GET A FREE GIFT WITH EVERY ORDER over $15 excluding freight costs. Get two gifts if over $30 excluding freight! NOTE: Freight costs are calculated at checkout. Payment options; credit card or direct bank credit See full details of our payment options here and shipping costs here Incontinence - Manage it for a Better Quality of Life Incontinence is not a disease. The word means "an unplanned occurrence of bladder or bowel functions." It is not the end of normal living. There is help available for everyone. New Zealand residents can use the Surebuy assessment form to enable us to help you. There are many causes of incontinence. If you have episodes of incontinence, please see your doctor. Incontinence can be cured, treated and always managed, so that it does not change your lifestyle. The worst thing you can do is "suffer in silence." There are medications, devices, exercises and even surgical procedures that can improve the control of bladder and bowel functions. Even something as simple as locating the nearest restrooms when shopping, can be helpful.

These things may interest you?

• There are approximately 280,000 New Zealanders of all ages and walks of life who currently experience problems with their bladder - about 7% of the population.
• Urinary incontinence has recently been identified by the World Health Organisation as a major health issue in developed and developing nations.
• Urinary incontinence is an important problem in children and has it's own name - enuresis. Around 13% of 5-10 year olds and 5% of 11-15 year olds suffer from nocturnal enuresis.
• Urinary incontinence is more common in women than men with about 180,000 NZ women suffering from bothersome urinary incontinence. The incidence is higher amongst Maori women.
• Bladder problems become more prevalent in men once they reach 65 years of age - an enlarged prostate and other medical conditions are a common cause.

This is not a disease but a symptom that tells us that something within us is not functioning properly. That's why medical attention is a must. Find out what is causing your particular situation. There are many causes, let's look at the most common:

Some Common Causes

Stress Incontinence

This is the most common result of weak bladder/sphincter muscles. It's not a heavy flow, but a small release of urine when you lift something heavy, sneeze, cough, laugh, or even kneel down to work in the garden.

Urge Incontinence

Did you ever experience coming home after being out all day, and as soon as you put the key in the door, you have to go immediately? This occurrence is an urge incontinence situation. If you have "urge," I'm sure you can think of many instances when you wished the distance to the toilet was shorter.

Overflow Incontinence

This happens when the bladder cannot be completely emptied. The result can be a dribble or continued leakage. A man with prostate problems can often experience "overflow."

Functional or Reflex Incontinence

This means complete loss of bladder control. It is often the result of spinal cord injury, stroke, or nerve damage. This situation is most definitely a call for medical assistance. There are techniques, devices and methods available to manage even the most severe occurrences of bladder loss.

Enuresis

This is bed wetting. It has many causes. There are many ways to solve or manage enuresis. See your doctor to get the proper help. Bed wetting is often the result of not being able to get to the bathroom. You may know you have to go but, due to a lack of mobility, you can't get out of bed and get there on time. Help is available.

Treat the Cause - Not the Result

There are many types of treatment that are available to eliminate or reduce unplanned occurrences. Muscle strengthening exercises, especially for women, have a high degree of success. Your doctor can evaluate your situation to determine the proper exercise for you. Drug therapy can be helpful. Please be sure to tell your docter if you are taking any prescription drugs; sometimes medicine for one situation can cause another, such as loss of bladder control.

There are many surgical innovations being developed that can control bladder functioning for both men and women; check on them.

Products that can Help

A major area of bladder management involves the use of absorbent products. The types of incontinence mentioned before - stress, urge, etc. - can all be contained. Most often absorbent products are used in conjunction with other treatment methods to ensure dryness and comfort.

There are many products available, from large adult briefs, both disposable and reusable, to very light super absorbent liners for stress problems. The better products will have information on the packaging that tells you their effective absorbent capacity. Select the level of absorbency you need to be confident and comfortable. This may not be the biggest or most absorbent product.

For example, a person with stress occurrences would not need a brief. A light disposable pad or reusable ladies panty or men's brief with a washable pad may be the preferred alternative.

On the other hand, if you have bowel leakage, select a product with adequate space for containment - like a large pad with mesh pants or a disposable brief.

Finally...

Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I hope it is helpful. However, we are not doctors, and cannot diagnose or prescribe. See someone who can!
What we can do is introduce you to the broadest range of high quality products that provides you with a selection to meet your individual needs....