One of the many non-fun parts of being a paraplegic is having problems w/ body functions... As is fairly typical for my injury level, I have a "neurogenic bladder" meaning that I can't pee voluntarily, and have to use an intermittent catheter.

While I am mostly able to feel when I need to go, it isn't as consistent as it is for an able bodied person, sometimes I'll get an urge very shortly after the previous time, sometimes far later than I should, so I also tend to use time... However over the years my bladder has stretched to the point where I can hold over a liter (normal max is about 400cc).

It used to be that I didn't leak at all when going about my daily activities unless I was REALLY full... Now I seem to seep a little all the time, and will fairly often lose a few drops w/ effort (stress incontinence). It isn't bad enough to give me externally visible wet spots, but I'm 'damp' more of the time than I'd like...

The problem has gotten considerably worse in the last few months as I've been doing the chemical castration route... I suspect that at least some of this is because I'd expect that my prostate is shrinking. I have long thought that the prostate acts as a sort of 'secondary sphincter' and helps keep guys from leaking... I know I always used to feel it as a bit of an extra barrier to work past when inserting a catheter, and it isn't as noticeable these days...

Does this seem right? How often does castration (chemical or surgical) seem to lead to continence issues?

The problem has gotten to the point where I feel a need to start using some sort of protection products, and I was wondering if there is anything different to consider for us when choosing something? FWIW, while I still have balls and scrotum in (I think) fairly normal size, my penis is shrunken to pre-puberty size...

Any comments / Suggestions?

WheelyCurious

I always try to have a toilet close by as I have a short urethra and don't have the stamina to hold a large volume in my bladder (certainly no more than 400cc).

I have already got used to take into account this peculiarity of mine, as I am afraid of being in an awkward situation ...

With you being paraplegic you don't have many conveniente options, protection products require mobility that you don't have on your own. You may want to look into switching from using intermittent catheters to Folly catheterization. I know a few people that use Follys 24/7/365, they find it easier to deal with than diapers and there are many options in collection devices.

Keep in mind, hormones or not, that as we age, things begin to break down! I think it was a Grumpy Old Men movie where one of the guys said: "I get up, and wonder, what's not working today?" For those who are mechanically inclined, it's not so easy as changing a valve cover gasket or a radiator hose to stop a leak!

Of course, I can't speak to Wheely's issue, combined with his T-5, AIS-B injury, other than what I can read about it and what he tells us.

Me, I always need to know where I am going when I plan a day out for shopping, etc., and where all the bathrooms are on my route. I'm closer to 60 than to 50 now, you know! I used to get a 2-minute warning when I had to go. Now I get a "you're about to be in trouble!" warning!

From what I have read, when deprived of testosterone, the prostate shrinks. Of course, we all know that as men age, all the testosterone from over the years causes the prostate to enlarge some (BPH) and can make urination difficult, if not impossible when ignored long enough. Take away the testosterone, and it shrinks some.

I also have to wonder if in the case of a neurogenic bladder, if the constant forcing-open of the sphincter that doesn't work on its own might have loosened it over time, much like plumbing valve that's being forced open over and over - it loosens up and leaks.

Just my 2 cents there.

Nihado, Thanks for the suggestion, but I ended up on a Foley for about a month after I got a 'false passage' from a different catheter that I was sampling. I found that for me it was a totally miserable experience. They used to stick convicts with a ball and chain, I felt like having a hose and bag wasn't much different... It is probably less of a concern for quads that need a lot of assistance w/ things besides that, but as a fairly active para I found that it was just a constant nuisance.

Paolo, what you say makes a lot of sense, and I know that enlarged prostates cause problems, I have never seen anything either way about what happens when they shrink... OTOH I know that reportedly women have more issues w/ leakage and they are relying on the sphincter only...

At any rate, as an experiment I have just ordered a package of the "Amazon Basics" male guard pads to see if they will work for me... If they do I will try to get my urologist to write a scrip as that might get my insurance to cover them...

WheelyCurious

Paolo wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:31 am Keep in mind, hormones or not, that as we age, things begin to break down!

Me, I always need to know where I am going when I plan a day out for shopping, etc., and where all the bathrooms are on my route. I'm closer to 60 than to 50 now, you know! I used to get a 2-minute warning when I had to go. Now I get a "you're about to be in trouble!" warning!

I am closer to 80 that 70 and have to make adjustments also.

There was a time that I wore pullups when driving, but then developed a new strategy - preventative peeing. I do not wait for the two minute warning. I pee when I get the slightest feeling. I do not have to worry about pullups - for now.

An update and related question....

I got in

WheelyCurious wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 4:23 pm the "Amazon Basics" male guard pads

and have been trying them for the past week or so, and overall am reasonably happy with the experiment... But it could be better...

The good stuff:

First off the obvious is that they are keeping me drier, which is the point of the things after all... The absorbing pad behind the 'moisture passing fabric really works. The pads don't even feel damp when I pull them off at the end of the day....

Second is that they seem to hold my balls up higher so they aren't as pinched between my legs while sitting in my wheelchair - the typical Y-front briefs I've been wearing most of my life didn't do that... So while in some ways I feel like I'm wearing one of those medieval codpieces, I'm actually more comfortable...

The "could be better" stuff:

Before I started using them, I'd drag the 'equipment' out through the 'man-hole' in the briefs. The pads cover the hole, so I have to go out to one side which is a bit awkward and then takes a fair bit of fiddling to get everything back where it belongs afterwards.

Also currently my balls and scrotum act as sort of 'door-stops' to hold the underwear out of the way while doing the whole catheter routine... I'm anticipating that when I am finally able to get my desired surgery and don't have the scrotum and balls anymore, that it will make this aspect a bit more of a challenge....

Lastly when I remove the pad to throw it out before going to bed, it is a bit of a struggle to get enough room to peel the adhesive off the underwear and pull the pad off while still seated...

This leads to the QUESTION.... My adaptive pants have zippers that allow me to open and fold them away from my crotch, giving me access to my underwear... The logical next step would be to have a similar 'fold aside' or 'trap door' front to let me get them out of the way. Think something along the line of a diaper, or the traditional 'union suit' long underwear with the trap door on the front...

I did a quick look on Amazon and didn't find anything... However I've noticed in passing that many of the members here on EA choose to wear underwear other than the 'standard male' sorts so I wonder if anyone here has seen such a thing, and can give me a pointer?

I presumably could head over to the fabric arts shop and create something, but why reinvent the wheel?

Thanks,

WheelyCurious

Go soft wear snap boxer brief.http://www.internationaljock.com/go-sof ... hu0cOEDjhU 3hhGia_24Qj6HbDVkUWuOPZlpCWFryLjmC8aAkpnEALw_wcB

I wonder how astronauts solve such issues?

Of course, the ladies are much more difficult than the gentlemen ...

I heard that something like a vacuum suction is used?

Your're right it's some kind of vaccum to collect specifically the urine and then they use it in a purificaton process to extact all the water and of course they drink it back.

An economical way to reduce the amount of water delivery from earth which is very costly.