steve in diaps

I know it's hard but coming out to close family might help take the stress away. And if you look at diapers and pull-ups as tools that allow you to do the activities you want with less embarrassment. Who cares? But sooner or later hiding it will backfire and be found out anyways. Why have the stress over it. After bypass surgery my sister and nephew took turns helping me. I had to take water pills to treat fluid build up. By the 4th or 6th time to the bathroom I would lose all bladder control. He did not know I wore diapers or pull-ups till that happened and I had to put on a diaper. That would go on for 6 to 8 hrs. Till the med wore of or fluid swelling went down. That kinda sucked to explain.

Rob110 is so right, there are far worse issues in life. I had a heart attack in 2010 and triple bypass in 2017. Both times in the hospital seven days. I have to keep moving daily and not lay around because of my back issues. Each time I had to use my roller walker to get back to walking. And used it over three months and in diapers almost four months after the bypass. They won't try to fix my back, claim it would put me in a wheelchair or nursing home or kill me. For some reason my upper back messes with my breathing/diaphragm. Lower back at times cause my legs, bladder, bowel to go non functional. When that sensation hits I have to get off my feet or I go down and unload into what protection I'm wearing at the time. 10 to 15 min later control comes back, pain subsides on back to normal. At least so far it has. SUCKED I had to give up my motorcycle and 3wheeler. Now I'm trying to get brave enough to date again.

I had the lower back injury in 2007 and the upper back in 1993. It's been a long road of therapy and pain. Today I self manage pain mostly without meds. I still use my different types of back braces when it gets bad. That's when diapers help and at night. Can't get out of some of the braces in time to use the bathroom. When my back is that bad I have very little control. Otherwise in wear pull-ups most of the time.

I keep supplies in my van also bed pads to make it easier to change. But one time I couldn't use a public bathroom. So I was changing in the van. It was cold weather and I found that the pack of wipes had frozen overnight. Luckily I had a partial roll of paper towels. I couldn't get completely cleaned up. Had to stop and get some wipes at WALGREENS and use their bathroom to clean up and change again. I mostly deal with bladder issues but also have bowel issues show up at times. I now have a portable camping toilet for longer trips.

Lol, I wish. The girlfriend when I had my lower back injury told me it was too hard on her after 3 weeks. It only took 7 years to walk this well. That would have been torture for her. Lol

Self-image has a double edge. I was fully functional one day, in 30 seconds I could barely get off the floor. I have a roller walker I have used at times. I have known people that where full time in a wheelchair but not close. I try not to think about what I lost or can't do. But it is hard at times. I have to think about what I can do and find ways to do things in a safe way that I should not do. You need to look at tools that help you or make life easier as just tools. I can't imagine what your situation is or how hard it is. Just try to find something positive that you enjoy to distract you from the negative. Hopefully you have close friends and family to help. Life is full of setbacks but offers opportunities as well.

Hi, I'm about halfway between Fair Grove and Buffalo. I work in Springfield. What brought you to this site? Mine was two back injuries the first time. But medical issues over the last few years pushed me back. I improved to the point I wanted to look for a relationship but had rejection issues when I would tell them my history. If I waited to get to know them, they accused me of deceiving them. So I'm still working things out. Everyone on this site tries to be helpful and many have good suggestions.

It was hard for me to accept that I had to wear protective products to be able to do things I wanted, to go places, to even work and even get sleep. Now I look at them as tools to do that. And it beats dealing with wet or dirty clothes, car seats, beds. And accidents in public. Oh I forgot my van with a camping portable toilet really helps for trips. And works as a place to clean up and change as well.

I feel for you,, incontinence changes everything. Injuries or medical issues are hard enough, but Incontinence can be overwhelming in public and in private. I also had a hard time with night time issues, water proof mattress cover, bed pads over sheets help. I had a hard time finding the right products and size that worked for me at the time. I got on this site to learn from others. Doctors were not much help. In time with timed bathrooms breaks and diet I learned to kinda have some control over bowel and badder. I have upper and lower back injury issues. The more active I am the harder it is to manage. Now I mostly use Northshore med pull-ups day and night. If control is on a day/night off, then I fall back to diapers. Having triple bypass in 2017 didn't help my upper back and going diabetic and meds for that complicated things. Water pills are from hell. If I take that it's high capacity diapers and booster pads. If I try to hold to get to the bathroom, the 4th or 5th time I go I lose all ability to hold it. Odd thing is when my back is real bad, if I wear my back brace seems to help with pain and alittle for the incontinence. I don't get the normal warning time to go to the bathroom, now it's like 3 to 10 min warning. It's only 25 miles to work. ??

Yes, I didn't even want to tell the comp doctors I was having issues. I didn't want to be put out of work. But the nerve test blew that idea. With electrodes above the injury near my spine and the rest on my lower body, just as soon as the test started control left. So much for denial. I left the test in diapers. Then I was out of work for 2yrs.

Mine are so painful that they can put me on the floor. I have learned not to try and hold too long to get to the bathroom. If I do hold too long when I relaxed to go is when the spasms hit. Doctor suggested magnesium might help as I also get muscle spasms and not to hold to long. I don't always get the signals till it's time to go. Now I start leaking before the spasms hit most of the time

For me it's upper and lower back injuries. Throw in poor fluid balance, constipation, bladder spasms, now mid diabetic. It's 25 miles to work, after leaving at 24.5 miles or so that sensation hits that I need to go. I make it to the house success. Put the key in the lock and just start to turn it. Then that other sensation hits. Too late.

