Tena Lady Pads

...was an advert for new Tena Mini Lady Pads. This not only managed to make me jump but also thoroughly embarrassed me in a room full of people since he followed that with “That’s just what you need!” Cue some very strange looks from a roomful of people who now thought that I had all the bladder control of a 65-year-old woman. I probably do. But not many people are privy to this this. I’m 22 and it’s not like I want to go round with a big sticker that ...
...a see through bag with Tena Incontinence pads written all over it, I wanted to be able to look my postman in the eye after all (plus his quite cute, and there’s nothing like a bit of early morning flirting to start the day off). But like the pads themselves, they discreetly arrived through the letterbox a short while later.

Yes, I suffer from Urinary Incontinence (UI), which means I can’t leave the house without a bag full of pads ... more

“Brilliant!” This is exactly what my boyfriend said when, wedged between a particularly dull episode of Buffy, there was an advert for new Tena Mini Lady Pads. This not only managed to make me jump but also thoroughly embarrassed me in a room full of people since he followed that with “That’s just what you need!” Cue some very strange looks from a roomful of people who now thought that I had all the bladder control of a 65-year-old woman. I probably do. But not many people are privy to this this. I’m 22 and it’s not like I want to go round with a big sticker that says, “Hi – I pee myself”.

However, once my cheeks returned to normal colour I thought it was quite exciting and possibly the answer to all my nightmares. So I did a little bit of investigating the next day and found you could send off for a free sample (www.tena.co.uk). So I did! All the while praying it didn’t come in a see through bag with Tena Incontinence pads written all over it, I wanted to be able to look my postman in the eye after all (plus his quite cute, and there’s nothing like a bit of early morning flirting to start the day off). But like the pads themselves, they discreetly arrived through the letterbox a short while later.

Yes, I suffer from Urinary Incontinence (UI), which means I can’t leave the house without a bag full of pads (until I discovered Tena, I used to go through sanity towels at a rate of knots, and they weren’t quite up to the job) otherwise I run the risk of wetting myself and spending the rest of the day in urine stained tights. Not very convenient if you then have to spend the day in an important meeting.

I have to wear protection most of the time, normally I wear pantyliners and save the Tena Lady Pads for when I am not very well and leakage is at its highest. (I sound like a faulty drainpipe!) It is undignified and embarrassing, partially when you are not adequately prepared. In cases like this the best course of action is to either to sit down quick, cross my legs or grab my crotch (not to be done in a room full of people…)

For me UI is brought on by various things but mostly coughing, caused by years of chest physio and the like. I try and counteract this unsavoury symptom by doing pelvic floor exercises. There also exists a procedure involving Virginal cones, which look horrific. Sorry but even I’m not that brave. I’ll stick to Tena thanks. UI can have many causes and can happen to anyone. The main types of UI are Stress and Urge (I think I’ve just invented a different but exciting cartoon duo!) and many, as do I, suffer a mixture of the two.

With Stress incontinence leakage occurs with exertion, such as coughing, sneezing and playing table tennis (though not just table tennis obviously). This is due to the increased pressure on the bladder.

Urge incontinence is that “ I need to pop to the loo, opps it looks like I've already been” scenario. Which always happens at the worst moments. More recently while at work talking to my boss, and while crossing the road surrounded by people. Trust me its very differcult to discuss the report you are writing while urine is trickling down the inside of your leg and tights.

Tena pads have gone some way to help that. The more I cough the worse my incontinence becomes, so if I’m going downhill health wise its time for Tena. The best thing about Tena is that if they are in your handbag, people just think they are ordinary sanitary towels, as they come in the same little plastic bags that you can roll them up into to dispose of.

An extra advantage of Tena is that they have an special control odour which means you don’t have to worry about going out and about smelling like you have too many cats and not enough time to look after them. It isn’t a nice odour, you wouldn’t want to spray your armpits with it for instance, but it’s pleasant enough. Lets face it’s anything’s better than smelling of wee. Farting and the smells they produce are often deemed funny, but there is something about the smell of urine that makes people run for the hills screaming “UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” This odour protection means you do not have to change the pad as frequently. Still I don’t recommend leaving it place too long, after you’ve “used” it. Small children will start to shout names at you in the street.

You will get between 10 and 20 in one packet of Lady Pads, depending on which size you buy. There are seven different sizes, depending on the amount of leakage you get you may want to keep a variety of them at home. There are: Ultra Mini, Mini, Mini Plus, Normal, Extra, Discreet and Super. I would advise that you only use Super in the privacy of your own home, otherwise it looks like you have a jumbo sized roll of toilet paper wedged between your legs. To say that you’ll be waddling down the high street may be an exaggeration but one that’s not too far off. I would say that any of the Mini range is suitable for those women who only suffer with Stress UI.

Yes they are quite expensive but I would rather have these than panty liners or towels as they’ve have been designed to hold a couple of pints of the yellow stuff and are a comfortable sung fit. In comparison to sanity protection, which are not designed to hold a large sudden gush and can produce leaks, they are far superior.

Also Tena have this magical protection layer on the top, so you are not left feeling damp after any accidents – with pantyliners and towels you are always left with that slightly soggy feeling.
 

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