A woman who wore nappies for years during adulthood after suffering with incontinence has finally beat the leaks – saying it’s “the best thing to ever happen” to her.
Sheriena Newnham has battled the issue for over two decades but says the symptoms were mild at first – it became a full-blown nightmare after she gave birth to her first child.
The 46-year-old, from North Devon tried all types of preventative treatments that she could find, but to no avail.
She was eventually forced to wear nappies every day.
Sheriena’s quality of life was heavily impacted as she began to avoid outings with friends for fear that simply laughing too much would trigger a leak.
Scrolling the internet one night, she stumbled upon a post that would change her life.
It was an advertisement for the PelviPower chair, which is designed to help strengthen pelvic muscles, available to use at her local The Physio Crew physiotherapy clinic.
In a final effort to lead a normal life, she decided to give treatment one last shot.
Incredibly, Sheriena has now been able to reclaim her freedom and ditch the adult nappies.
“I knew I really needed to sort it out as I was so embarrassed by the whole situation,” said the funeral director.
“Even my closest friends do not know about this issue.
“I’ve had many nights out where I’ve had to feign illness so I can go home as I’ve laughed or coughed too much and am wet.”
Sheriena claims that when she first went to a consultant years ago, she was told they couldn’t help her due to lifestyle factors including her weight and her being a smoker.
She said: “I had some treatments years ago to strengthen my pelvic floor, but after eight sessions they told me there was no change and they couldn’t help me.
“I gave up hope.
“I have just had to live my life wearing nappies and taking multiple changes of clothes with me everywhere I go – even to work.”
After years of failed attempts at treating the issue, luck was finally on her side.
Sheriena has had 12 sessions on the specialist chair to date, spread out over the course of six weeks.
The PelviPower device works by sending repetitive and pain-free magnetic impulses to strengthen and stimulate the pelvic floor and surrounding muscular system.
The brand claims that 20 minutes spent on the chair is the equivalent of 25,000 kegel exercises.
It has been a life-changing experience for Sheriena including a “big impact” on her sex life.
She added: “It’s the best thing to ever happen to me.
“I’ve moved down to using TENA sanitary pads over the nappies.
“It’s also had a big impact on my sex life, as I’m now able to wear lacy type Brazilian knickers instead of nappies.
“So far, it’s been amazing.”