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Posted 5/28/2010 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone used Incontinence Clamps to help control dribbling and dripping to some degree of success.  Would you make comments on this board or e-mail me confidentiality.  I have looked at the Cunningham clamp, Baumrucker and Dribblestop Male Urinary Incontinence Clamps on the internet.  At $50 to $80 each, any info would be of help.  This has started 41 months after surgery, 20 months after radiation.  Urologist blames the radiation as the cause.  3 to 4 pads per/day, unable to play golf, that is why I am asking.

Thanks, Jerry

Posted 5/29/2010 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hey JerryG
I used a Cunniham clamp $56 for a little while but found it too uncomfortable after an hour or so. I know "Goodlife" used one and he was able to go to work wearing it. He is a better man than I. I could not get used to that thing in my undies. Also when I finally did hit the release spring to take it off, I would spray everywhere. I had to do it in the shower.
I am still leaking but have optimized my liquid intake and pad usage.
Jeff
Posted 5/29/2010 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Jerry,

I've used the Dribblestop as lately as day before yesterday. I find the urine passes the external sphincter and collects downstream where it causes pressure against the clamp and is very uncomfortable if I can't take a whiz often. I think if one was at the point where the issue was just a few drops it would be fine. But for heavy/moderate leakers, at least in my case, it hurts. I'm curious as to why you can't play golf. I lose it all on the course too but I double pad with a pull-up and another pad inside. I keep some spares in my bag and change the inner pad if things get too squishy, but I almost always make it through the round with no problems. There is another option, an external catheter that collects in a bag strapped to the leg. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called.

Steve
Posted 5/29/2010 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

I used the Baumrucker clamp & found it online for $34.  I think the company was Greenwald.  Try googling Baumrucker clamp.  I faxed them my prescription & I had the clamp in 24 hours.  I used the clamp when I played golf for a couple of months.  I could use it for about 2 hours then had to take it off for a few minutes.  I made the discomfort less by adding moleskin to the edges of the clamp to keep them from digging in to my skin.  There is another clamp called the C3 which sent me a free sample.  This clamp is used for about a week then discarded & costs about $10.  It is available in 2 sizes.  I dramatically altered it & it worked ok.  In my case I was using 8 to 10 pads a day for the first 3 months after surgery on days that I played golf or walked over 3 miles & 5 to 7 pads on other days so the clamp was very helpful for golf.  Fortunately 7 months after surgery I am finally down to 2 to 3 pads a day & no longer use the clamp.  However I may have to get radiation.  I believe you said your doctor said your incontinence was caused by radiation after surgery.  Can you go into more detail about his opinion?  Thanks, Ray

Posted 5/29/2010 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Before I tried the Cunningham clamp I used a home made device.
If you are squeamish- look away now. I'll wait... OK?

I used 6 inches of regular 14 ga house wiring and stripped back the ends about 3/4". I clipped all but the white wires and bent the ends into the shape of a small hook. Then I put 1/2" FrostKing conformal weather stripping on one side and then bent the whole thing to about 90 degrees. I put two more bends in it about 3/4" in from the center. With a few adjustments for size the white wires act as a handy catch that is easily released. Total time: 15 minutes. Parts cost: nothing -if you have a junk filled basement, $5 -if you have to go to the hardware store.
Don't let your wife catch you wearing this contraption. She'll end up buying you a "real" clamp for your birthday, completely defeating the whole point of the exercise.
Stay dry,
Jeff
Posted 5/30/2010 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I'm a little surprised at these responses.  I used the Cunningham pre AUS implant and was fairly successful and pleased, although it did take getting used to.  The Cunningham is bendable on the top to shape of the penis.  If you are uncircumcised, you've got to stetch the penis (pulling skin forward) before clamping.  Anything like that is a bit uncomfortalbe but I chose it over the 8 pads or so per day.

