Little Belle

Seems a fairly balanced answer to me. What's your take on it?

I get them from incontinenceshop.com. They have excellent customer service and if you order in the morning you can usually get next day delivery to UK mainland. Interesting what you say about ID Slip Expert as I've never tried them but was considering giving them a go. Maybe I won't bother now ? ?

@Rachel1 these are my go-to nappies. I can do at least 5-6 hours reliably in them during the day and use them overnight (although I'm not a particularly heavy bedwetter). I find them really comfy and soft and the tabs have never failed on me yet. In the UK they are way cheaper than any other good quality nappy. I buy them on subscription and it works out about 67 pence per nappy. All in all, I would 100% recommend them.

That's actually really interesting - I might have to speak to the Council again about this and provide this as an example of whynthey shouldnt be expecting us to agree to it. Thanks for sharing.

I wouldn't worry about this; if you're still wearing 24/7 in 2 months' time, you'll be more adamant by then that this is the choice you want to make so you'll feel stronger about pushing back on their suggestions. I just said that nappies were the right choice for me and I wouldn't be swayed. She didn't even suggest we had a follow up appointment last time i was there - she just said to call the clinic if anything changes or I decide that I do want to get some prescription pull ups. Also, do you really need to tell the medics? I told them as I wanted to have my incontinence on my medical record (in case I'm hospitalised and am unable to tell them about it myself) but I'm not under any obligation to tell them I'm wearing nappies as it's a personal matter. Maybe that is different if you live outside the UK and have to let medical insurers know..... Anyway, enjoy your nappies and know that we're all here for you ?

I hear you @Stuffie Snake. I've been there - constantly needing the loo, having accidents and feeling embarrassed/angry/ashamed about not being able to manage my bladder like everyone else, or being the annoying person in the meeting or on the day out that has to constantly go and use the toilet. When I wasn't on the toilet I was thinking about it and it had, frankly, taken over my life. It had taken many years for it to get that bad so l'd just learnt to accept it along the way. Like you, I started to manage it with pull ups but they don't really help as I'd wet in them after about 30 minutes and then was looking for a toilet again for fear of it leaking as they're so thin. And you have to take off all your clothes in toilets with icky floors in order to change them. I can't even remember how I came to buy my first 'real' nappy but I do remember how I felt when I put it on. It felt amazing and for the first time in years I felt really safe and comforted. I did a few binge/purge cycles with nappy wearing where I longed for the comfort and security of wearing them but then suddenly hated myself for needing them. But I knew i was only putting off the inevitable as my continence was steadily getting worse. Then over a year ago I finally dived into permanent 24/7 as something finally clicked and I've never looked back since. There were still some doubts and dilemmas at first, as I was allowing what remained of my continence to slip away and I was actively encouraging myself to be a bedwetter in order to stop the instant flooding I experienced when I stood up out of bed. But it's really a case of 'go big or go home' on this one. If you need the capacity of a nappy to enable you to function normally for more than an hour or two, then there isn't really an alternative. The continence service were pretty rubbish for me too - the nurse couldn't understand why I wanted to manage my incontinence with nappies and she said I was 'giving in' to it. I had, by that time, been 'not giving in' for almost 20 years and it was exhausting. I lost all daytime continence after about 3 or 4 months (it's quite hard to measure it exactly) and I was wetting the bed before I'd reached 10 months. But I have no regrets and I've learned to be kind to myself about it. At least now I can spend my life concentrating on other things - like my career and my love of being outdoors. Keep in touch, you will find plenty of support on here from lots of people who have been through what you're going through. I also love this space because it's the only place I know where we can be honest with each other that, actually, nappies rock! Love Little Belle ?

I would ask @Kif to help you on this one; if I recall correctly, they've had a start then stop and then start again journey with bedwetting so may have a real insight into this.

I was pretty much in your position in terms of incontinence when I decided to go 24/7. For me, it was totally the right decision and I love being an incontinent nappy wearer ? I had a binge and purge about a year prior to that but I've now been 24/7 for over a year. I would say it took about 4 months for me to feel like I was totally incontinent during the day and nearly a year for night time wetting to kick in. This is obviously quicker than untraining when 100% continent at the start but it was still plenty of time to gauge if the lifestyle felt right.

