According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) in the USA, as many as 70 percent of people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are not receiving medical care for their symptoms.
The stigma of faecal incontinence is so great that according to NHS research only 20% of sufferers report their symptoms to their GP. However, finding the correct product to manage faecal incontinence can be life changing and prevent many accidents and embarrassing events.
How do you choose the correct faecal incontinence product?
When choosing products for urinary incontinence there is a choice of washable or disposable incontinence products. However, due to the nature of faecal incontinence, disposable products are the only option. Products for managing faecal incontinence include pads of the highest absorbency, belted briefs and pull-on pants.
For those who are mobile and active, absorbent pull-up underwear is the best option. Pull-up pants enable the wearer to use them as they would normal underwear, however with the additional security of elasticated leg cuffs, an elasticated waistband and standing gather for extra protection. These features can also be found in All-in-One pads such as Tena Slip Maxi. All-in-Ones are often more absorbent and easy to put on. They are therefore recommended for less mobile users who will benefit from the extra absorbency. A belted All-in-One uses a velcro fixation system, enabling fast removal.
Here are some products we recommend using for the management of faecal incontinence:
Attends F6 Faecal Incontinence Pads
Attends F6 Faecal Incontinence Pads are anatomically shaped pads, providing a comfortable option for managing incontinence. Attends include a white waterproof polyethene back sheet and a full barrier leg cuff. If you are looking for a comfortable pad to manage faecal incontinence, the Attends F6 Faecal Incontinence may be the best choice of product for you.
The Attends Faecal Pad is a new product specially designed for effective protection and containment of faecal incontinence. The pad is designed with improved leakage protection and containment versus traditional rectangular pads.
You can buy Attends f6 Faecal Pads on our website here
For maximum performance and comfort of the pads, we advise wearing the Attends F6 alongside Attends Stretch Pants Regular, Attends Stretch Pants, Attends Stretch Fit Pants or Attends Stretch Pants Comfort. Attends has a wide range of other products available to manage light to heavy faecal incontinence including Attends Pull-On Pants, Attends Contours shaped pads and Attends Slips for more heavy/severe incontinence.
You can shop their full range here.
Tena Pants Maxi
TENA Pants is a disposable absorbent pull-up product that can be handled just like normal underwear, encouraging independence. The pants are available in four absorbency levels depending on the severity of your faecal incontinence.
The pants offer a new Feel Dry Layer for quick absorption, enhanced dryness for improved skin care and a Body-Close Fit for greater security. Tena Pants Maxi are 100% Breathable, providing extra comfort and helping skin.
You can shop our Tena Pants Maxi here
ID Expert Belt
Id Expert Belts are made from a non-woven material with a velcro fastening, which secures around the waist. The product provides comfort and discretion and is manufactured from a Cotton Feel material. The fast absorption quality of the product consists of multiple layers of super absorbent polymers. The products are designed to absorb and lock liquid inside the core of the pad.
The integrated anti-leak cuffs made of waterproof material provide added protection against leakage whilst the odour control system prevents the formation of ammonia, masking any smells. Wetness indicator lines notify the user or carer when the product has reached its maximum liquid capacity and needs to be changed.
If you feel iD Expert Belt is suitable for you, you can find them on our website here.
2 Comments
I’m looking for lightweight pads to deal with mainly fecal incontinence while active rather than resting.
At present Ive been issued with Tena pads, but they are designed mainly for inactivity and urinary incontinence .
The smaller pads are the wrong shape and also a bit bulky.
They are both very bulky and cut too wide in the crotch. The excess in cut bunches up and is uncomfortable. I also have surgical sacral nerve damage in that area.
I need something like Tena Lady ‘lights’ but perhaps 10cm longer than the “Long” size?
But ceratinly more material wider/fan shape at the back.
Can you recommend anything like that?
Hi Susan,
Thank you for your question. Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
Have you tried Attends f6 pads? They are pads designed for faecal incontinence and are 58cm in length, much longer than TENA Lady Lights. These pads are discreet so will be fine during activity.
You can purchase Attends f6 here.