Gene214 

Posted 5/30/2010 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I,m not sure, but wouldn't wearing these, make it more difficult to gain continence?
Posted 5/30/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
logoslidat,
I wondered about that myself. Which is the cause and which is the effect? Only incontinent men wear Cunningham clamps. Do Cunningham clamps prolong incontinence?
I figure guys have tired everything already and must be pretty desperate to consider clamping this device on their penis.
I don't believe it had any effect on my incontinence. I have only logged about 8 hours total with them.
Jeff
Posted 5/30/2010 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
It just seems to me that using it will make the only control point you have lazy, keep kegaling, strong pelvic muscles is whats going to get you continent. I do realize there are situations where people are incontinent a long time. You are making good progress, Im confident you will be 99% continent sooner that you think and thos psa numbers are great.
Posted 5/30/2010 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
I used the Afex Incontinence System, which is an external catheter with a collection bag. The whole thing is integrated in a specially designed underwear.

I found it comfortable to wear and relatively trouble free. I was using around 10 pads per day when I switched to this system and continued its use until I was down to about 1 pad per day (about 8 months I think). I was able to continue my exercise program which was composed of lifting weights and training for a 5k run. Cycling presented a problem because of pinching against the seat of the bicycle.

I could monitor my progress to achieving continence by keeping track of how often I had to empty the bag. The Afex system allowed me to relieve myself normally which made this possible.

The ability to observe the rate of collection in the bag gave me the added benefit of pushing myself to slow the collection rate which I believe helped me achieve continence. I am currently fully continent and pad free.

Best of luck to you,
Bob
Posted 5/30/2010 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
To everyone who has replied, THANK YOU. Your responses have been very helpful.

Ray (Heavy Leaker), sorry for the delay answering you question about radiation, been a busy weekend. I have been thinking about an answer, but I would rather answer any of your specific questions by e-mail. My address is posted and I will try to give you all the info. you would like. E-mail me and I will get back to you.

To cocrgolfer, I wore the Cunningham to church, big mistake. Getting up and down and sitting upright for an hour, the fluid buildup pressing on the clamp was very uncomfortable as you said. I finally had to get up and was very worried what would happen as I left the santuary.
Are you from Fl., what part.
Posted 6/1/2010 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Jerry,

I live in Bradenton, southernmost town on Tampa Bay.

I tend to agree with Logoslidat and WorriedGuy that wearing the clamp might prolong incontinence. I found I became desensitized to the feel of the passage of urine and the attempt retain it myself.

Steve
Posted 6/1/2010 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
As an 8 month incontinence guy, one might argue that the Cunningham delayed my recovery some. Won't argue.

But, there comes a time when a guy has to get back to work, and live a normal life. I decided the risk of lengthening my continence training was worth the ability to have dry pants during the day, and be sort of normal. Dry pants make me feel normal.

On the other hand, I was kegeling, I was going to the restroom every couple of hours, or whenever I needed to. So I was stretching bladder back into shape, and I was able to stop and start my stream during urination. I'm not sure how much it may have retarded my recovery, but it was oh so nice to have dry underwear.
Posted 6/4/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I designed and built my own clamp; similar to Dribblestop.
Dribblstop claims to allow blood to flow while clamping the urethra.
I use it only when outside walking or excercising a lot.
It does not work 100 % but eliminates bothersome squirts.
I loosen it every 1/2 hour or so to release pressure.
I am satisfied with it.

I am 8 months post RRP & not getting much better. about 5 pads per day.
Posted 6/12/2010 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
I have used both cunningham and dribblestop. I use them while at the office and it saves me from having to change pads every 2-3 hours. They don't help that much when playing golf or heavy lifting etc. Some discomfort but a good tool to help one manage incontinence in my opinion. Do they cause you to get lazy with exercises and do they prevent some natural feedback? Probably so if you are making progress I would probably not use them or not use them much. If you plateau I say use whatever helps your condition. I did not start this until I had pretty much given up that I was not progressing. Tried sling surgery and that did not help and now doing the AUS next month.
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