Maria wrote:
My goodness, I just can't stop wondering why I never thought of this before. It's so obvious once you think about it.
What I wonder about even more is that about twenty years worth of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other highly trained professionals who deal with incontinence on a day-to-day basis have never, ever ventured the suggestion to look into cloth diapers.
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I never want to dismiss professionals, and I'm under the care of one
for my bladder (and now prostate) issues, but --
their view of incontinence is "clinical" and that's the best way I can describe it. "Clinical" involves treatments, medications, procedures,
tests, monitoring, checking for cause, searching for cure, etc.
Meanwhile, we who are incontinent or wet at night are left to deal with
the daily or nightly management of our condition. Not always exactly
"clinical".
How best to manage is what we share here. Practical, informative, and helpful. Of course, we advocate a proper and continuing "clinical" involvement with medical professionals. That's a given. But our
forums and discussions here can offer each of us a lot.
Your new awareness of cloth diaper use at night is just a case in point.
Nearly 20 years ago, following a back (spinal) injury that is the basis for my urinary incontinence today, I was fortunate to find a support group
for adults with incontinence issues (modeled then after ideas in the
Simon Foundation For Continence newsletter). It was from attendance
at this support group (about 3 years post injury) that I met and later entered a two year relationship to a woman with disability.
She had been a low level paraplegic for about 20 years, dealing each day with her bladder issues, using many techniques. From her came the most practical and imformative common sense advice that I've ever experienced all at once. Trust me, she was a godsend at the time and to this day. Use of cloth (gause) at night and waterproof pants to best prevent leaks for side sleepers was just one method she used, and recommended to me. It works! She had learned from trial and error and was wise enough to pass on some valued, down-to-earth advice on how to manage MY incontinence. Also, sources for products then available, both disposable AND reuseable, mail order lists, product evaluations, day vs. night protection requirements, skin care, hygiene,
and all that.
We dissolved our relationship when she was transferred back to Europe, but we've stayed in touch since. NO, she's not a member here, though
I suggested this community to her a time or two.
Thus, the personal sharing here augments the clinical for many and is just plain helpful, informative. I've continued to learn and I hope I've shared a little, too.
Welcome, Maria. I hope you continue to find this place helpful and useful.
John.