I have reposted my incontinence experience for you, with an update
When my mum started to be incontinent I used Tena lady maxi pads, which were fine. However, on one shopping trip to the supermarket there were none left on the shelf so I bought Tena Lady Maxi night. I use these day and night now they are more absorbent (even more than Tena Lady pants).
I have never registered for incontinence services as I was advised by a nurse once that the hospital NHS products are not absorbent enough. I like the maxi night pads as it is shaped at the back and has coped with “poo” accidents too.
When mum goes to day care once a week I put her in Tena Lady pants as I feel she can pull these up easier herself. I send her with spares in a shoulder bag which are quite often not needed as they take them to the loo every few hours.
The supermarket sells maxi night for £2.50 per packet of 6 pads. They are bulky to buy especially when you are doing your weekly shop, and if you shop on line I have found that quite often they are out of stock and try to sub you with Tena lady maxi which are less absorbent.
I also use Tena bed pads as it saves washing. I don’t often have to change this as the maxi night pads do the job most of the time. I buy bags for disposal (Morrison's have their own make especially for incontinent pads) when out and about and always have baby wipes in my handbag and antibacterial gel as well as spare pads of course. A satchel style handbag has pockets that accommodate my "equipment".
I now buy pads direct from Tena Lady
www.tenadirect.co.uk or Telephone 0800393431. You register for VAT exemption.
You buy them by the box as the supermarket would. They cost £10.48 per box VAT FREE, with free post (actual the post is not free) – because if you bought them from the supermarket the same would cost you £7.50, (so the £2.98 post is added to their price)
They usually have an offer on buy 4 boxes and get a box free. They have other products for washing including wipes and disposal bed pads. Tena also do products for men. The order is usually delivered within 2- 3 days and is discreetly packaged and delivered by UPS.
To update I now have products from the incontinence service, pads for during the day and different ones for night. I have only just had my first delivery, which is to last for 3 months. I still put mum in pull up pants for day care as it is much easier to manage. I have found Boots pants cheaper and softer on the skin. I am also getting a barrier cream on prescription.
It’s not nice dealing with incontinence and you want to scream sometimes when it happens at the most inappropriate time. But on the outside to Mum I am always calm and say “never mind I’ll soon have you changed”. I just remember all the times she changed me as a child and never complained once.
