Question:
I've got more to discuss about my pathology/diagnosis/decision.
But wherever it happens I'll need to know about this. My Uro here said to start investigating the pads.
Many of the sites and product info are either geared for women or the elderly/caregiver situation. As a 48 year old man who will want to return to work/exercise/social situations and who plans to sleep every night . I'd like to get some feedback from you guys on what's worked best for you.
One site said Depends is the most common/popular but is not close to being the best.
I think I can see that the 'guards for men' style would work best for slight leaks/drops. But I'm interested to hear about overnights and the work environment if any of you would care to tell me. Obviously this would be a good resource thread for many.
Thanks.
Answer:
Hi James. I may not be the best person to respond to this, as it seems I have been more fortunate than most with regard to leakage, but, for what it is worth, I believe most guys do pretty well laying down and don't need pads at night for long, if at all. The squirts are more likely to occur when you move around, cough, or make some other sudden motion. At Hopkins, they provided me with 2 pairs of "Sir Dignity" briefs, designed to hold a pad in place. I only wore them for a couple of days, but they were fairly comfortable and seemed to be effective. I felt a bit self-conscious, but I don't think they made a noticeable bulge (maybe people just thought I was more well-endowed!). I'm sure others may have some specific brand recommendations, and I am pretty sure there are products specifically designed with male anatomy in mind.
Answer:
Thanks lookinfwd.
I'm a bit apprehensive about this - I've read a Dr. Catalona article that says the bigger the prostate, the more 'gap' that has to be connected and the longer/tougher the return to continence.
With a 69.9 cc PG (about 2 inches long by my calculations using the volume of a sphere formula as a rough estimate and solving for radius) that's a bigger gap to fill than the 1.5 inch (or less) length of a more normal 20-30 cc prostate.
Answer:
I used Depends, and only needed them for two or three weeks. The first week, my wife and I looked for something more "secure", especially for nighttime wear, but then, as Lookinfwd said, we discovered that nighttime is not that much of a problem. I then "graduated" to Poise extra-plus pads, which I obtained at a discount warehouse store. I was amazed at how much moisture they could hold. You may want to try a couple of these inside the Depends to just see if they can contain all your leakage without wetting the Depends. That would add to the bulk in your clothes slightly, but it would be worth the experiment just to see where you are when it comes to dryness. I, too, had a large prostate. Doc said it was the size of a peach. What he was trying to say was "large", even though I've seen some pretty small peaches! RE: Social occasions: I recall my first outing to a restaurant while still wearing Depends. I was as quiet as a mouse, and while there, had to take a restroom break, which DID work. That outing was a nervous experience, but worth it! Life was beginning to return!
Answer:
Thanks specialdee. The restaurant story is much appreciated - my wedding anniversary is 29 days after my surgery (if I have it done here) and my Uro promised me I'd be able to take my wife out to dinner.