right Incontinence Product?
Continence management products can set you free to live every day to the full. Here’s what you need to know about finding the right product for your needs.
Like with many other health conditions, there can be a lot of misinformation and myths about experiencing and managing incontinence.
When it comes to seeking treatment and support, we want to do our best to ensure you're educated in what's best for you and your individual journey - or that of the person you care for.
That's why we're sharing the 9 most common incontinence mistakes people make, so you know what to avoid or change in your current routine to have the most seamless and comfortable experience possible.
1. Choosing the most expensive products
We often equate good quality with high prices, but that isn't always how it works.
Most good quality continence products on the market provide very similar levels of absorbency and will perform well functionally. Buying continence management products can be add up and become expensive, so finding a brand that does the same job but costs significantly less could end up saving you a fortune over time.
So definitely shop around and find brands that work best for you and that could save you money in some areas.
Here at ConfidenceClub, we strive to bring the most affordable prices we can for our European-made, quality continence management incontinence aids.
Plus we offer a range of benefits and discounts! Read more about the 4 ways you can save with ConfidenceClub.
2. Thinking menstrual pads work for incontinence
This one couldn't be further from the truth!
Menstrual or sanitary pads do not offer adequate absorption for bladder leakage. In fact, you can check out our comparison between the two products on our Instagram.
Not only are menstrual pads made to absorb blood, which is a much thicker consistency than urine and therefore requires a different level of absorbency, but they will usually be smaller-sized pads and can't able to handle a high-flow bladder void.
Instead opt for incontinence-specific pads, such as those from our Dailee range - some of which you'll see below.
3. Wearing a pad inside a pull-up for 'better absorbency'
All incontinence pads (except booster pads) are designed to prevent urine soaking through them and out the other side.
If people expect that the smaller pad they choose will work as a booster pad they will be disappointed because any overflow incontinence would have to be soaked by the smaller pad and then would need to flow around that pad to get into the bigger outside pad.
This can cause leakage and also be very wasteful because the person is wearing two products when they probably only need one with better absorbency.
If you need help finding out which absorbency level is best for your needs, give our friendly product specialists a call on 1800 86 11 99 or take our online Help Me Choose quiz. You can also view our range of booster pads below.
4. Wearing incontinence products for too long
It's common for people to think they need to use up all the absorbency of their incontinence products, and therefore leave them on too long between changes. This is a big no-no!
Although most disposable products now contain absorbent gel to allow for higher absorbency (this gel absorbs and swells when it gets wet) and are designed to absorb away from the skin, wearing continence aids like pads, pull-ups or slips, for too long can cause skin irritation and incontinence-associated dermatitis.
5. Automatically buying the highest absorbency products
We understand it might seem like buying the highest absorbency product will automatically give you the best possible protection against leaks.
We're here to tell you bigger isn't better! Why? Well firstly, bigger and more absorbent products can lead to the previous mentioned mistake, they are often worn for too long and can lead to other harmful skin and health conditions.
Secondly, it can also be wasteful and unnecessarily expensive to simply opt for a more absorbent product.
6. Not wearing incontinence pads properly
It's surprisingly common that people wear their pads inside out and don’t recognise the absorbent side should be against their skin! There are also many cases where the positioning of the pad isn't quite right and causes leaks.
We recommend watching our helpful video on how to apply incontinence pads. This will ensure you're as comfortable and protected as possible.
7. Using toilet paper or towels as makeshift incontinence products
Using materials not designed for urine absorption will have a high chance of leakage.
The super absorbent gel-like material in disposable continence management products (the one we mentioned in point 4!), such as our range of pull-ups and pads, can hold vastly more liquid than it's own weight and locks the liquid into a solid gel form so that if you were to squeeze the material, the liquid won't spill out.
8. Cutting up or modifying pads
Some people think they can modify their disposable pads by cutting them to the size they believe they need. They may often buy bigger pads and cut them into smaller ones.
This often proves ineffective because the absorbent gel contained within the pad is likely to escape through the cuts and not provide sufficient absorbency or containment.
9. Letting product supply run out
Like with any product you use on a daily basis, there's no worse surprise than realising you've run out in a time of need.
When it comes to incontinence products, not having these on hand can really disrupt daily life and cause embarrassment and discomfort. It can also cause people distress by trying to get to a store quickly, only to find they may not have suitable products.
This is one of the main reasons we decided to create our Never Run Out subscription service. Not only does it save you 10% on your orders, it automates your purchase and notes when you are close to running so we can send you more products straight to your door.
We hope that reading these common incontinence mistakes allows you to make relevant changes to your routine so you live more comfortably and confidently.
Oh, and while you're here, why not check out our other helpful articles?
If you have any questions about our product range, you can speak to our customer service team 6 days a week, by calling 1800 86 11 99 or emailing hello@confidenceclub.com.au. We also have an online chat on our website. We’re here to help!