As one might guess, as an agequeer, I rather like wearing diapers. What they might not know is that as much as I enjoy wearing diapers, I would prefer not to wear diapers all the time. Over the past few years I have been having some very severe issues with my bladder and genitourinary tract as a result of pelvic pain disorder. I have been dealing with urinary urgency to the point of near hysteria. In order to lead a normal active life I have switched to wearing diapers as much as possible. Interestingly, wearing diapers for such a significant percentage of time everyday has really opened my eyes to not only the struggles of the numerous incontinent Americans, but also on a positive note, the perks of wearing diapers.
Caveats Of Wearing Diapers:
The top 5 things that I have noticed about diapers that are terrible:
1. The Stigma- People seem to have some real hangups about bodily waste. Everybody pees. Everybody poops. As long as nobody sees it or has to be in contact with it, I don't see why it is anyone else's concern. I feel really bad for people with fecal incontinence who become shut-ins. We should not be making innocent people go into self-imposed exile because of a medical condition, yet it happens everyday. It is really silly anyway. As long as someone changes their diaper promptly, no one will notice, and if they do, I fail to see how it is an issue. I would much rather put up with an occasional odor than avoid someone who just because they are incontinent. I also am at a loss as to why anyone who has suffered an episode of incontinence in public is laughed at. If somebody pees or poops their pants, shouldn't other people ask if they are alright and try to help them? It is like bursting into laughter when a handi-capped person falls out of their wheel-chair. Incontinence is a common disabilty, in fact many magnitudes more common than wheelchairs! Even almost every "continent" person has had an accident anyway. Incontinence is something that people should be able to talk about in a frank and unashamed way. I am deeply saddened by the stigma and predjudice surrounding diapers and incontinence. Wearing diapers does not make someone a "baby" or a "senior citizen". This stigma prevents people from talking about their incontininence and thus creates barriers to getting much needed help. Many people are so embarrassed to be seen buying adult diapers that they scurry in and out of the store so quickly in their shame that they don't even take the time to read the package. People frequently purchase products that don't adequately serve their needs. It is virtually impossible to be an informed customer when no one has the courage to give their opinion on a particular brand of diaper. The stigma has to end. Good people are trapped in their homes because they are afraid they might be embarrassed by a leaky diaper.
2. Rude People-
Amazingly there are people out there who assume that only people in wheel-chairs should be using handi-capped stalls. There are plenty of disabled individuals that would benefit greatly from the use of a disabled stall. Ever tried to change a diaper in a regular little stall? Not fun... I can change standing up since I don't have fecal incontinence, but I still have a hard time in small stalls. I prefer not to have bruised up elbows! Amazingly, I have heard several stories in which someone has reported an "able-bodied individual" to the management of an establishment for using a handi-capped stall, only to have security burst open the door on some poor soul changing their diaper. This happens a lot actually. As if society could not take anymore of our dignity away... Why are people so nosy? Every time I bring my backpack with me I get so many comments, but a lady carrying her purse is fine. Security is also often quite rude. Strip searching a ninety-year old women because her pants look puffy.... Seriously. Security protocols need to be adjusted with incontinent people in mind. One cannot simply, "take their diaper off". Even disposable diapers with refastenable tapes fall apart when refastened or simply rip apart. Most people carry a finite supply of diapers on them when they get on a plane. It is not fair to ask someone to rip open up a perfectly good diaper ever, but it is especially rude when the person is only carrying one or two spares.
3. Nowhere to change!!!- I am always on the hunt for incontinent friendly bathrooms. In some American bathrooms, especially those in schools, there are no doors on the stalls! Even in handi-capped stalls there is a gap around the bottom. How am I supposed to lay down on the floor and change? Also, why are there NO trash cans in the stalls? I am constantly walking around with used diapers. Even worse still, some bathrooms have air dryers instead of paper towels, and thus no trash cans in the entire bathroom!!! Why do women get little bins when guys don't? Lots of guys who are post-prostate surgery need pads too. We treat incontinent people like criminals in this country. Nobody needs to watch me use the bathroom! It is dehumanizing.
4. Overheating- Why are diapers so hot? Disposables get "clumpy" and ruined when in contact with sweat. Cloth are better, but they are like wearing a wool sweater on your nether-regions. I don't even want to go outside during the summer. I am practically trapped at home during the summer months.
5. Water- Why aren't diapers for adults more waterproof! Every time it rains my disposable diapers get seriously messed up. Although it is painful, luckily I can hold my bladder fairly well, and can thus go swimming. If I had loss of control in addition with my urgency, swimming would be out. Adult diapers cannot go in the pool, and I refuse to "just go", like some people recommend. Seriously, do people actually pee in pools? Nonetheless pool friendly adult diapers would be great.
Perks of Wearing Diapers:
I always like to end on a positive note, so here are some nice things I have noticed about being diapered:
1. I never am uncomfortable on long car rides or when sitting in traffic.
2. I never have to get up and leave the theater.
3. I no longer have to hand in exams early to avoid peeing myself.
4. I am much less stressed about finding a bathroom in time.
5. I hardly ever wash my pants anymore because my diapers absorb the sweat and other smells that make most people's clothes dirty.
6. I don't have to go into yucky public bathrooms very often.
7. My diapers make a nice cushion for my butt, so any seat is now soft.
8. I don't freeze in cold weather.
9. Clean Diapers and powder smell amazing
10. I don't pee all over the toilet seat any more... (I couldn't help it before because my medical condition made me spray like crazy some days)
11. I don't have to clean my toilet as often.
12. Diapers are kinda cute.... especially when they have little dinosaurs on them :)
13. Don't have to get of bed when I'm tired.
14. No more waiting in line for the bathroom.
15. No more waking people up by flushing the toilet at night like 20 times!
16. I can pee without having to wash my hands.
Hopefully this list makes anyone else who wears diapers for a medical reason feel a little bit better. :) Diapers aren't that bad.