Not a good idea. I have similar injury plus upper spinal. and if you have the nerve damage also. You might not even know if you get a uti and possibly go septic. Dehydration led to internal bleeding. Another time I went to the ER after 8hrs of thinking I had something out of place in my back, only to be told I was having a heart attack. 3 stints and some damage good to go. If you have nerve damage you have to think about the what ifs from heat, cold, diet, meds, exercise. Diapers can even cause skin infections that can get out of control if you don't knows it's starting. The stents sound like an idea. I did know a guy that had the bladder muscles cut to get away from indwelling catheters. Talk to your doctor. Wish you luck

I'm using Northshore now, plan to use their subscription to get a discount on products. I have diapers for backup and use pull-ups daily. Booters pads help to extend the pullups. I keep a diaper with pull-ups and wipes in my bag for when I need to change in public. I'm about ready to experiment with washable pull-ups with lines and maybe disposable pads.

Back cking things out. Been away for awhile. Seems medical issues keep reverting me back. Open to chat with others. Also open to find others in the area. Steve

I have been away for awhile. I'm still dealing with my hangups with my issues but dealing with them alot better. I'm back to learn from others experience.

I'm still north of Springfield. Been away from this site for awhile. Still looking to connect with others. Still learning to deal with my issues. Luckily I have been able to control and deal with my hangup and accept life as it is. Anybody out there in the area?

Not sure, like some it love /hate. It took a very long time to accept the need for protectives of all types. But with nerve damage i have to manage the issues and problems as they come up. So for me diet, medications ,enemas, pullups, diapers, bed pads are just tools to cope with daily life. Does it cause problems in life , not sure on that. But when my system shuts down and im constpated and throw up non stop. I have to take Linzess to help and it puts me back in diapers 24/7 with changes every hr till my system is empty. Or if i do too much and set my lower back off, the spasms can cause bladder/bowel control issues or stop me from going and cause contol issues. Oh and the best part is on a date, at work or social gatherings when people notice how often i go to the bathroom to ck for leakage as i am not always aware of the problem. And they point out how many times i went to the bathroom. And a bonus would be the heat rash and smell in hot weather. I count myself as very lucky, i can still walk, and do almost anything i want to do. That could change at anytime. Pullups and diapers do allow me some freedom to do as i want. Its hard to find someone to find someone that can accept me and my issues.

I like them when its hot out but have to use high capacity types. Took awhile to work into them. Still fall back in diaps when i do too much or im not watching my diet. Really like the Abri type pullups. Almost like a light diaper.

I would give up using them but the docs need to give me a better spine that works or it could be messy at times

As said above try using nasal saline spray or the nasal gel. It takes a day or two for improvement. Using the gel or vaselin with a Q-tip helps also. But be warned not to stick it in tooo far, Och or the lose of some brain cells ?

Not sure how long you have been in Springfield but wish say welcome to the area. I am about 20min north of town now. Was on the west side for about 20yrs. Lots to do and see in the area even in winter. I am still learning about computers and lost half the time on finding my way around this site LOL.

For me its both upper and lower back injuries plus permanent nerve blocks to reduce pain. With nerve damage to both legs and spasms in most parts of my body, when my back is worse the degree of incone goes up with it. Somewhere all the signals get messed up or dont get to the right places. Or I dont recconise and respond to them. And just got out for a heart attack has really screwed up my nerves system, back pain is far worse than before for no reason. Last doc visit I could hardly walk and had to explain why I was still wearing protective undies. They had me in those belted protectives in the hospital because of all the meds. What a surprise that is not in my work comp records of problems in that area. That was sure fun to explain, cant wait to see what the insurace has to say. But I did learn that the only true pain free time or sleep I will ever get is only when I am completly --- sedated = = = peace

In high school we had a girl that had her pelvis and legs crushed in a bad wreck when she was younger. If she wanted to go out in a group outing, most of her better friends would pick her up first and store the supplies in the trunk. It didnt always go well for her all the time, but she knew that she had friends that were there for her. We also made it very clear to others in school or in public that she was not to be made fun of or picked on for thier entertainment. Dating for anyone with birth or medical issuses is not easy. I do think self estem and confidence and some luck plays a big part. But you cant control what others think or thier friends. I know that I could date someone that was incon, but I now face the same problem of finding someone as well. It is hard to judge how much info to give out at first meeting someone, dont want to scare them off but not decieve them either. So I am still learning, what I thought I knew about dating is like starting all over from scatch. All I can do is wish ya luck and keep tring.

I am not sure on some of your questions, but for me the more my back is irritated and more pain the more I have problems with incon. This can range from minor seeps. slow seeps to sudden uncontrolled urge for bladder or bowel or if real bad = both. I have nerve damage in both upper and lower back so if I try to do too much the more issues I get. My best Doc thinks my nervous system get overwhelmed with all the signals and it can last for hours to days. My personal guess is WHO KNOWS just have to wake up and start again tomorrow. I have known of people that peed their pants from extreme fear, and one described it as almost like fainting.But that was life threatening circumstances. I would not recomend that to anyone, could have a bad day.