Adult bedwetting is a common – if uncommonly spoken of – issue that causes a lot of heartache, especially for people who are hesitant to reach out for help and advice on how to approach the problem. However, the power is in your hands to make your life, or that of a loved one, significantly more pleasant, by simply taking these “first-responder” actions today.
Speak to Your Doctor Today
If you or a loved one suffers from enuresis, or adult bedwetting, chances are you high you’ve been avoiding the inevitable discussion with your doctor. You may be aware that your doctor is well-positioned to help, but still, it is an uncomfortable topic and one you’d much prefer solving on your own, with the help of the internet if necessary.
However, despite the plethora of information available online on the topics of incontinence and bedwetting, it is important to discuss it with your doctor for several reasons, the most compelling of which is that your doctor can often help diagnose the cause, which lends itself to the most effective solutions. In some cases, your doctor may be able to refer you to an appropriate specialist who can minimize or even obliterate the bedwetting issue.
Protect Yourself and Your Furniture
At the same time, it is also of high importance that you consider your protection options. As long as bedwetting is an issue, your bedding, your loved one’s skin and your furniture are all at risk of damage – and can easily be protected with the right products and cautionary measures.
Protection for the Bed
Bed pads and mattress protectors are a great way to address the problem of your mattress getting wet by nighttime leaks.
Mattress protectors are commonly fitted tightly around the mattress itself, beneath the bed sheet, and ensure long-term protection. Be sure to get a machine washable, waterproof option if you choose to go this course.
Another option is bed pads, which you can get in disposable or reusable versions and lay on top of the bed sheet to keep the entire area under the user dry throughout the night.
Protection for Clothing and Bedding
Although it’s always important to protect your mattress as a back-up, there will still be a lot of laundry and inconvenience involved in bedwetting unless you go one step further and use wearable protection to contain the mess in the first place.
For this purpose, you may want to consider liners for individuals who are only likely to leak a bit throughout the night, pull up underwear for active adults who tend to wet the bed, and in more extreme cases, diapers for adults who are less active and prone to significant leaking episodes.
Protection for the Skin
But that’s not all – besides for protecting yourself from the inconvenience of laundry and messy cleanups, it is also imperative to avoid inadvertent skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to urinary moisture or feces.
A great start would be the use of barrier creams which serve as a layer between the patient’s skin and any urine or feces that may be resting on it. Another helpful tactic is to purchase disposable incontinence products that feature a “dryness” feature, which means that it works to quickly wick all moisture away from the skin and deep into the core.
Other Important Measures
The tips above are a great place to start with your journey of managing adult bedwetting. However, there are many other simple steps you can take to get ahead of the game and make your future look a little bit more hopeful.
