Are there lighter pads?

Mel, another good question.

I think a lot men swtich at some point to some of the women's light pads. One of our guys here stuck two side by side. I know from my own limited time with incontinence, the real Depends guards work great, but can be overkill when you are just leaking small amounts or drips. And in hot weather, any of the products can be miserable.

Sure you will get some good answers and specific brands. Still sounds like you are having a pretty good journey so far, and hope it stays that way for you.

David in SC

Jet:

I am not quite where you are, but our needs are similar. I really thought there are products like that. I can't remember what they are called.

Mel

I just hope to get to a point to only use the Tena.
Yes, I did mention the Coloplast pads, which are effectively drip guards. Almost a small sock. I knew immediately that it would be a while for those to suit me.
- Coloplast Conveen 5410 Normal, 80 ml absorption. These are 10 to a pack that is about the size of three depends.
- Coloplast Conveen again, but it isn't labeled, just larger, closer to the size of the Tena.

I got these through my local Prostate Foundation folks as samples, and since they were so far off what I needed, I didn't get all the details. I understood that they were manufacturer samples, and I can ask for more information if you want. Since I can't speak for them, don't ding me for advertising.

No web site, but they are marked made in Denmark.

Found a US website. They will send a sample. Looking online for prices, they seem very expensive.

UPDATE on 2/25 - a sample, one pack of ten of what I speculated were the larger pad arrived from Coloplast this afternoon via UPS, along with contact info for a company rep. They were the 5420 Extra 100ml absorption. That was by far the fastest any of the companies I've asked for a sample responded. Also the largest quantity - the others send one or two. On the other hand, I only find three places they carry them in a 25-mile radius, all being home medical equipment suppliers. I still get the gut feel they will be expensive, but they get a good mark for responding.

Post Edited (142) : 2/25/2010 5:17:03 PM (GMT-7)

You could try two pair of underpants instead of a pad, IF you are not leaking very much or at all.

Mel,
I used some of the women thin liners. Then are very light but they are also very thin which creates a problem for men since willie moves around.

Get rid of the pads and carry an extra pair of under pants. Mentally the no leak mechanism works much better with no pads.

I managed with half a baby diaper just down the front stuck to my boxers using double sided tape never used anything else and normally lasted all day

Casey and others:

I am currently going without pads at night AND when I am home. I can also go without on very short outings. I generally wear blue jeans (they have always been comfortable).

However, even at home, I get very uncomfortable. I'll have a normal urination but that drip...drip..drip continues. I have to keep my muscles tight to avoid leaking. I hope that improves over time.

I plan to return to teaching on 3/9. Unless there is significant improvement, I'll be wearing a pad and I will probably be using the bathroom fairly frequently. I am hoping I am on the path to continence.

I still wonder: At home I use the bathroom a lot, very often just expelling the few drops that were causing such discomfort. I try and lengthen the time between such drop urinations. I still don't know whether I SHOULD be delaying such bathroom trips. I know we want to train our bladders to hold more. OTOH, I think my bladder does hold a good amount. It is the few drops that are in the urethral channel that is annoying.

I hope I was clear in the above explanation.

Mel

I've found a great replacement for Assurance Male Guards for Men. (I too, am down to just a few drops a day.)
It took 2 - orders (~$50) at Walmart to get ones that will work -- free shipping to your house:

ALWAYS ULTRA THIN PADS OVERNIGHT WITH WINGS, UNSCENTED.
#37000 07553.

$6.97 for a pack of 38, and the WINGS will keep Willie in line.

And I feel so fresh & clean.
While shopping in the feminine protection section of Walmart, I experienced information overload; I noticed them while shopping, and then Walmart sent me a free sample -- feminine protection ALWAYS THIN for thongs! (To much information for me. ).

I wanted to share my find with everyone.

I am definitely not good at math. I assumed using the above would be cheaper. My bad.

$6.97 for a pack of 38 Always Ultra w/ WINGS. 18.3 cents each.

$9.54 for Assurance Male Guard 48ct 19.8 cents each.

Only 1.5 cents cheaper. I like them better than the Assurance, so far, as I wanted something lighter.

Post Edited (LuckyDog) : 8/4/2011 2:10:08 PM (GMT-6)

just a quick caveat, something learned along the way: the ladies' pads not only come in different sizes , absorbancies, w/ and w/o wings, etc, but some also come unscented, which is a GOOD thing...occasionally, you'll end up with a pack which turns your groin into a nice lilac sort of scent...not a major deal, not a big enough deal to NOT use them, but if they advertise unscented on the packaging, i'd call that a preference....just a heads-up!

hang in there, and enjoy the day!

bob