I'm only about 5 minutes max to change a wet nappy. I apply cream every time which only takes an extra 10 secs or so but is so worth it as I've found that rashes can jump out at you from nowhere! I also have multiple places in the house with some supplies so I can change in those rooms without going to the bathroom. I spent far too much time in that place before I went 24/7 so I avoid it now apart from #2s and showering! ? Making quick changes without a fuss is my number 1 goal with wearing nappies all the time. I enjoy this lifestyle because it's so convenient. If I made a whole thing about nappy changes I may as well be hanging around on the toilet. That's just my thing, I appreciate some people may really love the ritual. Just a little hack I have for this - wooden lolly sticks (get them from craft stores) make great applicators and keep the cream off your hands. I wipe any residual cream on the stick off after application onto the fresh nappy padding too.

@jonbearab I totally agree with @oznl that this is something you just find easier when you don't overthink it. My opinion is that the 12 month program is all about replacing expert control of your bladder (being potty-trained) with expertly controlling loss of control (untraining). As someone who is autistic and a massive control freak myself, I recognise the need to log every sign of progress, set goals etc - I do it with literally everything I do - but I haven't done it with my nappy wearing. I just starting wearing them and enjoying them and had an open mind about where this weird journey would take me. I especially applied it to being wet at night and decline in my #2 control. One has happened, the other not yet. But I'm not bothered if it never does because the safety and comfort of wearing a nappy is constantly with me whether I use it to it's maximum potential or not. And let's be honest, both of those developments are something of a final frontier in untraining which might not be as desirable once you achieve them. I will also add that, as a 50-something woman, who has had children and an injury in my 40s, my continence was pretty poor anyway. It sounds like you started with a very good level of continence. So like everything in life, it's difficult to make comparisons with your neighbour as they've walked a very different path. Be kind to yourself about what is 'progress' or 'lack of progress' and try and relax and enjoy your life in nappies. There is only one way that your levels of continence will go - ultimately you will be completely incontinent - but avoid trying to control when that will be. In the meantime, enjoy your nappies! Little Belle ?

This is exactly what works for me too and its been a gamechanger! And I love that this method means you don't need to wear overpants which makes things more streamlined AND you can do easy nappy checks through the plastic if you buy transparent ones ?

I never set out to untrain either but my level of incontinence before going 24/7 meant that I had to make some decisions which have inevitably lead to complete #1 incontinence. Once I decided I needed to wear nappies (not pull ups or pads which became useless) then I had to relinquish what was left of my ability to hold as you have to use your nappy for all #1s once it's on. That meant learning how to wet sitting, driving, walking, lying in bed; which felt like deliberately untraining and so it left me with a lot of conflict/guilt/doubt at first. Once I realised how much calmer and happier I was in nappies, I resolved those issues and became at peace with being permanently in them and my reasons for having had to actively untrain the last of my continence.

Haian pull on adult plastic pants. 3 in a pack £22.99. I bought medium as I wear medium nappies and they're a good fit - plenty of room to accommodate a full load LOL but small enough to fit nicely. They are HUGE on the side but I just fold them down and the leg seams are fairly tight but as that's where 99% of your leaks come from, it's no bad thing. The brands @Beccathelittle recommended just weren't available in the UK.

@Beccathelittle and @jonbearab - plastic pants have just changed my life! I ordered some off Amazon after your post @Beccathelittle and I've worn them 24/7 since they arrived on Saturday. @jonbearab you're right they are gamechangers! I think the reason I never considered getting them before was that they seemed a bit too niche or a bit too ABDL for me. But now I'm so glad I realised that I AM actually a bit niche seeing as I wear nappies all day and all night! ? They've given me sooo much more confidence as I was having plenty of leaks and I was always very conscious of whether or not I was a bit whiffy. As you say, they eliminate worries on both those fronts. And after about a year of being totally IC for #1, I've noticed that I seem to be sliding towards IC for #2 too ? so even more reason to need the confidence and discretion that those bad boys give me. So thanks for the great advice ? ?

Welcome and congratulations on your decision. Wearing 24/7 is such a relief after years of anxiety about leaks and accidents. I've never looked back after nearly 18 months and my continence has completely gone now so it's a good job too ? I look forward to hearing all about your adventures!