What type of brief or pad to use after catheter removal

The answer is that you won't know until you part ways with the cath. Some folks walk away dry, but then there are those like me - didn't hold a drop for months. Had to change pads three times just trying to pass out presents from the Christmas tree two months post-op.

For the first day, I would suggest you take a Depends pant and a couple of Depends Guards. Use the pant, but put the guard in as the primary "collector". That way if you get overly soggy on the way home you can change out the pad. Also, take a bed protector to put on the car seat. I would up having to have the electrical stuff in the seat replaced, as I flooded it. Expensive trip to the uro.

If you leak as badly as I did, the Depends is not enough. I used the Walgreens house brand for a couple of months. They are much heavier, but very uncomfortable. Not for use outside the house. For pads I was using a ladies night pad.

If you leak, what you use over time will change, as things get better. You'll have lots of partial packages of no use. Don't toss them outright. I called a local support shelter, and they actually came to get them as a donation.

I eventually got down to one pad a day as insurance, and many were tossed after 24 hours dry. But then came chemo, and now I'm in a different world.

You never know what you are going to need beforehand. I bought a pack of the bigger babylike adsortion Tena pads and I used 3 just the first day. But I never expent the whole pack. In a week I used protection briefs and I use them for less than a month. Next, I switched to light shields plus normal briefs and I decided to go back to my old boxers two months after cath removal. I weighted the pads to monitor my progress. Following what I found in an old post here, first switch was at 150 grams (or cc) per day leaking, second at abour 50 g. and I left protections at less than 5 g. Now, I may have a very small surprise leak once in a day or less, and some extra leak after urination but not very different than before surgery. I had a large prostate with a third lobe inside the bladder and, therefore, I am very glad that I have got continence in such a smooth way. This is a very important issue in your recovery, good luck.

I agree don’t go crazy buying briefs or pads till you see what your needs are.
Your Uro/surgeon may give you a few free pairs to get you home safely. Always take all the freebies you can get.
I preferred Depend and Tena. Also McKesson but had trouble finding them. Didn’t like Assurance (Walmart brand) at all.

Although some mention that their uro provided something, don't count on that. My uro's reps have stopped passing out samples of anything, and they tell you up front not to expect them to provide pants / pads. You can ask, but if they don't, it's your car seat that costs a small fortune to replace. Been there, done that.

A pack of bed protectors, pants and pads won't destroy your budget, so get one of each. If you don't need them - BE HAPPY!!!

I got the catheter out 2 weeks ago. I had a pack of pants, a pack of light pads and a pack of heavy pads. \i was dry on day of catheter removal and have been dry ever since. I wore a light pad for the first week just in case and had one instance of a tiny dribble after a long journey and getting out of the car. I don't wear anything now. My op was on the 03/28/18.

Walk, walk, walk. Kegels, kegels, kegels. If you think you could maybe lose some weight and have the desire do it. Getting fit and healthy and eating clean cannot hurt and can in my opinion help a great deal. One of the biggest comforts I got before I knew how my continence would go was learning that women have nothing more than their pelvic floor to control their continence. A lot of guys on here have had to go through a lot more than me so I understand that the biggest factor is luck. So I'm grateful for every mercy every day.

If I had it to do over I would buy an 18-pair pack of Depends* Real Fit briefs (or comparable competitor brand) and a 52-count pack of Guards high absorbancy pads (again, Guards or competitor) and I would take with me to the doctor 1 pair of the briefs and three pads. When the hateful rubber thing is gone (usually a non-event, by the way, don't worry about it) you should put on the briefs and stick a pad inside of them. Replace the pads as needed (generally somewhere between damp and soggy) and use the briefs as secondary flood insurance. Use some caution peeling the pads loose from the paper lining of the briefs to avoid tearing it. The three pads should be enough to get you home even if it's a bit of a drive.

Every man's different but something of an average right after the catheter come out is probably three damp but not quite soggy Guards pads a day. Ideally the briefs will stay mostly dry and can be changed daily like your regular jockey shorts.

After about a week and every few weeks thereafter you can take stock and make adjustments. Here are some options that are available:

For Heavy Leaking:

Guards pads worn inside of Depends pull-ups. The pads handle most of the problem and the Depends are mostly insurance. Guards will fit in your back pocket. Change them often.

Guards pads worn inside of Depends Real Fit Briefs. This is mostly the same thing. The incontinence briefs that look like real underwear are a bit more expensive and slightly less absorbent but are more comfortable and much less embarrassing in the locker room at the gym.

For Moderate Leaking:

Depends pull ups. These will usally get a moderately leaky guy through a work shift without having to change anything out. The pull up pants hold a lot making this a fairly safe option but not always the nicest one.

Guards pads worn inside regular briefs. These will fit in your back pocket to be changed frequently. Stash them everywhere -- pencil drawer at work, your briefcase or backpack, you glove compartment, your golf bag. If you stay on top of things this is the nicest option but watch out for wet spots on your seat if you go too long without checking.

For Occasional Leaks:

Guards work great. Stash one in your tighty-whiteys in the morning and you are good for the day. There are lighter weight pads you can buy but, hey, by the time you get to be our age the extra padding helps your tux fit better. Wear it proudly.

No leaks:

Two guys out of three will get here within the first year. Be happy.


*Most common brand used for reference.

Which should I start out with: Fix flex underwear or real fit briefs.