Category Archives: BladderMatters

Bedwetting and Sleepovers: Tips

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 22, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Although it may seem like your child is stuck at home until they can grow out of their bedwetting, that doesn’t need to be the case. These days, the right products and smart moves can create moments that are memorable for all the right reasons.

Tip #1: Get the right attitude
Talk to your child about their enuresis, or their particular issue. Make sure they know what’s going on. That will help them with any fears they have about spending the night with a child who doesn’t have this problem – it will let them know they’re still normal and there’s nothing wrong with them. Let them know you’re going to let the host parents know what’s going on. Then talk to the host parents (not the other way around).

Tip #2: Find the product that works for your child
Your child needs a product that is absorbent, not bulky and makes very little noise. These Sleep Overs are all over those requirements. There are sizes for children from 45 to 140 pounds, and they have a discreet profile. Additionally, they’re cloth-backed, meaning less crinkle noises for your youngster. You can purchase a sample pack here, to find the right fit.

Tip #3: Make some adjustments
If your kid doesn’t like the idea of changing into their pull-ups at their friend’s house, ask the host parents if they can request that all kids arrive in their PJs. Provide your child with a trash bag so they can dispose of their diaper and place it back in their overnight bag. Or arrive super early and help them out, if you or the child isn’t comfortable with the host parents helping out.

Tip #4: Get social
If your child is reluctant to go to sleepovers, or you want to make sure they can handle them, host one first. That way you can be there to make sure your kid has the privacy they need.

Tip #5: Embrace technology
There are many tech pieces out there that want to help your child beat their bedwetting. But many parents find that audio alarms do not wake their child up. It seems the only option is to wake the child up themselves – not an option if your kid is at a friend’s house, or even sleep-away camp. But vibrating alarms on watches do sometimes succeed where other alarms have not.

With these tips in mind, your child should have a great sleepover and a good night’s rest (if they actually ever go to sleep!).

Alzheimer’s and Incontinence

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 20, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Imagine you’re sitting on the couch, at the end of the day, watching your favorite show. You’re relaxed, you’re in a good place, you’re comfortable.

Suddenly, you experience an unpleasant sensation as warm liquid pools under you, and the liquid quickly cools. How did that happen? You didn’t have to go to the bathroom a second ago, but apparently, your bladder decided otherwise.

This is what it can be like for someone with Alzheimer’s. During the disease, the messages that the bladder sends to the brain to tell it it’s time “go” can get mixed up, misdirected or lost altogether.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only reason why people with Alzheimer’s can become incontinent. Other factors can include the medications that patients take to deal with anxiety, not remembering the location of the restroom and underlying medical problems that may not yet be addressed.

These issues may not become evident until the moderate to severe stage of Alzheimer’s, but they will have to be addressed. The caregiver can provide support by gently reminding the patient to use the restroom and by making sure the way to and from the restroom itself are easily accessible.

However, sometimes leaks happen. At that point, the caregiver may want to utilize incontinence supplies. These days, adult briefs can be an unobtrusive as the average pair of underwear. Or, if the patient refuses to wear protective underwear, an underpad can be placed on chairs and beds to manage the leak.

Alzheimer’s can be very distressing to both caregivers and patients. Taking the stress of incontinence out of the equation can help.

Back to School

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 13, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Back to school is a significant time, even for those without kids (more traffic on the roads!). But for parents and especially Sandwich Caregivers out there, it can be both a time of relief and of added on stress.

The return to school can mean a more predictable schedule. Your child/children are at a place until a certain time every day, meaning you can plan for when to be at work or caregiving for parents. Many parents celebrate this time of year, and we can bet you’re probably one of them.

But with a new school year can come with new friends and new challenges. If you’re living at home with both your children and your parent or parents, children may be reluctant to bring friends over. Try and understand where this embarrassment is coming from. Talk with them, and, if possible, be around when and if those friends do come to visit.