Caveats Of Wearing Diapers:
The top 5 things that I have noticed about diapers that are terrible:
1. The Stigma- People seem to have some real hangups about bodily waste. Everybody pees. Everybody poops. As long as nobody sees it or has to be in contact with it, I don't see why it is anyone else's concern. I feel really bad for people with fecal incontinence who become shut-ins. We should not be making innocent people go into self-imposed exile because of a medical condition, yet it happens everyday. It is really silly anyway. As long as someone changes their diaper promptly, no one will notice, and if they do, I fail to see how it is an issue. I would much rather put up with an occasional odor than avoid someone who just because they are incontinent. I also am at a loss as to why anyone who has suffered an episode of incontinence in public is laughed at. If somebody pees or poops their pants, shouldn't other people ask if they are alright and try to help them? It is like bursting into laughter when a handi-capped person falls out of their wheel-chair. Incontinence is a common disabilty, in fact many magnitudes more common than wheelchairs! Even almost every "continent" person has had an accident anyway. Incontinence is something that people should be able to talk about in a frank and unashamed way. I am deeply saddened by the stigma and predjudice surrounding diapers and incontinence. Wearing diapers does not make someone a "baby" or a "senior citizen". This stigma prevents people from talking about their incontininence and thus creates barriers to getting much needed help. Many people are so embarrassed to be seen buying adult diapers that they scurry in and out of the store so quickly in their shame that they don't even take the time to read the package. People frequently purchase products that don't adequately serve their needs. It is virtually impossible to be an informed customer when no one has the courage to give their opinion on a particular brand of diaper. The stigma has to end. Good people are trapped in their homes because they are afraid they might be embarrassed by a leaky diaper.
2. Rude People-
Amazingly there are people out there who assume that only people in wheel-chairs should be using handi-capped stalls. There are plenty of disabled individuals that would benefit greatly from the use of a disabled stall. Ever tried to change a diaper in a regular little stall? Not fun... I can change standing up since I don't have fecal incontinence, but I still have a hard time in small stalls. I prefer not to have bruised up elbows! Amazingly, I have heard several stories in which someone has reported an "able-bodied individual" to the management of an establishment for using a handi-capped stall, only to have security burst open the door on some poor soul changing their diaper. This happens a lot actually. As if society could not take anymore of our dignity away... Why are people so nosy? Every time I bring my backpack with me I get so many comments, but a lady carrying her purse is fine. Security is also often quite rude. Strip searching a ninety-year old women because her pants look puffy.... Seriously. Security protocols need to be adjusted with incontinent people in mind. One cannot simply, "take their diaper off". Even disposable diapers with refastenable tapes fall apart when refastened or simply rip apart. Most people carry a finite supply of diapers on them when they get on a plane. It is not fair to ask someone to rip open up a perfectly good diaper ever, but it is especially rude when the person is only carrying one or two spares.
3. Nowhere to change!!!- I am always on the hunt for incontinent friendly bathrooms. In some American bathrooms, especially those in schools, there are no doors on the stalls! Even in handi-capped stalls there is a gap around the bottom. How am I supposed to lay down on the floor and change? Also, why are there NO trash cans in the stalls? I am constantly walking around with used diapers. Even worse still, some bathrooms have air dryers instead of paper towels, and thus no trash cans in the entire bathroom!!! Why do women get little bins when guys don't? Lots of guys who are post-prostate surgery need pads too. We treat incontinent people like criminals in this country. Nobody needs to watch me use the bathroom! It is dehumanizing.
4. Overheating- Why are diapers so hot? Disposables get "clumpy" and ruined when in contact with sweat. Cloth are better, but they are like wearing a wool sweater on your nether-regions. I don't even want to go outside during the summer. I am practically trapped at home during the summer months.
5. Water- Why aren't diapers for adults more waterproof! Every time it rains my disposable diapers get seriously messed up. Although it is painful, luckily I can hold my bladder fairly well, and can thus go swimming. If I had loss of control in addition with my urgency, swimming would be out. Adult diapers cannot go in the pool, and I refuse to "just go", like some people recommend. Seriously, do people actually pee in pools? Nonetheless pool friendly adult diapers would be great.
Perks of Wearing Diapers:
I always like to end on a positive note, so here are some nice things I have noticed about being diapered:
1. I never am uncomfortable on long car rides or when sitting in traffic.
2. I never have to get up and leave the theater.
3. I no longer have to hand in exams early to avoid peeing myself.
4. I am much less stressed about finding a bathroom in time.
5. I hardly ever wash my pants anymore because my diapers absorb the sweat and other smells that make most people's clothes dirty.
6. I don't have to go into yucky public bathrooms very often.
7. My diapers make a nice cushion for my butt, so any seat is now soft.
8. I don't freeze in cold weather.
9. Clean Diapers and powder smell amazing
10. I don't pee all over the toilet seat any more... (I couldn't help it before because my medical condition made me spray like crazy some days)
11. I don't have to clean my toilet as often.
12. Diapers are kinda cute.... especially when they have little dinosaurs on them :)
13. Don't have to get of bed when I'm tired.
14. No more waiting in line for the bathroom.
15. No more waking people up by flushing the toilet at night like 20 times!
16. I can pee without having to wash my hands.
Hopefully this list makes anyone else who wears diapers for a medical reason feel a little bit better. :) Diapers aren't that bad.
