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Incontinence can be very frustrating and at times embarrassing. Individuals struggling with incontinence often find themselves isolating and staying home to avoid the embarrassment and stresses of dealing with bowel and bladder issues in public. This doesn’t have to be the case. Life should to be enjoyed even with incontinence. Always being prepared will give a peace of mind and provide a solution if and when an accident occurs away from home. The best way to be prepared is having an incontinence kit with you when an accident occurs. These are the top 5 essential items I carry in my kit everywhere I go.
1. Always have a dedicated bag
Having a dedicated incontinence kit is must have for peace of mind when you are at work, running errands or enjoying life outside of the house. I recommend a small gym bag that will be easy to carry and transport from your house to a vehicle. A gym bag or small backpack doesn’t scream “incontinence” and is a discrete way to bring necessary supplies with you on your active endeavors. This dedicated bag permanently stays in our vehicle and will be restocked as needed.
2. Bring extra clothing
Having an extra change of clothing is a must. I will never leave the house again without a change of clothes. The first time I realized I had real bladder issues was on a lunch break trip to Walmart. I was leaving the store approaching my vehicle when I got a sudden urge, I turned around to go back inside and didn’t even make it to the door. Luckily I had plans to go to the gym after work and a change of clothes was in my bag. Although nobody noticed, this event left a scar. Shortly after my Walmart event I began to always carry a kit with me. I learned that day that I obviously had an issue and that I certainly needed to be prepared in the future.
3. Have extra incontinence briefs
Whether you require a pad or a brief, it is essential to always have extra protection with you. A kit is a great place to discretely stash a small reserve or quick change with you wherever you go. I never leave home without at least 2 to 3 day time briefs and 1 to 2 extended wear overnight briefs. While everybody has different circumstances and different sets of unique symptoms it is a good idea to start off with more protection than you would expect to use. Overtime you will begin to understand your incontinence patterns and adjust your bag accordingly. The daytime briefs I choose to wear are: https://amzn.to/4dGJmyw . The extended use briefs that work the best for me arehttps://amzn.to/3X6g6M9. I carry a small 4 gallon trash bag to discretely dispose the brief when I am in a public restroom.
4. Hygiene items are essential
Being able to adequately freshen up in time s of need is essential in day to day life while living with incontinence. I always have incontinence wipes with me when I am out of the house. I typically put 10 to 12 wipes in a sandwich style bag and put that in my kit. There are various brands of wipes that work great. Shop around and find a brand that works best for your needshttps://amzn.to/3X6IUEx. Along with wipes and also carry hand sanitizer and a fresh smelling body spray.
5. Bed pad
I carry one incontinence bed pad in my kit just in case I end up staying in a hotel or have an unexpected stay anywhere. This gives me peace of mind when staying the night at a place that is not my own. It is much easier to carry an extra pad than to explain why I have to wash sheets at friend or family members house.