Pads

Thanks for starting this thread @Wheel. There's already lots of good info in the replies, hopefully I can add to it with my own experience.

It is perfectly normal to leak more at the beginning. Once my catheter was out, I started with men's Tena Extra guards and changed them probably twice a day. It was no big deal because I was off work for 7 weeks. I still used them when I returned to work, but I was on light duties for a while and I was also starting to dry up, so I didn't need to change them there (there would have been no issue doing so anyway). I progressively went to a smaller guard, then a shield, then sometimes nothing. Overnight, it wasn't long at all after the catheter was removed until I was only wearing a shield in my underwear overnight, just in case.

Fast forward about 5 years and things were starting to deteriorate and I was leaking again, in ever increasing volumes. The following pads were the best product I found for work or other physical activity that also needed to cater for things flopping around 😉. They were anatomically shaped complete with side gathers and had good capacity. I wore these at work for my last year or so there, and also for social outings where I needed the luxury of time to avoid pad changes:

Dailee Men Level 2 | Incontinence Products | ConfidenceClub

The only problem I had with them was that after 8 hours or so, especially if they were getting quite full and needed to be changed, particularly in hot and sweaty weather, the sticky backing would sometimes tear away when I went to remove them. Urine-soaked pulp would then be exposed and sometimes fall out. But, the shape of the pad was ideal.

I also experimented with women's incontinence liners and pads and I actually grew to prefer them, particularly at home. The triangle shape of men's guards and shields, if allowed to fill beyond capacity or were poorly positioned, would overflow from the narrow bottom end and saturate my underwear. The pads I linked above were overkill for a quiet weekend at home. Women's products are straighter and longer, or bone shaped, and as long as you can find one that has adequate width, performs far better in my opinion.

I dealt with my incontinence a year ago by undergoing surgery to get an ATOMS sling fitted, and my default now is to go pad free. But I still leak slightly, and if I expect strenuous activity, the heaviest pad I wear now is a men's shield, otherwise a women's liner.

great comments, thanks! Managing just 28 days from surgery and 7 days from catheter removal; better at night, wearing a depends; wearing depends and a pad during the day (may be able to switch to just pad, but better safe/dry). Been starting kegel exercises (not the full therapy, but will start that in 3 weeks). The last two days have been better; generally when I am seated or laying for too long I get a gush when I stand up. I have been trying to control when I stand up (trying kegel hold), and can usually make it the 20 feet to the toilet (but just barely). Again seems to get a little better each day. Although when I get to the toilet it just gushes out, no real control, at least not yet. Glass half full (of pee), staying positive!