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Hi all,
You probably saw in other posts of mine how I had a major wetting episode a couple weeks ago while sleeping on the couch. I haven't had a wetting accident since and yet I am frequently worried about accidents when I go to bed. I sleep more soundly on the couch than in bed but am paranoid of wetting the couch again. I'm not wearing any protection right now as nights have been fine and Pygeum has really reduced (almost eliminated) the daytime dribbling issues. How can I get myself to relax and not over-worry about having another accident?
I should mention that if I fall asleep on the couch, say while watching TV and hadn't used the bathroom, I will always wake up around midnight or 1 to use the can. The night of the accident I must have been overly tired and I didn't wake up until way too late. So I know not using the can before falling asleep is not an option. But even when I do use the can I still worry about things, especially if sleeping on the couch. Let me also mention that I have say 1 wetting episode every 4-6 months or so where I wake up badly needing to go, from a dream where I am using a urinal (seriously!). Night wetting isn't common at all but has occurred.

Guy

For any of you, is the fear of accidents (founded or unfounded) worse than the accidents themselves? Given that I sleep best on the couch, is a protective garment the best bet given my history?
Lastly, if you are wondering why I sleep on the couch, I find it more comfortable and my wife can be quite a snorer.

Guy

Hi, Guy - I'm glad that the supplement is working for you, with little to no adverse side effects, as it seems. I think it's best that you wear protective underwear, even though your night wetting episodes are infrequent. They seem to be random, and therefore unpredictable. Protection will alleviate your fears. It appears that a less-expensive house brand pull-up like Rite-Aid would be adequate for your needs. The downside, of course, is "wasting" product if you don't wet. Perhaps if you don't get fecal residue on the pull-up, you can wear it for another nite or 2 before it breaks down. I recommend using a surface bed pad in conjunction with the pull-up, and I would continue to void just before you lie down to sleep.

A surface bed pad with regular underwear might work out okay as well. If you sleep on a couch, as opposed to a sofa bed, finding a pad that fits and protects well might be a problem. Goodnites disposable bed pads adhere to the sleeping surface, and thus you would be able to place it on the seat of the couch, tuck it, and bring it up the back a short way for a continuous moisture barrier with no gaps.

I use washable bed pads (disposable when I travel) in conjunction with Abena Abri-Flex pull-ups. It's overkill, but I'm still learning to trust the premium pull-ups after having outpaced the house brands and experienced leaking.

Wetters

I would, with your history, wear at least something, knowing "it" can happen. You will have a more restful sleep knowing that it is at least partially covered if things go sideways, like I say, better safe then sorry! Puffy

_________________
Puffy
BC, Canada
Fighting the "Bladder Battle" since 1995

Guy, even if I just take a nap in my recliner I place an absorbent pad beneath me, despite wearing a taped diaper and plastic pants. I do not want the risk of ruining a good piece of furniture and gain peace of mind that way. When I get up I just fold up the pad and put it out of sight.

--John

A bedpad might not help much because I move around to such an extreme degree that the pad would likely be a crumbled mess long before morning. I relize that the Goodnites pads have a adhesive strip - is the strip any good?

Whether I use a bedpad or not, I'm going to wear either a pullup or diaper. Something though about all the pullups I've seen or tried seem so feminine to me. I can't place it but I just don't like them. Wearing something feminine seems worse to me than wearing a diaper.

I'll buy a disposable product (likely Northshore brand) but will also look for a discreet cloth diaper option. Assuming I don't wet I should get a 2nd night out of the Northshore. Any suggestions for small, discrete, and absorbent cloth products?

I just placed an order for 2 birdseye cloth diapers and 1 pr out pants (vinyl or whatever) from adultclothdiapers.com. I figured this is better than throwing away dry disposable pullups. I realize vinyl pants are necessary but how much does a cloth diaper hold before making it through to the other side?

Not much. They go through almost immediately.

I have worn heavy diapers to bed for so many years that I would have difficulty sleeping without them, not to mention my fear that sleeping without protection would be an invitation to disaster. You need to experiment to learn what protection works best for you. If you only need that protection once a month, it has still paid for itself that one night.

To be honest, if I were wet only once or twice a month, I would just just use a quality mattresses cover, and do the laundry as necessary.

It's a bigger issue if you risk wetting your significant other, and/or if it significantly disturbs your sleep.