Incontinence products questions: Pull-ups vs. diapers, pads and guards

Hey everyone,

For immediately after catheter removal when you need the most protection, it sounds like most of you used pull-ups...because as Chippydoo said, "We're big kids now." I want to order supplies before surgery.

Big question: For those who use Tena, did you use the " Tena Men Protective Incontinence Underwear Overnight Max Absorbency" (rated at 8 drops protection.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FDH9YBR7/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3
or were the
"Tena Incontinence Underwear for Men, Protective, Maximum Plus Absorbency" (rated six drops)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015W3DRPE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1
good enough????

So many products with similar names...but in simple terms, would you go the maximum option for absorbency?
Thanks much!

(there's even one with 20 percent more absorbency, but hoping don't need that, Tena Men Overnight Extra Coverage Incontinence Underwear)

@fritzo
I’ve been using a clamp for many years. One was supplied to me after having radiation 3 1/2 years ago following my prostatectomy When the cancer came back.

The one I was supplied with was uncomfortable, and I read here a few years ago about Wiesner clamp. I bought one and it works quite well. I don’t use it every day, but I use it when I go to the gym or go out for dinner or go dancing with my wife. Those activities seem to make me leak more. I almost always take the clamp off after two hours, But will wear it a few hours later without any issues.

I started using the Tena Pads about two months ago. The ones I was getting for free were no longer available in January. They were pretty thick pads, but if I was real active that he would get soaked quickly. The Tena pads do not seem to get soaked as easily and don’t leak as much. That doesn’t mean they don’t leak at all, if you wear them too long they leak. Sometimes I don’t notice until too late.

@fritzo
I bought for my husband "Depend Night Defense" , Incontinence Underwear for Men, Disposable, Overnight, gray color. I just now went to check order history and counted "drops" - there were 8.

It was more than sufficient, I mean, an overkill in his case. But, who cares, those things are not bulky, you will see. ; ) Buy a smaller package of whatever type you choose to try, so in case that you happen to be fully continent you do not feel like you wasted your money. My husband wears skinny jeans and he was able to comfortably wear those when he went to hospital for catheter removal. There is absolutely no way somebody could see them under jeans. I am sure that Tena is the same. : )

Yeah, it's hard to know how much to get. Don't want to run out...but since money is tight, don't want to order way too much. I'll start small.

Really good to know they aren't bulky!! I did worry about being obvious while wearing those products.

@jeffmarc
Good to know about those Tena's....and super glad the Wiesner is working well.

@fritzo
I forgot to mention I put it on real tight and don’t even remember it’s there.

After two or three hours I start to feel it.

@jeffmarc, you say you use the Wiesner clamp at the gym. Do you use it in the showers. Because of my incontinence, I no longer use the showers at my gym, which are communal. I was thinking of using my Wiesner clamp in order to be able to use the showers, but with its bright blue and white color think that it would be too conspicuous and embarrassing. The members that use the gym at the time I work out are generally old guys like me and include some other prostate cancer survivors, but I'm skittish about trying the clamp in the showers.

@bwjb
I never take a shower at the gym. I live a few blocks away if I need a shower, I’ll take it at home. Yes, it would be quite conspicuous. I don’t think it would change what you’re doing since you don’t take showers there now. They’ve been working out for the full hour. I’ve been there. I don’t sweat a lot. Almost all of it’s on my forehead.

I wear it at the gym because I would leak a lot due to the weight exercises. Besides that, even though I have the clamp as tight as possible, I do leak a little through it. Have to wear a pad.

@bwjb I wear the weisner clamp @jeffmarc suggestion. I just wear it in the evening as it starts to get sore. I think wearing it at the gym would be more your comfort level rather than anyone elses. Are you comfortable if someone asked? Otherwise go for it. Reminds me of a story. I was at the skin Dr for my quarterly checkup. Guy walks in with shorts and a urinary bag strapped to his calf. I wear a bag during the day. Everyone looked but didnt say anything. So I walked over and sat next to him and said prostate cancer? He said no bladder cancer. I pulled my pant leg up and showed him mine and we talked for 15min. He said its to damn hot to not wear shorts and I dont give a ____ what someone else thinks. So there you go.

@tuckerp, interesting. Never had the courage to wear shorts during several prolonged catheterizations. I guess it will require me to get my courage up I think to use a penile clamp to resume using the communal showers at my gym. I own several Wiesner clamps, but they are bright white and blue. From this site I see that there is a Cunningham clamp that is more flesh covered. I might buy one (the 2 inch medium length) and see how conspicuous it is. Most of the other members in the locker room at the time I typically used the gym are older guys who are familiar with urological problems, including one friend who has a vertical prostatectomy scar on his lower abdomen dating back 25 or so years ago to the time that surgeons performed "open" prostatectomies rather than robotic prostatectomies.