Additionally, new friends might mean a sleepover. And if your child has any bladder issues, dealing with any kind of protective underwear can be a potential nightmare. Luckily, nighttime pullups have come a long way. Sleep Overs provide discreet protection for children weighing between 45 and 145 pounds. Their cloth-like outer fabric means no suspicious rustling. If you’d like to try before you buy, you can find samples here.

Congrats from TotalHomeCareSupplies.com on getting through the hot summer. And good luck with a productive, fun and safe new school year!

The History of Adult Diapers

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 8, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

The advances in adult incontinence products over just the past several years have come so far. There are now cloth-backed briefs that allow for air flow and leakage protection. There are underpads that can handle more liquid than imaginable. And there’s even gender-specific protective underwear that look more like regular underwear than ever. The improvements are convenient and there are always more on the way.

But how did we get here, to this place of convenience? Let’s take a look back.

Disposable diapers weren’t introduced until the 1940’s. Everything before that point was cloth. There’s not a lot of information about the prevalence of adult incontinence supplies during this time of change (so if you have any information, please be sure to comment below!). There is some anecdotal evidence about the US Army, Air Force and Marines using adult diapers during long-term or potentially chemically dangerous missions.

Kimberly Clark introduced their line of baby diapers in 1978, and in 1984 they created the Depend line, which began by manufacturing liners for adult incontinence. While Depend was one of the first to create specifically targeted adult incontinence products, many others quickly followed suit when they recognized the market need. First Quality, maker of Prevail, introduced their adult incontinence briefs in 1990.

Since then, with the baby boomers growing into a lively older age, the market need has grown even more, and innovation to keep people as comfortable and active as possible has grown as well.

Product Reviews – Thanks!

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 6, 2014 under BladderMatters, Ostomy Care, Very Urological | Read the First Comment

We think we carry the best possible incontinence, ostomy and urological products out there.

But you don’t have to take OUR word for it.

We love it when our customers review our products. It lets their fellow customers know specifics of the product and first-hand accounts of using them. We thought we’d highlight a few of these reviews in today’s post. When you finish, please feel free to write some reviews of your own!

Review of First Quality Prevail Adult Briefs:
“I have used this particular brand of briefs for many years and I highly recommend them. They’re absorbent and not too bulky. They’re comfortable and really are the best brief out there.”

Review of Hollister New Image 2pc Flextend Skin Barrier CTF:
“I love these flanges this inside portion is protected by what appears to be plastic covering over the barrier. The ease of use and the outer sticky tape helps hold the flange and barrier are in place. Rarely does it become un-sticky even in the shower. I would recommend them and I’ve tried many types.”

Review of Dale Foley Tube Catheter Leg Band:
“This is the best way to hold a cath tube in place. Have used many and found nothing better.”

While we of course love positive reviews, we want to hear about all the types of experiences that our customers have with our products. We use these reviews when considering which products and product lines we should sell, and will sometimes pass on the comments to the manufacturer. Our goal is your satisfaction with everything we sell.

For instance, this review of ConvaTec Aloe Vesta Perineal Skin Cleanser helps us know that there’s another product out there that a customer would like us to carry:
“Great product although it’s hard to spray[,] a foaming product would be better. Hospitals carry the liquid foaming that is what I really was looking for.”
(That cleansing foam can be found here.)

So if you have an opinion on a product you’re using, it’d be great if you’d head over to TotalHomeCareSupplies.com and write it up! Thanks in advance!

Why Buy American

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 4, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

When it comes to incontinence supplies, you need the most trustworthy product out there. That’s the number one priority. But what if there are other factors in purchasing these products that can make you feel good about helping out not only your country, but also the environment?

Enter Prevail, by First Quality. Not only are their products designed with comfort in mind, they’re designed with the country and the environment in mind. All their products are engineered and assembled in the US. Why is that so important? Because it means that by purchasing their products, you’re helping create and keep jobs here in the US. These are jobs that are safe and fair to the employees.

