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What is best for post-catheter!

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User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 16:40

Hi All

I'm due for my RARP soon (it seems that Mid-Essex don't like giving out dates until the last minute) and as I may not feel like sorting things out during the catheter phase I would like to get things ready for when the catheter comes out.

The specialist nurse told me that most men prefer the pants to the pads, so I've been looking at those. The only ones I've found that appear to be aimed specifically at men (not quite sure how unisex works here!) are from Tena, Depend and Molicare.

I have some questions for those that have been before, that I hope you can answer:

1. Do you agree that pants are better than pads?

2. Which do you think are best, and why?

3. How many did you need a week?

4. Where did you buy them from?

Any other advice gratefully received.

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 17:07

Pete 

Pads are easier to change than pants especially in a situation where a toilet is not handy. With snug fitting underwear it keeps the pad in contact with the penis.

Pads can be changed after a moderate leak,  pants you are likely to be stuck with for the day ? Pants are quite bulky and less comfortable ( my opinion).

None, you are going to be dry from day one. Anything from 7 to 40. 

Free from the NHS, if you are in the right area, I had 120 delivered a couple of weeks before my op.

Tip get some instilagel or hydrocaine in case you get sore from the catheter. I assume you are having a Urethral catheter not a suprapubic catheter. 

The catheter will be you best friend for a couple of weeks post op, look after it.

Hope all goes well.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 18 Feb 2020 at 19:23  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 21:15
I think definitely pads and don't buy too many until you know whether you will actually need them. John preferred Tena for Men over Boots own brand and Tena are often on BOGOF deals at the major supermarkets. You should ask whether your hospital will send you home with a supply of pads and Instilagel - some do. Also, if you can, buy a cotton feel waterproof sheet (Dunelm sell a good one) or some puppy training pads from a pet shop. Dark jogging bottoms with a drawstring waist (M&S sell these in a soft sweatshirt material) and some pants or jockey shorts in a size larger than you usually wear would also be good purchases.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 21:31

I was leaking quite a bit after catheter removal so wore pants for the first couple of months. I tried most on the market but found Depend selling on Amazon the most comfortable. They cost around £18 for 30 pants. It's definitely the safer option to wear the pants into bed for overnight security.

I am now 4 months post RP and still wear Depend pants but include a pad inside, this gets changed about twice a day. 

Make sure you wear joggers with the catheter!

 

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 23:11

Hi,

You can't tell how you'll be until it happens.  They say improvement comes by being dry at night (I always was).  Then dry in the morning.  Then dry all day. 

I chose Boots pads they're bigger than Tena and warmer, and at the time were cheaper.   I don't know if they hold more than Tena though.   The Tena ones are the flash ones, the Boots ones a bit no nonsense.

I wouldn't buy the pants unless you're gushing badly.

I stopped drinking before 7pm every night so my bladder wouldn't be so bad in the night.   Although I was always amazed about how much was in the catheter night bag in the morning even with stopping drinking.  I'm sure my bladder never has that much in even if I'm feeling full.

I bought them 10 at a time but bought a bigger pack in the week it suddenly went better and gave them to AgeUK.

Your muscle tires in the day.  When you walk you leak without realising and should carry a spare.   You might leak at unexpected times such as lifting something, bending down or if you get sexually aroused.   All those improve over the longer term.

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User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 17:07

Pete 

Pads are easier to change than pants especially in a situation where a toilet is not handy. With snug fitting underwear it keeps the pad in contact with the penis.

Pads can be changed after a moderate leak,  pants you are likely to be stuck with for the day ? Pants are quite bulky and less comfortable ( my opinion).

None, you are going to be dry from day one. Anything from 7 to 40. 

Free from the NHS, if you are in the right area, I had 120 delivered a couple of weeks before my op.

Tip get some instilagel or hydrocaine in case you get sore from the catheter. I assume you are having a Urethral catheter not a suprapubic catheter. 

The catheter will be you best friend for a couple of weeks post op, look after it.

Hope all goes well.

Thanks Chris

Edited by member 18 Feb 2020 at 19:23  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 21:15
I think definitely pads and don't buy too many until you know whether you will actually need them. John preferred Tena for Men over Boots own brand and Tena are often on BOGOF deals at the major supermarkets. You should ask whether your hospital will send you home with a supply of pads and Instilagel - some do. Also, if you can, buy a cotton feel waterproof sheet (Dunelm sell a good one) or some puppy training pads from a pet shop. Dark jogging bottoms with a drawstring waist (M&S sell these in a soft sweatshirt material) and some pants or jockey shorts in a size larger than you usually wear would also be good purchases.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 21:31

I was leaking quite a bit after catheter removal so wore pants for the first couple of months. I tried most on the market but found Depend selling on Amazon the most comfortable. They cost around £18 for 30 pants. It's definitely the safer option to wear the pants into bed for overnight security.

I am now 4 months post RP and still wear Depend pants but include a pad inside, this gets changed about twice a day. 

Make sure you wear joggers with the catheter!

 

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 22:31
Thanks all for the replies.

I'll have to see what the hospital supplies; didn't think to ask that when I went for my pre-ops yesterday. It's Southend, which isn't my local hospital, but it's the nearest that does LARP. I will need some jogging pants, all but one of mine are pretty tight around the thigh, as I found out when I needed a catheter previously (but only for 3 days so I got by on the one).

Chris & Lyn - that's the pad shape then, rather than the pouch or leaf (which look strange to my eyes)? I guess that around the house it doesn't really matter very much, but I had thought if I went out the pants would last a few hours. If not, then I guess it's easier to carry a few pads than a few pants. I've had a prostate the size of a planet for the last dozen or more years, so I'm used to needing to use a toilet every 2-3 hours and working around it.

Hadn't thought about night times; I presume the waterproof sheet etc. is back-up in case the pads/pants aren't enough. But I guess that depends on the luck of the draw as well.

User
Posted 18 Feb 2020 at 23:11

Hi,

You can't tell how you'll be until it happens.  They say improvement comes by being dry at night (I always was).  Then dry in the morning.  Then dry all day. 

I chose Boots pads they're bigger than Tena and warmer, and at the time were cheaper.   I don't know if they hold more than Tena though.   The Tena ones are the flash ones, the Boots ones a bit no nonsense.

I wouldn't buy the pants unless you're gushing badly.

I stopped drinking before 7pm every night so my bladder wouldn't be so bad in the night.   Although I was always amazed about how much was in the catheter night bag in the morning even with stopping drinking.  I'm sure my bladder never has that much in even if I'm feeling full.

I bought them 10 at a time but bought a bigger pack in the week it suddenly went better and gave them to AgeUK.

Your muscle tires in the day.  When you walk you leak without realising and should carry a spare.   You might leak at unexpected times such as lifting something, bending down or if you get sexually aroused.   All those improve over the longer term.

 
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