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What/Where to buy pads for leaking

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Posted 7/9/2012 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
I'm scheduled to have the cathetor removed this Thursday and am expecting some leakage for a time.  I assume the Dr. will tell be what pads to buy for that but thought I would run it here too.

I have no idea if it's a bad you slide in your underwear or more like a Depends type product.  Any suggestions would be great.

Posted 7/9/2012 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
dont buy the briefs, they dont hold enough liquid and you will leak alot in the beginning. Any Drug store (like a CVS) will have a range of pads that you insert into your underwaer. bring a bunch as you will use more than one between the time of catheter reomoval and the time you get home.
Posted 7/9/2012 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I recommend "Assurance" guards for men, from Walmart to start you off. They have medium absorbency and heavy. Start with the mediums, they have plenty and odor control. If you wear boxers-not anymore. You will need to get some briefs for the pads. While at Walmart, pick up a small trash can that has a lid. I got one that has a step to raise the lid automatically, put grocery plastic sacks in it to hold your used pad. And the lid controls the odor. You may also want to pick up some non-rinse soap that comes in a pump bottle. Sometimes it is called incontinence cleaner or perineal cleaner. Wash up often as you dont want any chance of infection, rash or skin irritations. Soak a wash rag under very warm water and use it like a warm compress. You will thank me that idea!!!
Posted 7/9/2012 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Here is a link to a thread which in turn has several others where we got into brands.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2367840

There is a post from me about half way through that has other links to previous threads of the same nature.

I found the best solution to be a Depends pant, with a Walgreen's mens guard inside. The guard is the first line, changed often, with the pant as the overflow backup. In the very beginning it was two pants a day with 8+ pads. It got better slowly.

Posted 7/9/2012 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Also, don't buy a large quantity of them to start, you may not need them for long, if at all. Get just a few for the first couple days and take it from there. I would recommend just a woman's panty liner, maybe in a couple of difference adsorbancies to start. Maybe the wife has a supply? In any case, buy the smallest quanitity at first. It wil take your new plumbing a couple days to adjust to the catheter being out and for the swelling to go down, so don't be discouraged with it for a while. You'll have a better idea of what you have in a month, so don't get down on yourself starting out.
Posted 7/9/2012 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'll disagree with James to a point. My experience - On the way home from getting the cath removed I soaked pads, pants, clothes, and the liner I had put on the car seat. If you want to go the women's pad route, use the heavy overnight pads for the trip home, just in case.

My uro had no suggestions - just asked if I had a pant with me.

You can get Depends pants in packs as small as a 6 count. Pads are pretty much 48-52 count. I have seen smaller quantity packs, but the price was about the same.

Look at it this way - if you stay dry and don't have to get the car interior shampooed, and the seat adjustment motor replaced, you can give the pads to a homeless shelter or food bank (yes, they need them too). Or if you don't... mad

Posted 7/9/2012 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am so thankful for your posts, I had no idea that "leaking" really meant open faucet. I'll go thick as I can find and back off as needed.
Posted 7/9/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
The Tena moderate guards worked well for me right after surgery. They're thick and absorbent, but they don't make a noticeable bulge. They're also a good shape for a man, and if your lil' buddy moves around, they provide good "coverage."

By the way, you'll need to wear briefs with any pad. Pads and boxers don't mix.
Posted 7/10/2012 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I used the thick pads from CVS (in a green package) they worked out well for me and easy to get used to. My trip home I used only one pad but did change them a few times a day for the first week or so. Sometimes it just felt really wet when it wasn't... I used those pads for 4 months at least and ran out one night, ended up with some thin smaller pad borrowed from my wife and used those for 2 more months. Just about 2 weeks ago, no more pads! probably could have stopped with the pads sooner but was worried about that little squirt here and there. Just go at your pace and all will be fine! Good luck to you, what a relief when that catheter comes out! Jeff
Posted 7/10/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)

txdawg said...
I am so thankful for your posts, I had no idea that "leaking" really meant open faucet. I'll go thick as I can find and back off as needed.

Being prepared for the worst at first is a good idea. You just don't know in advance what you will have to deal with when the catheter comes out but you do have to be able to deal with it right away.
Posted 7/10/2012 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I found that a cheap athletic supporter was great to hold pads in the proper location... and then I could wear my normal boxers. The penis never falls out or moves outside the pad... The supporters can be easily rinsed if needed and dry quickly...

For the pad, anything that works to begin with and is resonably priced... Then down the road, working thru getting overall continence back, and returning to normal life schedule, I liked the "pouches" as there was less moisture around the scrotum as the penis and urine is contained in the pouch. The Coloplast male guards (Manhood 4200-B) were my favorite option... compact, can change on the fly, and held a good quantity. Prices vary greatly on the web... Best deals I found online were $28 for a box of 30...

If anybody want the link to the site for this deal, you can email me thru my profile address. Other sites had them up to $50+... jeesh

I still use them when I will have a day with a lot of lifting or up/dpown on a ladder... or a strenuous backpacking trip... smile

pasayten
Posted 7/10/2012 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
OK this may be a stupid question but....when you experience leaking do you know it? I mean does it feel like you have to pee and just can't hold or does it just happen?

Also, if you are out say just sitting around and you make a point to just go to the bathroom every hour or so does that help? Reason I wonder is because I feel nothing with this catheter, there pretty much is always urine in the hose or bag.

Thanks again
Posted 7/10/2012 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
txdawg,

I can hold it while I'm sitting and lying down. It's standing and walking (mostly walking) that surprises me. And yes, I can feel it leaking out. The feeling is the same as it used to be before surgery.