In addition, every time you buy a Prevail product instead of one that has to be shipped in from another country, you’re helping the environment. That item doesn’t need to be brought across an ocean, using up more oil than necessary. And not only that, Prevail themselves are committed to sustainability initiatives. During the process of manufacturing their products, only 1% becomes landfill waste.

And when you get your incontinence supplies shipped to you, you also save gas by not taking that extra trip to the drug store in the middle of the night. It’s convenient for you and better for the country. Many delivery services now use trucks that run on alternative-fuel, including those utilized by TotalHomeCareSuppplies.com. UPS just expanded its fleet of alternative fuel trucks, and last year, OnTrac was named one of SDCE 2013 Green Supply Chain Award Winners.

We are proud to be working with companies whose efforts are keeping both American jobs and the global environment in mind.

Camping Checklist

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 1, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Anyone going camping during this last month or so of summer? If you are, and you need incontinence supplies, there are some some extra items to add to the checklist. Here are a few items that are either essential or helpful. First up, something that everyone should have whenever heading out of the house for the tent life:

1) Bath Wipes
These unscented, hypoallergenic wipes are extra large, so you’ll only need one for each person each day (initially, at least, as they will also come in handy after meals to clean faces and hands). Each washcloth has more than enough moisture to cleanse thoroughly. They come eight to a pack, but they’re so inexpensive, two packs might be a good choice even for a short trip.

2) Flashlights, Paper Towels, Can Openers
There are many other convenient items that you could probably get away with forgetting, but these three are pretty much the most essential, besides the tent. Pack these items a few days beforehand to make sure they don’t get lost in the shuffle of last minute packing.

3) Underpads
A wonderful accessory when camping and experiencing incontinence issues. If you have been employing reusable underpads at home, get a pack of disposable underpads for the trip. While reusable underpads are less expensive in the long run and better for the environment, the convenience of disposable is great for camping. They’ll make the mornings so much easier and with Prevail underpads, you only need one layer at a time.

4) Games
Chatting by the campfire is ideal, but you want to make sure you have a back-up option in case the talk starts to slow. Take some card games, but nothing large or that requires a board. Then you’ll know that you’re ready to provide the outdoor entertainment once the sun goes down.

5) Extra Incontinence Supplies
That may sound bulky, but it doesn’t need to be. Just be smart about it. Pack everything you may need (extra briefs, wipes, gloves, creams, washes and disposable bags) into one bag, like a small gym bag. Have a really large tube of cream? Just take what you need by putting some into a travel sized bottle. Keep in mind that because your schedule and activity amount may change during your vacation, your supply needs might change as well.

Having everything securely packed will make you able to relax and appreciate your vacation. Last tip: if you have multiple bags, during packing time, note which item was place in which bag. Then take that list with you. It will save time later and you’ll know exactly what you packed. Enjoy your trip!

Being Smart About Incontinence

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 29, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Living with incontinence can be inconvenient, and can even have the potential for embarrassment. But! With the right knowledge, supplies and attitude, everything runs more smoothly and the feeling of any embarrassment becomes a thing of the past. Those who are incontinent can take action so that life can be lived on their terms.

Finding the cause:
Of course, many times, just because the cause of incontinence is known, that doesn’t mean that there’s a cure. But knowing the reason for one’s incontinence is helpful, even if only in a mental capacity. It can also help with determining what type of protection is necessary. Once the type is known, one may be able to predict the level of protection needed. A list of the types of incontinence can be found here. Getting educated: ✓

