Depends pads. Old vs new

I started using protective underwear and pads just this year, so I have no experience with the older design. The internet says the redesign happened in 2023.

That said, I don’t like their pads (or their shields, for that matter) - when I was wearing pull-ups, I’d also wear a pad inside, and the Depends pad adhesive would tear the hell out of the lining in the pull-ups - I’d change out pads until nearer the end of the day, then finish out in the still-dry pull-up I started with, and their pad adhesive made that impossible.

I didn’t use their pads long enough to have an opinion about their absorbency or fit, I switched to a generic brand (Kroger) and have been fine with those.

I used the depends light shields for many years. They work well if you don’t leak much they specifically say they are for drips, dribbles, and light bladder leaks. If you leak a lot, then it doesn’t work at all.

I’m not sure exactly what you mean by new. I don’t see any new shields advertised.

@turtbean Thank you. I will try the Kroger brand and see how they work.

@jeffmarc I have used depends guards for maximum leakage. Work great. Now they make a thinner version of the guards. Thank you for the information

@budisnothome -

“Now they make a thinner version of the guards.”

That sounds like you’re referring to the shields, as Jeff mentioned.

If so, those are indeed for the lightest of light leaks. I might use one of those just when I first get up in the morning, if I need to do a couple of things before taking a shower (which is rare). Even with just occasional dripping, they don’t hold much.

@jeffmarc Same here. I dribble no more than 5-7 ml per 24 hours and the light shields work fine for me.

@budisnothome
Yeah, I just use the Kroger Shields too, as there's a Ralph's just a few blocks away.
I had almost stopped having to need even them, but I have backed off being able to do Kegels due to chronic fatigue (an unrelated condition) so I'm back to one per day, and they're fine.

@sandguy
I used the depends light shields for a while and then decided to try to save money and get another brand. I didn’t find they worked as well, A little cheaper, but not much. Have you tried both the Kroger and the depends brands and found them equal?

The depends box holds 58 of them. It was costing me about $19. I would get them at Walgreens and they almost always had a 2nd box 1/2 off if you bought them online and just picked them up in the store. Actually, very convenient.

Hi,
Been using the Depends shields to catch dribbles for years but find them a little flimsy and seem to bunch up a little. Have switched over to the Depends guards max coverage pads which have a lot larger coverage area with just a little more “padding” than the thinner shields. Seems to be working a lot better.

Dave 3+4

Sorry...I am not familiar with a change to the "Guards" pads. I had the usual progression from full diapers, to "Guards", to now what are the thinnest "Shields" over the course of maybe 8-9 months. I am ~14 months post-RP, and I still wear the Shields for unexpected squirts and leaks. I have not seen ads for "new and improved" or however they marketed the new, different Guards. I still have 1-2 Shields in my pants pocket at all times. I used to keep one "Guard" in my pocket, and a few in my car if I would be out for an extended period of time. Incontinence is about the only thing that I can say progressed relatively well in my post-op first year. I just wish I could be 100% continent again without having to wear jockey style underwear to properly affix the Shields to the fabric of my undershorts. I was previously a comfortable and loose-hanging boxers guy. I hate jockey style. In fact, I had some skin infections/rashes when I switched to jockey style to accommodate the Shields. Even the barely wet Shield pressed against your warm skin will see that little bit of urine set up an infection in the folds of skin on your penis. I use a special anti-fungal bar soap in the shower everyday that contains Chlortrimazole. I only use it for c cleansing my genitals...it is not a full-body soap....especially at $12.00/bar. It keeps any looming infections at bay. The good news is that you WILL regain your continence...it just takes time. If your urologist did not offer you a prescription order for "Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy" (PFPT), ask for/demand one. Your insurance will likely initially-approve only two sessions, as did mine (Medicare Advantage Plan HMO), but my PFPT Therapist merely wrote a simple justification for a total of 8 sessions which were approved. There are MANY exercises and breathing techniques beyond the standard Kegel's that we all see and do. I was amazed with the additional diagrams and video links that I was sent to do the exercises. Good luck to you.