living with incontinence

Best wishes

Allison

I have only been incontinent for a few weeks and it is already getting me down so six years must be a nightmare. I am seeing my incontinence nurse tomorrow and will be pushing for the coloplast solution. It is on their list of products but not sure if it is available on the NHS. It does seem strange that the norm to be offered is a pad that as you indicate leaves you sitting in your own urine.

I seem to remember at the start of my journey reading that Urology consultants had an obligation to look after us long term, not to just get rid of the cancer and leave us to live with the aftermath.

Thanks Chris

Hi old mucker, are you using a good quality pad and changing them often enough? Your skin should be dry not damp.

What have you done so far? Have you been referred to the incontinence clinic for your area? If not, ask the GP for a referral now!

Conveen sheaths seem to get good comments on here and may be your next step; before considering surgery you would really need a medical assessment of what is causing the incontinence.

A quick tip on pads. Following my sphincter implant back in October (i.e. before activation) I was very tender in the area under my scrotum and as I was leaking even more than before, pads were getting soaked rapidly and were chafing. I was using Abri Man, and they are very long. I found that folding the lower section back on itself reduced the chafing considerably but still managed to catch the leak

NB Pads should not be cut - that destroys the seal and nullifies the effect.

Thanks everyone for your replies/concerns. The situation can be thoroughly depressing at times … funny how I soon accepted all the inconveniences but not the discomfort. I guess I was feeling thoroughly fed up when posting the above opener the other night.

Thanks Tony ... hmmm I'll think about the sheath. And as mentioned about, I know the AUS is an option ready & waiting.

Hi Lyn ... I get 5 pads a day delivered by the NHS, plus Cavilon barrier cream plus Hydrocortisone 1% which everyone but my GP seems to think should not be use on a regular permanent basis. Conveen? Thanks, I bear that in mind.

Tony ... Abri Man, just googled that and sounds most interesting, cheers.

EDIT ... Tony, I'm not quite sure I know what you mean, how folding the lower section back on itself reduced the chafing.

Are you able to tell me which pad in the following link you were using: http://www.abena.co.uk/Pads_for_Men.aspx?ID=15361

In the past I've experimented, unsuccessfully, with trying to separate my penis and scrotum with a fold/ridge in the pad. And I've often though someone should design a pad that allows this. I dream of being able to bath, dry myself and apply talc to my scrotum, then wear a pad that allows the leaked urine to soak into parts that are completely isolated from the scrotal compartment.

Edited by member 06 Dec 2015 at 14:00  | Reason: Not specified

5 NHS pads per day - that might be your problem. Have you tried buying some decent quality ones from the supermarket to see whether they are more comfortable? Try a few different ones -TENA men and the Boots own brand seem most popular - and then if they seem better, look at how they could be made more affordable.

thanks Louise, it is messy but yes perhaps I should be looking at different types of barrier cream.

Thanks again Tony

Good Lord!!!!

Why does this spring to mind?....

Tommy Cooper "Last night I dreamt I ate a ten pound marshmallow. When I woke up the pillow was gone"

.

Edited by member 11 Dec 2015 at 13:30  | Reason: Not specified

The worst option for me was incontinence ,which I was for about two weeks after my catheter was pulled out. The hospital gave me a few pads but I didn't like them at all. My personal and best solution was a sheath, a plastic tube and a urine container strapped to my lower leg. I tried the sticky sheaths, but never, never again! It was so painful trying to get them off. My fault, I don't follow instruction leaflets, not in my nature as my wife reminds me! In the end I washed and powdered the sheaths to get rid of all traces of the sticky stuff and once done I just put them on like a durex.

I experimented and poked a pencil sized hole through my underpants, poked the tube in and connected it to the sheath. For me this was important because my penis could then lay in its natural position, the position I have used all my life and as my father in law reminded me, if it works don't change it! It did work very well, my penis was comfortable, my penis was supported by my underwear and most importantly I no longer had to worry about my incontinence.

The urine bag was comfortably secured to my lower limb. I had to experiment a second time to ensure that the plastic tube was as comfortable as possible down my leg, in the end it was 'S' shaped which meant I could walk comfortably. Within a few days I was hardly aware of its existence. Luckily my incontinence passed and I am now functioning ok.

Hi,
Pads on the NHS? I have never been offered these. Are they arranged or prescribed by the GP or the consultant? I end up with wet scrotum and would like to change a pad more often due to the cost. I use Tenna or Boots own brand which are ok but it's still no fun being someone who wets their pants!
Any suggestions on requesting NHS pads?

Hello Topertone and welcome to the site.

As Luther says, it can be a postcode lottery and maybe they are not issued FOC in your area but make enquiries of your GP and if he isn't prepared to fund them then ask for a referral to and Incontinence clinic.

Don't ask - don't get (although in a perfect world it shouldn't be your responsibility to chase them, they should be offered)

I hope they can help you anyway