I do know when my bladder is feeling full, but I go way before I used to 'cause it feels fuller than it used to for some reason. When I do go in the toilet, it's like I'm 12 years old - nice, easy flow - no 2 minute peeing anymore.
Posted 7/10/2012 8:35 PM (GMT 0)

blownsideways said...
txdawg,

I can hold it while I'm sitting and lying down. It's standing and walking (mostly walking) that surprises me. And yes, I can feel it leaking out. The feeling is the same as it used to be before surgery.

I do know when my bladder is feeling full, but I go way before I used to 'cause it feels fuller than it used to for some reason. When I do go in the toilet, it's like I'm 12 years old - nice, easy flow - no 2 minute peeing anymore.


Thanks, that's pretty encouraging
Posted 7/10/2012 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I would just suddenly be soaking wet if I were not just trying to pay specific attention. A key indicator was finding my shoe suddenly full of liquid. I did not find going often to help. From what some say, going too often prevents the bladder from becoming re-accustomed to holding fluid. If I had any sense of a potential leak, it was far to late.

I was basically dry at night from day one, but a few nights every month I would flood without warning - just wake up with wet pads. Did a lot of laundry in those first few months. These days I still wear breifs and a pad at night, but the floods are rare, maybe once a month.

Posted 3/28/2013 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Another reason this forum is really helpful!
My wife is getting ready to go to the store today for my cath removal appt. tomorrow. This helps us decide what to get.
Thank you HealingWell and the men and women of the prostate cancer forum for being here. Your help and experience really does calm the anxiety!
Posted 3/28/2013 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
My recommendation would be the Depends and/or Teva maximum absorbancy pull-up men's briefs with some Guards (or similar) high-absorbancy pads to go inside. The pads are convenient to change but they don't help much in a tsunami. When I went to get my catheter out I just took two pads. I overwhelmed the first pad before I left the doctor's office so I changed it in the men's room on my way out. Then, while I managed not to wet the car seat going home, when I got out of the car I had to immediately kick off my shoes to avoid them filling up with pee. The pull-up pants hold about three times as much as any of the pads do. The pads are easier to change but not that much easier.
Posted 3/28/2013 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
My suggestion is a pack of Depends men's brief-style underwear and a pack of Men's guards. Change the guards as they get wet, and if the pant makes it through the day dry, use it overnight.

If you buy them but turn out to not need them, take them to the nearest place that does family food & necessities banks. There are a lot of homeless and poor out there who need them too, but don't have the resources. My local food bank was happy to get the pants that I didn't need, they commented that few people every think of those as donations, but those in need ask every day. Or an elderly shelter/home.

Posted 3/28/2013 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!
Posted 3/28/2013 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Since it's been revived, allow me to jump onto this thread with a question...

Following my brachy of two months ago, I've found that when I need to urinate, I REALLY need to urinate. On occasion, a bit of urine has leaked out...not much, but enough that I want some extra protection. However, all of my local drug stores only sell pads for moderate or heavy use. I presume they have versions for light use, which is all I would need. Any advice on where to go?

Michael
Posted 3/28/2013 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
My husband likes Depends or Tena male guards.
Posted 3/29/2013 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
For the very short time I needed them, I wore Depends at night so that I didn't have to worry about soaking the bed and a pad during the day.  I was only incontinent for about 3 weeks and as I leaked less and less I just used some of my wife's pads--I know sounds funny, but pads specifically for incontinence are much more expensive than the female products for their monthly.  It was sort of a twisted bonding time for my wife and I smhair .  Hopefully, you will be as lucky as I was with that side effect.
Posted 3/29/2013 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Tena had a coupon on their web site good for $7.00 off any product and expires 4/19/13. I printed one the other day. They have men guards.
Posted 3/29/2013 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
The Depends briefs with pads in them is the best way to go. I learned that here on HW and it saved me a lot of embarrassing moments. I am a sales person and spend a lot of time on my feet. That is when I leaked the most, talking to a customer. You sometimes can't prepare for the leaking, it just comes before you know it. Try to force yourself to go pee every 30-60 minutes to drain your bladder. And back off on the water and spicey foods.

I took the pad out at night and slept in the Depends.

I put pads in sandwich bags to take on the go. I pull out the old pad, put it in the sandwich bag after removing the new one, zip it shut and throw the old one away in the garbage. Hopefully it didn't smell to bad in the public garbage. Since I live in Florida, we go to Disneyworld often (we have a Florida resident season pass). I left a lot of sandwich bags at Walt's place.

I am one of the unlucky ones and 8 months out, I am now down to 3 pads a day. So I have gone threw some pads. And yes, I did Kegels, thousands of them. My surgeon said that my tumor was rather large and had been pressing up against my bladder for years. He said it is taking me longer for the bladder to relax and realize that there is nothing there anymore.

Good luck to all of you who are getting their caths removed soon. Hope you are dry much quicker than myself.

Bill in Florida
Posted 3/29/2013 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
I learned the hard way. I wore a pad when I got the cath out. On the way home we stopped to eat and it was about three hours before we got home. My pants were soaked. But it has gotten better. Following advice on this site, for work when I know I am going to be somewhat active...up and down and moving about, I will wear Depends briefs and add a pad for extra caution. Otherwise I will just wear the briefs. I do a fairly good job of holding it in, however movement such as bending down, twisting, standing up, sneezing, coughing etc and there will be a squirt. I am getting better but for the first month I was waking up every hour with a strong urge to pee. Now I am not being awakened for three or more hours with an urge and I am six weeks out.
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