I’M 44 and my body has already begun a downhill decline.
And I openly confess that I wear nappies now and then because I sometimes wet myself.
It’s been a slow build from aged 37 to now and I’ve gone from a monthly mid-morning change of knickers to picking up a bag or two of nappies on my weekly shop at Aldi.
I don’t have kids and have never given birth but am prone to morning widdles because of a morning cough due to asthma. At night they’re caused by a lack of motivation to get out of bed and visit the bathroom.
That’s a symptom of schizophrenia and how the medication I take for it makes me exceedingly thirsty meaning I can get through four litres of liquid a day.
I’m not alone – around 14 million people in the UK have experienced incontinence. And, an additional 6.5 million suffer from some form of bowel problem, according to the health charity Bladder & Bowel.
Many suffer in silence because even in the world of social media, such issues aren’t discussed openly.
Incontinence.co.uk reports that around 300 million people worldwide need help with incontinence, mostly women.
Yet many don’t seek it simply because they’re embarrassed.
That’s why I’ve decided to announce my incontinence – I want to get a conversation started.
Also, nappies are a revelation that I need to share – these white frilly numbers are so… snug? And cosy – just like a pair of cushions around my cheeks.
I haven’t left a wet patch in my bed since I pulled that thick elastic pant around my middle-aged waist, mopping up my rogue widdles and giving me confidence to finally leave my home and admit to friends and family: “I have incontinence.”
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Dr Nerina Ramlakhan says incontinence can affect so many parts of our lives, but there's lots you can do to help yourself, including:
For advice, visit your GP and Dr Ramlakhan says: “Depending on the care board in your local area, and the outcome of an assessment, you may qualify to get incontinence products on the NHS,” added Dr Nerina Ramlakhan.
I believe they’ll catch on amongst models on the runway too.
Similar to back in the 90s when singer Sharleen Spiteri, Kylie Minogue, and TV presenter Chris Evans wore square, chunky NHS frames and fans rushed out to buy a pair.
And our most memorable nappy defender and diaper doyenne? None other than realty star Kendall Jenner.
Last year, she set tongues wagging when she was snapped at the Jacquemus Fashion Show in Paris wearing a white balloon dress with what looked like a nappy attached.
Good for her, and in the words of 80s pop-icon Adam Ant: “Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.”
Nappies off to Kendall, she was de-stigmatising what is seen as an embarrassing problem for across the globe.
Something we whisper, hide, and are ashamed of.
I say “Here, here, Kendall – it’s time to mop up the shame, and wipe off the embarrassment.”
The trend for nappy wearing is emerging slowly with fashion designers, celebrities, and influences already taking a punt on the ‘big pant’.
From Italian fashion house Iceberg’s 2020 big, bright, banded knickers to Victoria Beckham’s knitted keks – fashion designers in every city love a big knicker.
Back in 2008, trend-spotters dubbed a Japanese Fashion Show with nappies on the catwalk as “Incontinence Couture – it was only a matter of time before the diaper was worn by the elite.”
Actress Drew Barrymore has openly discussed the merits of ‘big pants’ on her podcast show, saying: “I wear big girl pants, they’re hefty and girthy.”
I refuse to be ‘caught short’ and welcome the ‘Just Can’t Wait Card‘ launched by Bladder and Bowel UK, which gives access to toilets in cafes and restaurants when you’re out and about.
I’m sure by the time I reach the fantastic five-zero, I’ll have that on my gift list.
