When it was obvious that I was IC, I went directly to pull-ups. My wife got me guards, but I was never comfortable with them staying in place etc. I didn't waste time with pads either. Then she suggested that I didn't need to do pull-ups
all the time, which is true, but I didn't like having to
plan ahead and change when I was about to go out etc.
So I just wore pull-ups every day and wore a
more absorbent pull-up when I knew I was going to be away for longer (like Saturday mornings when I do my errands and shopping). This has paid off because there were times when I would have an unexpected accident. Traffic, or stuck in a drive thru for take out for too long, on the phone too long, etc. Even at home, we have one bathroom and sometimes the bathroom is occupied when I urgently needed it. It is reassuring to not have to pee yourself publicly!
I sometimes wear the Tena Flex when I want to air out some, or if I can't get my Tena Ultimate Extra pull-ups on sale (these are about the same cost). The only problem I have with the Flex is that because it feels more like a diaper, I sometimes tend to use it as a diaper rather than make the trip to the toilet (my bad).
My wife was not very accepting in the beginning. It took longer for her own acceptance than my own I think. But in time and the fact that I accidentally wet the bed a few times, has brought her to the point of acceptance. I now wear the Tena Super brief for overnight with plastic pants. I do wear PJs over the diaper, which helps to maintain some semblance of dignity, rather than be in your face about it. Initially I wanted her to know what was going on but it was all too much information. She was happier when I didn't keep bringing it up. She will ask if she wants to know something. So now she knows and trusts that I will wear what I need to, to manage my own IC.
I started to have IC when I took an older relative out shopping. I was horrified at the thought of peeing myself in the checkout line (which I barely avoided). So at one point it was my wife who had suggested that I needed to wear a diaper when I went out. But I guess she didn't expect me to take that advice seriously.
A week later, I mustered the courage and bought my first package of adult pull-ups (I don't remember what they were, some unisex thing). Anyway, when it was time to go shopping again, I was standing in the bedroom holding the white pull-up diaper in my hand for her to notice when she walked in. Then I could discuss why because I didn't want her to think I was some kind of DL.
But she didn't notice! She finished our conversation and was walking out of the room while I held this white diaper in my hand. At that point I had to just blurt it out -- "
I'm going to put on my diaper and go shopping this afternoon!"
That, got her attention.
Then I showed her the what and why and things were ok afterwards. The main issues after that was she wanted me to try guards etc. This was also before the doctor concluded that I had nerve damage from years of diabetes. Once the doc said it was IC, then she was more relaxed about it, but full acceptance took longer.
This is just a long true story to relate that your GF's acceptance may take a while and requires patience.
