Wiesner clamp - has anyone tried one?
Are they any good?
Only one week post-catheter & I'm already discouraged.
Clamping the urethra sounds dangerous/unwise, to me.
But right now, very tempting.
They're 100 bucks. Generic no-brand ones are about 30.
Is either option worth it?
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I purchased a clamp a few weeks into my recovery from RALP, mostly for those moments not being protected with a pad, like after a shower, or wearing swim trunks. I did not like wearing it for the long term because of the very nature of it. If it restricts urine, it restricts blood too. And I desperately want my entire penis to have blood flow. I got my urologist to prescribe a condom catheter as an alternative and I use them regularly. You need to figure out the correct size, with the help of the supplier, and now I use one daily to catch my stress incontinence ( 1-2 ounces typically) when I work out. At first, I attached it to the catheter bag that came with the shipment. Now I just put a paper clamp on the end of it and drain the collected urine at intervals into a toilet or urinal during my workout. I have figured out ways to keep the clamp from irritating my leg or scrotum as I am sure you can too. The restriction on blood flow is nonexistent and I can work out without fear of leakage or worrying about a thicker pad shifting around on me. Luckily, I am far enough along in my recovery that the rest of my day I get by with just a light pad in my underwear.
Peter, don't get discouraged! I did get very discouraged, but 2.5 months after RARP, I started regaining control. First was staying dry at night, followed by daytime morning dryness. I'm now improving until around 4 in the afternoon. I started out using 5 depends per day, but am now down to one Tema pad for 24 hours. I weigh it and I'm around 1/2 cup a day! I do have stress incontinence but that's where the Kegels are especially helpful. I started using the Weiner Clamp 6 weeks ago. I wore it 6-8 hours in the day but slowly used it less as the need diminished. As of now I wear it to extend pad use time for an hour or so in the evening and/or when I don't want to leak at an event or outing. I don't know if I will ever get back to normal, but it will definitely get to a manageable point for me. Hang in there - and the answer to your specific question, is YES, the penis clamp is helpful as another tool in your arsenal. My doctor gave me his blessing to use it. I used the Weisner $30 from Amazon.
I to wear the clamp and the condom catheter. The clamp is just temporary and any length of time starts to get painful. My nighttime sleeping is ok. I can hold it as long as I get up about 3 times. My daytime I wear the CC. I leak about 40oz a day. Impossible to go long with a pad. I cannot even feel when having to urinate. My problem is that I have worn this for 5 years now. My penis has no pigment left from the adhesive. I have now started to get little sores that I have been able to resolve but for how much longer. I tried to clamp off the condom but my urine since I cant hold it just blows off the condom. I need a better solution.
HANG IN THERE! It took me about 6 weeks post RP to stop wearing Depends while the occasional small urine releases continued on for a few months. I was semi-religious about Kegel exercises and in hindsight I should have been more diligent about this retraining as I believe the small releases would have subsided sooner. I'm 31 months post op now and all is good as can be expected at age 61. Keep pushing forward and it is ok to occasionally laugh at yourself as it helped me through the process.
I got a wiesner clamp after the one supplied me was uncomfortable. It comes with 3 size options. Easy to replace one side with different size. It works well. Actually forget it is on and have gone past the 2 hour recommendation a few times. Now I set a timer on my phone to remind me.
Need to reposition after 2 hours, like all clamps.
After a radical prostatectomy (2014) followed by a cystoscopy a few years ago that ruptured my otherwise functional sphincter, I opted for an artificial urinary sphincter about 2 years ago. Best decision I've made. I'm back to an active life of tennis, bicycling, jet skiing, etc. and not worrying and being depressed about leaking or where or when to change a Depends. I was using 12-15 per day, now 1 or 2. I can pee standind up at a public urinal. My opinion is, just do it and enjoy life and family, again.
Thanks, guys.
I didn't consider that it would restrict blood flow as well.
I thought we were supposed to be encouraging blood flow to minimize scar tissue. That's what the 5mg of Cialis is about.
Maybe I should hold off a clamp until I know scar tissue isn't a problem.
But good to know that guys use it without any issues - as long as it's kept under 2 hours.
I was unable to do any Kegels (3rd attempt with the physio tomorrow) so I expect incontinence for a few months.