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I'm referring to diapers. Most of my doctors refer to them as pads. I called them breifs in front of my GI doc and he did not know what I was talking about. I corrected myself and said I was wearing diapers and he just said oh, ok. I had a nurse when I was in the hospital that offered to help me put on my "diapers". I have also heard them called "pampers". I wouldn't go that far. Pampers are for babies. Thats not what I am. They were called pampers by a nurse working for a nursing home I was dropping off diapers to. The diapers I was dropping off were sent by the VA and were to big so I donated them to the nursing home. The nurse said thanks for the pampers donation. I was like...no problem. I didn't say anything. My doctor at the VA calls them diapers. It really makes no difference to me. I refer to them as diapers with most of my docs. The word diaper doesn't bother me. Thats just what I call them. I don't feel like that term is demeaning. My mom, who is a nurse, refuses to call them diapers. She thinks that is degrading. Thats what she was taught, that only babies wear diapers. Adults wear depends or breifs or pads. So what does your doctor call them?

My doctors call them briefs or pads. I have called them diapers in front of the doctors and they just shrug and say okay.

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my dr calls them pads

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I have not really had an in depth discussion with him on the matter, I just told him I was not using the external system as often, and was using disposables, he knew what that term meant. They do not like the word either, and if you use them they consider that they have failed. If you have not gotten a response from any of the treatments you have tried, then they are a viable alternative if you can't hole your water... It is what it is, I prefer "super moisture gathering knickers", but that just messes people up! (kidding!) Any way you look at it, it is still a diaper, be it pullup, cloth, or full disposable of whatever brand you use, Puffy

As I recall, the conversation between me and my Drs. is pretty one way, me to the Dr. I call them diapers and I usually don't get much of any reaction. My primary Dr. knows my situation regarding diapers, but she mainly just refers me to the Urologist. The Urologist knows the situation and we have discussed it many times and lots of tests, but I don't recall him ever saying anything about diapers. My experience has been that Drs. seem to think that diapers are unnecessary and to be avoided. Other than getting new pills pushed down my throat, there doesn't seem to be any solution that Drs. say will be a useful solution. I don't understand that. I've tried the pills and either they do nothing for me or the side effects are intolerable (and they still don't work). What do they think I should do, walk around with soggy pants? I've never heard a Dr. suggest that a diaper is a reasonable way to treat incontinence. I guess they don't feel a medical "fix" happens by wearing diapers. My Urologist suggested I get an artificial sphincter installed along with a "boner" implant. Can I get a "two-for-one" discount? I don't like pills and I sure don't want a valve to control stuff down there. And he has no idea what to do for bowel incon. I don't think there is an artificial sphincter for that one, so I can't get a "three-for-..."

I really believe people who do not know you well, will refer a diaper as a pad, or a brief. A nurse or doctor might think if they use the term "diaper" it might offend or embarrass you. If the doc/nurse has heard you use the term"diaper", they'll use that term. My uroligist refers to them as a diaper and I've been seeing him for 10 years.
The world is trying to stay polictically correct and they feel "absorbant Brief" is the term to use. You'll never hear the word"diaper" used in any incontinent ad or on a TV commercial. If you are new to incontinence, you may prefer to use "brief". For all of us who have been incontinent for a long while, "diaper" is the term we use. Just my opinion. .....Paul Martin

I had a nurse a few years ago when I was in for a basic check up tell me to get undressed and to remove my Diap (covers her mouth with hand) I mean brief or undergarment. I could tell she was embarrassed and uncomfortable. I said it's ok Diaper brief undergarment it's all the same I call them diapers I told her. We had a a short talk where she told me that they are trained to say brief or undergarment. But she said in the back of my mind they are diapers. I said yep call it what it is
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She asked me how long I had been wearing them and why. Was it an accident you were in at one time that caused this? I said well yes it may have been an accident? When I was created they appeared to have gave my some faulty pluming I was born with a weak bladder and have worn some form of protection most all my life. I've always been a bed wetter can't say I ever remember going to bed without a full blown diaper on.
She seemed much more relaxed as she left the room. I don't know about you guys but when the nurse tells me to remove my diaper I never do. I wait to see if the doc. wants it removed. After all if I was to remove it earlier before the doc was there that would be about the time I'd flood ..............................Sandy

Sandy,
I too wait to undress till the doc tells me to. Generally, the only doc that has me remove all my clothes is the dermatologist. The nurse asks me to remove all but my shorts. I usually wear flip flops so I have no shoes on. I remove my shirt and sit there waiting in my shorts. The diaper does stick out a bit but there is no question. I always leave the diaper on until they tell me to take it off. For the most part, out of all my doctors, I seldom have to strip down to my diaper. Thats only for urology visits and physicals. I don't mind though, I'm not embarassed. I am afraid of peeing on the doc though or having diarrhea. That would be mortifying.

All my doctors know of my incontinence. The only one who asks questions is the urologist, and my PCP. I did have a long talk about my incontinence with my sleep/pulmonary doc. We talked about it including diapers for about 10 minutes. He is concerned about my enuresis. But he knows there is nothing they can do about it. I don't want surgery. And I'm not keen on any more meds.

My Dr. (female) called them "absorbant undergarments" when my attempt at using a condom cath failed. I have been to a few other specialists, etc... over the years and have heard several other descriptions from pads to adult briefs. For one reason or another the medical community just has a difficult time referring to diapers as diapers. I believe it is that old stigma that most adults have with diapers.

I went to a nursing forum and found that healthcare professionals are trained to avoid the term "diaper". They, for the most part, believe it is degrading. Now, many of them will call it a diaper if they find that the patient does. They do not want to correct the patient if thats what the patient is comfortable with. So, if you use that term, many of them will run with it. But they don't want to embarass you. Since many patients refer to them as diapers, thats what they are usually called. But not at first. And many of them do not chart the word "diaper" in their reports. They use the word pad or brief.

In my travels to see my many doctors, I find the above to be true. Most of my doctors will call them diapers if they find that is the word I use. But at first, they call them pads and such. I just call them diapers because thats what they are. And I'm comfortable with that.