Underwear options when lichen sclerosis flares

Posted by itchybits @itchybits, Jun 6 8:00pm

Hello...I have lichen sclerosis that when flaring, affects my groin creases. I also have intermittent urinary & fecal incontinence. I do often have to wear incontinence underwear, however, the elasticized leg band irritates my groin crease. I would really love to see the adult underwear business start to cater to those of us who would do better with a "boy short" design. I have contacted the parent company of "Always Discreet" products & they have replied saying my ideas have been forwarded to research.

At home & in rare times when I feel I will be safe without incontinence products, I wear boy short underwear as it is least likely to irritate lichen sclerosis in the groin crease area.

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@urbanjane

Hello to anyone that suffers from contingence whether rectal or bladder. I had a toxic pesticide exposure in my high rise home 32 years ago. After living in the home for six months I moved. The resulting side effects were many and are ongoing issues that I now have learned to manage.
After this, I had explosive IBS in public places/ and have learned over the years how to best manage the side effects. For the rectal contingence I had a sling put in 10 years ago at the same time I put in a bladder sling. I also put in a rectal muscle stimulator. I now have replaced the first one with a new model now. This does help some but there are lots of rules you should put in place for both types of incontinence-if you have a more aggressive type.
1. See a registered dietician and someone certified in supplements.
2. Understand what medications you are taking and how they might affect these issues.
3. Understand that there are medications you can take daily that will help you with both issues. Plan your mornings near a bathroom in the morning if you tend to have loose or surprise bowel or urine issues.
4. Botox for the bladder incontinence - I see my female Urologist every three months for Botox in the bladder, I usually get five tiny pricks. This will last three or less months to help with the spastic bladder that happens when you suddenly get up from sitting down or out of bed. This does help. Medicare pays for this.

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Wow...#4 - I had not heard of Botox for the bladder...love this forum...consider myself educated but as I get older, I realize more and more how much more there is to learn.

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@urbanjane

Part two of suggestions from above,
I use certain underwear and also use a pad that sits in the center of the briefs. I use adult diapers if I am having a flare up that seems to last more that 12 hours and also use these after any surgery, thaing them with me to the hospital. It is best to go to the effort to find diapers that fit you right away, try them out and have these and the pads on hand. Know where you can easily get more , should you suddenly need them. sometimes you might order these, the order payment go through and then you find out that they are not coming for weeks.
Keep the necessary toilet cleaning aids behind the toilet hanging or close by. Have a hamper or trashcan filled with pads and diapers near the toilet, and a lined spring lid waste can near also.
Planning ahead and having all the supplies can take the stress out of living with these conditions.
I hope this is helpful and does not offend anyone.

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And...a bidet at home to minimize irritating already irritated tissue with products made of wood (TP) or products with ingredients that sting/irritate (wipes).

No need for a huge investment...get what you can afford.

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@emo

That could be a good idea with the “liquid bandage” idea. I remember my dermatologist mentioning an alternative to silicone sheets would be “painting” on liquid silicone. Maybe it’s the same thing though.

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@emo - Good brainstorming...although I have used "Liquid Bandage" myself on minor cuts, and it Stung!

But could vary by individual...the funnel idea above is intriguing too - if small enough and silicone. Will keep investigating!

Thank you.

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@itchybits

And...a bidet at home to minimize irritating already irritated tissue with products made of wood (TP) or products with ingredients that sting/irritate (wipes).

No need for a huge investment...get what you can afford.

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@itchybits - I also found - along the same lines as I think a bidet works with the water stream - that using a squeeze bottle occasionally after urinating clears the area.

I was given one after my last 2 procedures, and even had to carry it with me (already filled with water), along with other supplies like Vaseline, when I was getting back to normal and - slowly! - healing over those 7 weeks of excruciating urinating due to the laser ablation.

So, though it's not so practical to carry one along outside the home, I use it occasionally at home just for a sense of general cleansing, beyond the TP.

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@brandysparks

@itchybits - I also found - along the same lines as I think a bidet works with the water stream - that using a squeeze bottle occasionally after urinating clears the area.

I was given one after my last 2 procedures, and even had to carry it with me (already filled with water), along with other supplies like Vaseline, when I was getting back to normal and - slowly! - healing over those 7 weeks of excruciating urinating due to the laser ablation.

So, though it's not so practical to carry one along outside the home, I use it occasionally at home just for a sense of general cleansing, beyond the TP.

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I may start carrying a bottle. I usually carry wet-wipes, Aquafor & an extra pair or two of depends wherever I go. Not a big deal to add a squeeze bottle. Thanks!!

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@brandysparks

@itchybits - I also found - along the same lines as I think a bidet works with the water stream - that using a squeeze bottle occasionally after urinating clears the area.

I was given one after my last 2 procedures, and even had to carry it with me (already filled with water), along with other supplies like Vaseline, when I was getting back to normal and - slowly! - healing over those 7 weeks of excruciating urinating due to the laser ablation.

So, though it's not so practical to carry one along outside the home, I use it occasionally at home just for a sense of general cleansing, beyond the TP.

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Suggestion, but check with your doctor - add a small amount of vinegar, 1 tsp per 8 oz maybe, to the water in the bottle. A mild vinegar solution has been used forever for wound healing. It re-balances the Ph level on skin after urinating. Many articles about the use of diluted vinegar (never straight vinegar!) it may also keep bacteria from growing in your squeeze bottle in warm weather.
Here’s one article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5868106/
When I had babies (circa 1981 before baby wipes were everywhere) our pediatrician told me to use the vinegar/water solution on the baby’s bottom when changing diapers. It helped prevent diaper rash and was mild enough for the baby’s skin (no rinsing needed).

Fun fact on skin Ph balance: do you know why lidocaine stings so bad when it is used to numb your skin? Yep, Ph balance is off, and it stings until it is neutralized which luckily is quick. I tried to get the radiologist to adjust the Ph balance of the lidocaine used in my breast biopsy. Unfortunately, she said, the chemical used to adjust the Ph balance can cause the injection site (needle path) to not coagulate to heal, and can cause tissue damage.

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@triciaot

Suggestion, but check with your doctor - add a small amount of vinegar, 1 tsp per 8 oz maybe, to the water in the bottle. A mild vinegar solution has been used forever for wound healing. It re-balances the Ph level on skin after urinating. Many articles about the use of diluted vinegar (never straight vinegar!) it may also keep bacteria from growing in your squeeze bottle in warm weather.
Here’s one article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5868106/
When I had babies (circa 1981 before baby wipes were everywhere) our pediatrician told me to use the vinegar/water solution on the baby’s bottom when changing diapers. It helped prevent diaper rash and was mild enough for the baby’s skin (no rinsing needed).

Fun fact on skin Ph balance: do you know why lidocaine stings so bad when it is used to numb your skin? Yep, Ph balance is off, and it stings until it is neutralized which luckily is quick. I tried to get the radiologist to adjust the Ph balance of the lidocaine used in my breast biopsy. Unfortunately, she said, the chemical used to adjust the Ph balance can cause the injection site (needle path) to not coagulate to heal, and can cause tissue damage.

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Wow @triciaot !

Thank you very much! These are wonderful ideas & shared experiences.

Appreciate so much the thought, too.

"Keep on keeping on!" 😃

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