dangoch wrote:
I don't know how many people have diaper leakage issues. I sure did. What I've found is I use a cloth pull-up diaper much like babykins sells. The absorbency isn't much of an issue. I find the heavy duty pull-ups work best for me but those who are trying to be descrete, they sell thin pull-ups. Put a plastic pants over that and you are almost guaranteed not to leak. If the disposable can't handle the urine, the pull-up will pickup the excess and the plastic pants are there to keep you dry. Just putting plastic pants over a disposable doesn't cut it. There isn't anything to absorb the overflow and you will leak. But when you have the extra absorbent layer and the plastic pants to contain the wetness, you get the confidence that even if you didn't change soon enough, your extra layers of protection are there to back you up. In my opinion, this is the biggest discovery ever and I've been incontinent for 40 years. I can't tell you how many times my disposable has let me down and I end up having wet pants even when I'm protected. Leaks happen. I'm sure the cloth diaper crowd will rejoice and say, see, the disposable guys can't trust their diapers. If you have bowel issues like I do, there is nothing like being able to cleanup and throw away than deal with messy cloth diapers. In my opinion, I've get the best of both worlds. Messy diapers can be thrown away, but I don't leak because of the extra absorption layer to keep my pants dry. In my opinion, this really makes being incontinent almost worthwhile, almost. I know others use the same system. There will be some that are concerned about the thickness of the diaper. Let me tell you, I use daily, comfydry 24/7, north shore 2x booster, a very thick babykins pull-up diaper and Gary plastic pants every day, 24/7. I wouldn't leave home without it. And nobody has ever asked me "do you wear diapers?"
I can typically get by with just a Confi-dry 24/7 with a booster or 2 and plastic pants along with Nullo for odor and Desitin (zinc oxide) for skin protection. At night I use the same setup but I use a pinwheel to puncture the disposable's plastic shell for flow through after disposable saturation and use a cloth pull-up (Kins model 10700) over that with the obligatory plastic pants. This offers superior capacity, prevents virtually all leaks and the disposable performs as a "diaper liner" for the cloth pull-up, keeping stool off the cloth diaper and making clean-up and laundry much easier. I use an unusually large amount of a bulk producing fiber supplement(Metamucil) to keep my BM's firm (otherwise I'm prone to very loose and uncomfortable stool). The psyllium forms a firm consistency of a gel like stool that doesn't stick to skin very well and facilitates a quick clean-up. During the day I will use the cloth pull-up diaper over the dry 24/7 when I'm going to be out much of the day. The extended time away from home usually leads to leaks if I don't use the cloth pull-up diaper.The Kins model 10700 is much like a regular cloth pre-fold with an extra absorbent panel down the middle. They have a very comfortable shape along with great elastics at the waist and leg openings. And yes, this is a lot of diaper and can be quite bulky. I use a pair of all-elastic compression shorts to reduce bulk and hold a wet, soiled and sagging diaper in place. Dressing to remain mostly stealth is easy. I've had 20 plus years to perfect my wardrobe and can dress for most any social occasion. With the amount of psyllium I ingest, I do experience increased frequency and volume. Having the extra protection gives me peace of mind and an unmatched level of security. I'm not a fan of public changes, mainly because I like to shower after one of my typically large BM's. I do keep a change kit in the trunk of my car but it is seldom used. For those that prefer to change as soon as soiled, you can use a velcro closure cloth diaper (also available at Kins) and side snap plastic pants. Just make sure the velcro closures are securely closed during washing and especially drying. These diapers are much like the pull-up cloth diaper as they also have the absorbent panel down the middle and excellent elastics at the leg and waist. As for the bulk of this diaper combination, even when steps at stealth are used, I firmly believe that personal self-confidence and the way you carry yourself goes a long way in staying "under the radar". Sometimes, it will still be quite noticeable if your diapers are overly wet and you have had a few large BM's. This is where the confidence factor really pays dividends. If you are paranoid and freak out with a really wet and loaded diaper, people are sure to notice. Acting normal with a measure of self-confidence and nobody will notice. My use of Desitin (zinc oxide) offers superior skin protection for extended exposure to stool and wetness. Nullo, at least for me, completely eliminates odor and keeps me from being offensive in any public situation. I could be standing next to you at Starbucks with a really full diaper and you would never know. For those with severe bowel urgency and are prone to unpredictable, multiple, very large BM's through out the day, this is a diapering system that will keep you secure and leak free. I have on occasion used a preventative enema but I don't tolerate them well. I have found the use of Imodium to be helpful in select social situations (flying, intimacy etc.) but that often means an extremely large purge when the medication wears off. I understand that not everyone needs this level of protection. Thank your lucky stars if you don't. But if you do, this method of diapering offers comfort, capacity and security. Whatever your level of incontinence, if you're a heavy wetter during sleep, this system could prove to be a good solution at preventing leaks. At night I also use a water proof, washable bed pad (36" x 50") just in case of any very rare leaks. When I do have a leak, the bed pad at worse is just a little damp. I hope these tips are helpful for those that experience the same level of IC that I do.