If you or a loved one are experiencing incontinence issues, it is often a bewildering and stressful situation. There is a disconcerting affect where the individual is encountering a literal loss of control; understandably this can be very stressful. There’s a sense of a regression to a child-like state that is frustrating and many people experience shame. This sense of embarrassment is perhaps the most critical factor in patients not using supplies designed to manage incontinence.
According to the National Association for Continence, there are over 25 million Americans that experience these symptoms. There are numerous conditions that can cause incontinence from an enlarged prostate to pregnancy. There are varying levels of how the condition manifests itself, from very light urinary wetting, to complete loss of bladder and bowel control. The most important thing to do is to address the issue head-on in an open and honest way. No one is going to be happy dealing with a loss of control that is so fundamentally personal, however by coming to terms with incontinence either yourself or loved one can realize this is a common medical issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
Helping to improve the stigma surrounding incontinence is David Dorris, the CEO of Bay Medical Company and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas in Molecular and Cellular Biology. For David, incontinence is more than a dollars and cents business proposition or a scientific problem to be solved. Rather it’s something he’s seen first hand when a relative was dealing with it.
“I had a family member who was struggling with incontinence, for me that’s what always comes back in my mind is to think of that family member who might be a little embarrassed, who never thought they would be wearing diapers again,” David explains. “Personally, I don't think anyone should be embarrassed because it’s a part of life.”
Having that personal connection allowed David and Bay Medical to think about how to help patients and caregivers get the products that they need. Once again it came down people feeling shame when they buy these products. For many manufacturers, that means that they package the products in a very nondescript way so that they can avoid the embarrassment of buying them in a store.
Versatility and Convenience When Shopping Online
The internet has become a transformational tool for buying incontinence products. It’s much deeper though than simply avoiding the embarrassment of buying these products in a store versus them shipping directly to your home. When it comes to these types of supplies, there is a tremendous amount of variation in terms of what a patient might need. There are dozens of types of garments and pads designed for numerous kinds of incontinence with varying levels of severity, in addition to sizes that can fit any body type. There are also a wide variety of ancillary products like creams and wipes. What this means for the customer when they walk into a grocery store or pharmacy is they will be looking at an extremely limited selection because a store has only so much space. When it comes to a product as personal as this, that’s a huge disadvantage for the consumer. It’s one thing not have your favorite hot sauce at a store, but to be forced to wear an ill-fitting bladder control pad is a real headache.
“The internet has helped so much, you can get the correct product now!” David explains. “We have such a wide array of brands, sizes, absorbent levels, and bladder control pads, not to mention the creams and underpads and different grades of these products.”
The fact of the matter is that if you or a family member are experiencing incontinence, there’s no getting around that it’s a bummer. It’s a challenge that will, unfortunately, carry a stigma for many people. However, thanks to the dedication of David Dorris and men and women like him, it’s a challenge that can be overcome. The products have never been lighter or better designed, and with the internet, you can have the precise product you need delivered discreetly to your door. And for seniors who can’t drive anymore, this service becomes vital.
“We’re excited that customers now will be able to get the exact product they need to improve their quality of life,” David explains. “You can also set up for automatic shipments which means you will always have what you need, delivered to your front door.”
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