I have read and re-read post after post and consider myself as well versed as any of us can be about what to expect in the different stages of this disease. BUTuntil it is actually happening to you you are definitely not prepared. I have been purchasing items for incontenance issues and kept my bad ready in the car in case my dh has issues away from home. These items are expensive. My dh does not wear the items daily, but that is changing fast. As of this week he will be wearing protection 24/7. My question is: How do you afford the expense of disposable underware, is re-usable undergarments advisable and sufficient, how do you know which is best both for the loved one and the pocket book? Any suggestions is appreciated.
a) if Walmart ones fit, they're the cheapest and as good as most. b) you itemize at the end of the year on your taxes; they're deductible. c) My husband was incontinent at home for over two years. I did not change him every time he peed.
all of the above said, it is a pain and an expense. I don't mean to minimize it.
mammie at the very least you try to buy the disposables like briegull says at discount places when on sale. they never go bad and you can stock up. even the pads that go in them for extra absorbency can be bought ahead on sale. depends now has a value pack 19dol or so for 30 at walmart i have been buying them and the tena overnite pads for inside. at mimimum you can change the pad inside and not the whole depend if its not wet. it does add up during the year for sure. but if you arent into the disposables you will be washing alot of underwear and replacing when stained and extra wash loads which add up as well. we just have to cut budget somewhere to allow for this expense. its a necessity if they are incontinent. divvi
mammie- briegull & divi give good advice - they've been down this road before us. DH is not yet incontinent but does not wipe himself clean, thus staining white undies. Although I try to surpervise the wiping he is not always cooperative. So I no longer buy white underwear - only dark colors which wash fine and do not show the stains. Don't know how much longer this will work but it has helped so far.
LFL--this is something for you to think about--my hb had no trouble accepting the disposables, I think because he always wore white briefs. If you get yours used to dark colors, you may run into resistance when you decide to switch out to disposables. Of course, Depends now makes them in patterns and colors, but they are much more expensive than the regular white ones.
The Tena brand look more like regular underwear. You can find these at Walgreen's sometimes on sale for $5.00 off. My husband can't use these any longer...but, they were the best I could find.
I just bought a box of 75 for $41.99 at Costco. Thanks for the heads-up about them being deductible at the end of the year. My hubby just started wearing them when are away from home or anywhere too far from a bathroom. I was pretty shocked that he could make a total poopy mess of his pants with it running down the back of his legs and he didn't feel embarrassed or even notice what he left behind on his butt and legs. I'm not sure how long it's been this bad because he tries to wash them out himself and then hides them from me. And I'm the one who never wanted kids.