www.incontinentsupport.org

As I am bowel incontinent, have a defecation disorder from damaged rectal nerves, and usually have to use digital stimulation to initiate a bowel movement, latex gloves are my best buddy. Latex gloves keep a disagreeable, but medically necessary, chore from becoming even more disagreeable.

Recently I asked my wife to pick up another box of latex gloves from the local Walmart, only to have her report that they were out. I then went to a local pharmacy where I bought the last two boxes of latex gloves in stock.

Being concerned that there might be a "run" on latex gloves, I again asked my wife to buy another box on her next trip to Walmart, just in case. To my surprise, she again reported that there were no latex gloves on the shelves.

I thought that too much to be a coincidence and did some research on Google. In addition to domestic health facilities buying more latex gloves, it turns out that various federal government agencies have issued large purchase orders for latex gloves. For example, 20 million pair of latex gloves were purchased to send to Malaysia. Many more are destined for countries with ebola.

Fortunately, I have been able to buy a six-month supply of latex gloves from Amazon.com.

Has any one else had difficulty finding latex gloves in their area?

I know that several of our group also must perform digital stimulation or have other needs for latex gloves.

--John

I just got some nitrile ones with my Foley catheter supplies the other day.....no problems there.....the wife wanted some gloves for around the house. She doesn't usually wear them to care for me. Except for the sterile ones in the foley tray when she caths me.....(I'm not a squeamish but the thought of putting my own catheter in makes me weak in the knees, I have taken out my own foley and it makes me queasy.....since she is an ER nurse she just takes care of all my catheter needs. She is very efficient and knows how to do it without causing UTI's or urethral trauma. She even changes me over from the leg bag to the bedside catheter bag and vice versa, keeps me from having to do that and open up the closed system) so anyway.....I don't know of any problems.....

PB&J, I hope your wife knows how much you appreciate her!! In the past I have done my own intermittent catheterization and did not enjoy that at all.

Some things just are not logical. Changing a messy diaper is well, messy. Definitely unpleasant. However, for some unknown emotional reason I find digital stimulation to be far much more unpleasant, perhaps because it is so very personal and invasive while changing a messy diaper is external and after-the-fact. And so my concern about a supply of latex gloves.

It may turn out that we just had a local shortage of the gloves, but I still am interested in hearing from others.

--John

I use both latex & nitrile gloves, and have not noticed any problems in finding them. I live near Seattle, FWIW.

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- Tom

I make it quite clear to her how much I appreciate her willingness to cath me anytime I need it.....sometimes I tell her I'm all set when I'm in denial and I'm trying to fight it.....she just lets me go until finally I get tired of running to the bathroom and I'm anxious and impatient and I finally tell her "ok I'm ready, go ahead and cath me" she has really been great about it. She's always willing to help me out. She will even help with diaper changes just to be supportive once in a while. I don't need the help but it's always nice to have her right there when I need her. She's really good to me. I would do anything for her, seriously.

Could the shortage be down to Ebola and supplies of gloves being diverted to fight this world health crisis?

Greenbank,

If there is a latex glove shortage (and I think there is), you probably are correct.

--John