Alpha Lipoic to help with incontinence.

Hi Bonnie!
I will check on the grocery stores like you suggested. Usually, when we go shopping, I drink less water before we go so I don't have to use the bathroom. However, I'm careful not to become dehydrated. That's a good idea about the combination of Depends and Poise and underwear! I'll have to try that.

I can see how going on vacation could be a problem for available bathrooms. My husband and I don't travel any more so that's not an issue. I'm 76 and he's 81 plus he has lung cancer. So we stay home a lot and actually really enjoy it! We keep busy with little projects etc. My husband just put in two new back steps on the porch. It's a less stressful life style and I think better for our health.
Thanks for the suggestions!
PML

Now that I'm going through incontinence, I am noticing that the Furosemide (water pills) that I take merely increase the urine flow. I guess I should have expected that. It's causing me to lose weight when I'm not trying to lose weight! I'm going to be mentioning this to my doctor to see if perhaps the Furosemide should be decreased or eliminated. Does anyone else have this problem with incontinence?
PML

I took oxybutynin for years to reduce urge to urinate. My Mayo urologist took me off of it and of course now I'm having increased incontinence. One of my friends had a botox treatment to reduce leakage! She thinks it's great. I don't have any idea if that would be appropriate in my case but am going to ask! Vicki

Hi ldrlaw!
I considered Oxybutynin but one of the side effects is that it lowers your blood pressure and I don't need that. But the fact that it worked for you it seems odd that your doctor took you off of it. However, he is the doctor and we aren't. I had the process that your friend has and is so happy with. It worked great forme for 9 years and then quit. My doctor said it's no longer available so now I've just decided just to live with my incontinence. I'm hoping that my doctor will take me off of the water pill. It increases the incontinence! Poise pads work the best for me.
Good luck!
PML

Thanks PML - the Doctors explanation of why he took me off of oxybutynin made sense of the time but now I don’t remember what it was. Good to know the Botox worked for you for that long – disappointing it no longer does. When I owned/ran a Group Home I called myself the queen of Deprnds but I agree with you for our situation Poise is very helpful. Thanks for your input; take care.

My Home Health Agency says it doesn't discuss "incontinence" so my sudden massive urge incontinence goes unchecked except for my makeshift urinals that keep me mostly homebound and chilly in the winter.

What is special about Poise pads - any good for my type (2C/event!)? Sorry if this is tfi!

Hi!
Poise pads are very absorbent. I wear 3, 2 large (6) and 1 medium (4) with toilet paper daily. It prevents leaking onto your clothing or a chair plus I put toilet paper on top of that. It takes a little getting used to but it does work and you can go on about your regular activities. When I go shopping or whereever, I try and drink less water but watch not to get dehydrated also.
PML

PML - I haven't seen Poise pads so my questions will be somewhat misinformed.
Do those numbers reflect absorbency or physical dimensions?
Are the pads stacked together for a days outing?
Or worn singly and disposed of as needed?
And what purpose does the tp serve?
Last, is your configuration of pads up to a sudden emptying of 2 cups or urine at once?
Thanks for any details.

Hi Notmoff,
The Poise numbers reflect their length. They are all very absorbent. I stack them one on top of the other with folded up toilet paper on top of that. The toilet paper is easily discarded when it is soiled and then, replaced. Depending on your urine flow, is where the number of pads used comes in. You have to experiment to determine what works best for you. These pads aren't cheap so the toilet paper deflects the cost somewhat. However, these days toilet paper isn't cheap either. It also depends on how much liquid you drink. You need to find a balance between how much liquid to drink and not becoming dehydrated. Let me know if I can be of any more help.
PML

Thanks for being open to further questions.
My distant memory of sanitary pads is that they had plastic liquid-proof backing so stacking did not work. So, I gather the stacked pads are disposed of as filled, and you simply have confidence that any one event won't overwhelm one absorbent poise pad, right?