Depends pads. Old vs new

I haven’t seen the new depends guards, but I didn’t like the old ones. My preference was the Tena guards. After surgery I used the Costco brand pull-ups then after a few months switched to the Tena guards. I tried the depends guards, but found them bulky and uncomfortable. I now use either depends or Tena shields depending on what is on sale. I don’t leak much, anywhere from 0-6ml’s per day.

My husband has been using Fresh Protection underwear for men. A few weeks ago the product looked different, the lining was blue. THE LINING COMES COMPLETELY APART, LEAVING SMALL WHITE BALLS ON HIS BODY PARTS!!! It is so sad because these were in our price range and easily accessible. I am in Canada and need suggestion of alternative. KIRKLAND brand at cosco also useless.

@auntiep

Sorry, that is a DEPENDS PRODUCT

@turtbean

No, not Shields. Guards. The new batch I just bought are lighter and thinner than previous. New Guards weigh abt. 18 grams vs. previous 24 grams. They say new lighter version just as bsorbent. I'm not convinced.

The new Guards (I just bought them) weigh 18 grams each. Previous was ~25 grams each. I'm not happy with that. They will have to tell me why new thinner lighter version is "as absorbent".

@rlpostrp I’ve been using Depends “diapers” for eight years. Don’t like wearing them either but if I didn’t I’d have to carry around a five gallon bucket. I’ve learned to live with it.

As I read these posts I have to ask, does the incontinence ever stop? I am a 68-year-old who is 3 weeks away from my RP.

I read all the responses on this thread. I have had some level of incontinency since my operation and radiation 10 years ago. For the past five years, inconstancy increased to 100%. Depending on the pad, I go through about 200 pads and 40 pull-ups per month. VA gives me 104 pads per month. Some pads last an hour and a half, others last two hours. They all leak if you leave them in too long. For maximum utilization, I use a pullup and nest a pad inside of it so I can change the pads as needed. I tear off the only about a one-half inch of the paper covering the adhesive, so it doesn’t tear the pullup lining but stays in place. I then use a nylon jock strap on the outside to keep everything tight and in place. When lying down, sitting, driving, the urine pools in my bladder, upon standing, it floods out, filling a pad. I know I need an AUS installed but my local urology office seems overwhelmed and can’t get is scheduled. I now have an appointment in December at Johns Hopkins, hopefully to start the process to get the valve.

For all pad and pullup users, I have a remedy for pad and pullup disposal. About five years ago, I found a nearly new “Diaper Genie” at a Good Will for $5. I bought it and found it provides a clean way to dispose of pads and pullups. Bag refills are available on Amazon and moat grocery stores. I use 2 small electrical zip ties between the bags about an inch apart. I cut the bag in between the ties thus extending the life of the bag refill. You can get 1000 4-inch zip ties on Amazon for $4.95. The usual way to separate the bags is to cut them and tie a knot in both ends. The zip ties extend the bag refill life by 50%. Make sure they are tight. Just an idea to make life a bit easier.

@freed58 - generally speaking, it’s like this: a few very fortunate men will have no incontinence following surgery, or just a little and recover very quickly, and a very few unfortunate men will have significant incontinence forevermore (unless they get a sling or AUS fitted).

The overwhelming majority can expect to have full or nearly full bladder control by 18 months post-op (if the studies most docs provide are accurate), with 90% reaching that point around the 10th month.

I’m nine months past surgery and am currently leaking about 40ml a day.