Leaks, crinkles and unsightly lines:
Most adult diaper leaks are caused by one of three things: the size is too large, a proper leg seal hasn’t been established, or the wrong type of insert has been placed in the diaper. You can find more information about these leaks and how to prevent them here. The crinkle-factor can be minimized by purchasing the right fit, and purchasing items with the words “cloth-like outer fabric,” like it says on these Prevail Per-Fit Adult Protective Underwear. The less plastic on the outside of the diaper, the less likely the wearer is to hear anything while moving. And the cloth outer fabric diapers are just as absorbent and leak-proof as plastic backed diapers. Panty lines can be minimized by wearing more organic fabrics, and experimenting with different types of diapers. Mess and fuss: ✓

Buying adult diapers and accessories:
Many people do not enjoy the stigma that comes with purchasing adult diapers in person, whether or not they are for themselves. Ease that concern by getting all needed supplies shipped directly to your home in a discreet box. This solution is not only subtle, it’s convenient. This is a service TotalHomeCareSupplies.com offers for all customers, and all orders over $40 receive free shipping. Plus, be sure to check out our promotions page for any coupons we currently offer. Purchasing: ✓

It’s easy to be fully prepared when presented with all the facts. When you’re informed and equipped, a full life is still easily in reach.

Prevail Per-Fit for Women and Men

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 24, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Prevail is announcing something new in the world of adult diapers. They know that those individuals who wear protective underwear would ideally wear something that’s as close to possible as a regular pair of underpants. That’s why they’re now offering their Per-Fit products, for women and men.

These underwear are gender specific – the women’s come in a lovely light lavender color, while the men’s come in white with classic grey lines on the band. And both are created from a cloth-like material, meaning they look and feel closer to regular underwear.

Other great features of these underpants include Odor Guard® protection, which means each style has targeted absorbency zones that will whisk moisture from the skin before locking it away and neutralizing any ammonia odor.

Customers will also find these adult pull-ups more breathable. Between the specifically ventilated and breathable waist area and the higher cut on the legs, air is more able to freely migrate on the wearer.

Both the protective underwear for the women and the men are available in medium, large and extra large. Each product page provides a sizing chart so our customers can make informed decisions on what will be the best fit for them.

For those experiencing LOBC (loss of bladder control), many may find that their unique shape is better served with a pair of Per-Fit protective underwear.

At TotalHomeCareSupplies.com, shipping is completely free on all orders over $40. Orders come packaged in discreet, unmarked boxes for customer security.

Staying Cool in the Summer

Posted by Elizabeth Hill on June 26, 2014 under BladderMatters | Read the First Comment

It is officially the first week of summer – and things are heating up in most parts of the country. It’s hard enough to stay cool in the summer and even harder when wearing an adult diaper for incontinence. Since staying inside where it is air-conditioned is not always an option – we have a few tips and guidelines to help beat the heat.

Keep the air moving. Today’s new adult diapers are made of fabric-like material – no more plastic-backed diapers that trap the heat. Breathable briefs are typically thinner and allow for air circulation. A popular option is the Prevail Extra Adult Pull-Up that includes ventilated panels that help prevent heat build-up.
Powder up. If you don’t have any skin issues – baby powder or a corn starch-type powder can help keep you feeling cool when temperatures are rising. If using a diaper with side tape tabs – be sure to not get any powder on these since it might prevent them from sticking.
Keep it clean. Change your adult diaper more often in the summer and be sure to keep all areas clean. Moisture plus warmer temperatures can increase the chance of skin irritation. Be sure to carry extra disposable adult wipes during summer travels so that you are always prepared.
Air it out. If time and the situation allows – take a little break between diaper changes and allow the area to get some air or wear cotton underpants for an hour or two.
Dress appropriately. Cotton skirts and dresses for women and shorts for men are your best bets during the summer. Light-colored and loose fitting clothing is a great choice for beating the heat. Stay away from dark colors and synthetic (especially polyester) materials – save those for the winter months.
Drink up. Becoming dehydrated is the last thing that you want. Drinking plenty of water will keep your body hydrated and better able to regulate your temperature. Many fruits and vegetables are comprised of over 90% water – so take advantage of summer produce to help with hydration.