4. What can I do to manage when I can’t make it to the toilet?
Key points
Using products
If you sometimes can’t make it to the toilet in time, there are products to help contain any pee or poo. This section gives a summary of absorbent products (ones that soak up pee or poo). Click here for pictures of these products.
There is more detailed information about incontinence products, including information on other products such as urinary sheaths and urinals, on this link: www.continenceproductadvisor.org.
You can buy these products online or in supermarkets. Own brand products can be cheaper. You may need to try a few different types to find what works best for you.
Products include:
- Disposable absorbent products (including pads)
- These come in different designs, sizes and levels of absorbency.
- Some are designed specifically for men and others for women.
- Some are designed for light incontinence and others for heavy.
- Some are designed for just pee and others for pee and poo.
- Some fit in your usual underwear and others are worn without underwear.
- Washable pants – these are washable and can work for light incontinence
- Pull ups – these are like pads but can be pulled up and worn more like normal underwear.
“Currently the black pant liners are my favourite, because most of my knickers are black…However, they’re more expensive. So, if I’m just at home I use the white ones. But I’m off on my holiday this weekend, I’m taking my black ones.”
Lydia lives in N. W. England
Research first, what size you need. Look at size guides because that's really important. because I bought no end that was too small or too big and too bulky. So, size and ease of use, like pull-on or pant liners maybe…But looking at the prices as well is a key issue…because not everybody charges the same price and you can find one supermarket or chemist could be one price and another can be more pricier.”
Roberta lives in N. W. England
If you live in the UK, the NHS Bladder and Bowel Service can give you advice and support (see Section 8. Where can I get more help?). You can look online to find your local service or ask your GP practice how to contact them and whether you are eligible for incontinence products from the NHS.
Personal hygiene and looking after skin
Keeping skin clean and dry is important to help avoid soreness or infections. If you are using a continence product, make sure that you change it regularly, before it gets full, becomes uncomfortable or smells unpleasant. How often you change it will depend on how much and the type of incontinence you have.
- When you change your product, make sure you have a bag for the used product. You can get special disposal bags (scented or non-scented).
- Wash any areas where pee or poo have touched the skin with warm water (with a gentle, non-perfumed soap or skin cleanser if needed). You can either use a cloth which can be washed at a high temperature or disposable wipes. Women should wipe from front to back.
- Gently dry skin with a soft towel. Use barrier creams or sprays (ask your pharmacist for advice) as extra protection for any redness. Report any broken skin to your healthcare professional (e.g. practice nurse or pharmacist).
- If applying barrier creams (or other ointments) to protect the skin they might reduce the absorbency of incontinence pads. Help avoid this by applying only a thin layer.
- Wash your hands when you’ve finished.
Disposing of products
Pads and wipes should never be flushed down the toilet. Continence products are often bulky and smelly. Some councils class continence products as clinical waste and provide separate collections. If your council allows you to put used pads in the bin they may provide a second bin (often for a fee). You might need to speak to your healthcare professional to access this service.
Some “Nappy Disposal systems” are suitable for adult products. These systems wrap and seal each product keeping them out of the normal bin. Bins can be quite heavy to empty.