Radio Interview: How Don Stopped Wearing Pads for Urinary Incontinence

What follows is a written transcript of a video conversation between Contino® Patient Don and Maureen McGrath, Nurse Continence Advisor.  You can watch the video at:

Maureen McGrath

Good afternoon and welcome to Contino® conversations. I’m Maureen McGrath and I’m a registered nurse and a nurse continence advisor. I deal with lots of patients who experience the life altering condition leakage of urine or urinary incontinence. Today, I’m delighted to have join me here, Don, who is a patient who has experienced not only leakage of urine, but also a great solution called the Contino® (device). Welcome to continue our conversation Don, great to have you here.

Don

Thank you, Maureen. It’s a pleasure to be able to talk to you and other people who will hear this about the possibilities of Contino.

Maureen McGrath

It’s wonderful that you will share your story because urinary incontinence can be embarrassing. It’s associated with shame; it makes people feel older. And so, thank you so much for offering to share your story to help others and raise awareness about this great new solution, which is fantastic because so many other solutions only partially work or don’t work at all. So, Don, tell me a little bit about your life before you became incontinent, what was life like?

Don

Well, I practiced as a dentist for 50 years. I was an active boater, rower and skier and have had a wonderful life. Currently, I’m 90 years old. And I yes, I ran into some troubles with prostate cancer back in 2005 and the side effects from that that brought me to Contino.

Maureen McGrath

First and foremost, I would like to say you do not look 90 years old, we’d love to know your secret. But that might be another conversation!

Don

Oh, stubbornness!?

Maureen McGrath

I can relate to that. Excellent, outstanding, and congratulations on such a great career as well!

So, you mentioned prostate cancer, which many men will face that in their lifetime. And I think when patients go to see their doctors, and they’re given a diagnosis of prostate cancer, they’re just so afraid and so nervous, they hear the big “C” word.

Then the doctor will talk to them about the treatments and what kinds of things may happen after those treatments like urinary incontinence, for example. Oftentimes, I don’t think patients realize the gravity of that or they think “oh, I’m so happy that I’ve recovered from prostate cancer, what’s a little leakage of urine?” But leakage of urine actually impacts the quality of life.

What was your life like, after you experienced your treatment and you had resolution there?

Don

Well, following my treatment for prostate cancer, I went for approximately 10 years with no issues. I was fully active and did everything I wanted to do.

Then one day, and I’m not going to try to remember the dates, but it was in April, and I suddenly went into urinary retention. I had been told by my oncologist that my PSA was going up and the cancer might be returning along with some enlargement of the prostate. It happened suddenly and I was into emergency for catheterization and a very unpleasant experience.

I went through a number of measures for controlling the situation because after the urinary retention, I had to have a TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) where they go in and most guys call it “the reem job”. In that process, I think that the sphincter in my bladder was basically obliterated so I completely lost control of my bladder.

Maureen McGrath

What was life like when you lost control? What kinds of things did you experience and how did it affect you? Were you using pads? Were you staying home? Did you avoid social situations? Did it get you down or depressed?

Don

I didn’t avoid social experiences very much at all. But I went to them with trepidation. Because I had several episodes where the pad I was using overflowed and suddenly I’m totally wet and need to go home.

But yes pads, an indwelling catheter, and at one time, post-surgery the condom catheter and a leg bag. And that worked well for a while. But it’s (condom catheter and leg bag) another thing to hang around with and wasn’t very pleasant. And they can be less dignified, I think, than the Contino® device. You can’t wear shorts, with a leg bag – well you could but nobody does! When summertime comes, I’m a shorts guy! But so yeah, things were kind of rough for a while. I was trying all sorts of implements, I tried penis clamps, when I had to go somewhere and didn’t want to wear the bag, etc. They work buy they’re not comfortable after a while.

One day, I was looking for something different in the way of a clamp. And I saw an ad online for Contino. I thought “that sounds interesting!”.

Maureen McGrath

So how did your life change after trying the Contino?

Don

After starting using the Contino® device, I found that I was a bit initially disappointed, because I was getting leakage. I tried going up to larger sizes, which you know, made sense to plug the hole.

I went along with that for quite a while and having the Contino® plus wearing a pad also because I didn’t trust that it was going to do it.

I experimented with different sizes and with positioning in different places inside the urethra with success.  I would say that my use of Contino® now is quite successful. It’s not 100% because little things happen and that’s one of the problems of using any kind of a device to control to control bladder leakage is you need to remember to go and have a pee when your bladder gets full, right?

It has taken me a long time to teach my bladder to talk to me. Tell me when I must go. And that’s, that’s getting better all the time.

Maureen McGrath

Oh, that’s great. What would you say to other men out there who might be listening right now and experiencing urinary incontinence? What would you say to them?

Don

You don’t have to settle for pads the rest of your life or a condom catheter with a leg bag which is which is not a 100% solution.

The Contino® works for me and it certainly has worked for the inventor* (readers note, Contino® was invented by a prostate cancer survivor who was incontinent following his prostatectomy) and it’s working for other men. It’s easy to insert and it’s easy to manage your leakage and urinary flow rather than having to constantly worried getting to the bathroom and a new pad before it’s too late.

You do have to pay attention and remember to pee when your bladder gets full.

I’m feeling comfortable about my life in my aging years that Contino® is going to work for me the rest of the way.

I just want to mention that pads are very expensive. But it leads me to think about cost of the Contino.

Maureen McGrath

But before we go there, I’d like to ask you about what you just mentioned, do you think that men need to understand that it takes some patience? To get the right fit for Contino, to actually learn how to self-manage it, but that it’s worth it? In the end? Would that be a fair statement for you?

Don

Very definitely. Being patient, experimenting, being mindful, remembering what you need to do at the right point in time. (Reader note – since Don’s experience the makers of Contino® have implemented a team of telehealth based nurses who help men navigate the learning process in combination with a trainer in clinic who may be a Nurse, Physiotherapist or Doctor. Click here to book time to speak with a nurse about your situation.)

Maureen McGrath

What is the cost of the Contino? Would you say that it has been cost effective in terms of managing your urinary incontinence?

Don

It’s a good bargain, it’s a real deal. Because what is the cost of self-confidence and comfort? You can’t buy that, to have that feeling of okay, I’m good to go.  I think it’s $300 a quarter* if I’m correct (readers note: a Contino® subscription costs $125/month or $374/quarter which is approximately the cost adult pad/diaper use of 4-6/day) See our cost details here!

Maureen McGrath

Exactly, exactly. Well, that sounds fantastic. Thank you so much for the information and for sharing your honest and true story. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Don

Yes, indeed. One of the things other men may wonder, you know, is he on the payroll? But I’m, I’m doing this because I care for how other men are doing. I’ve been involved in the men’s movement since the early 80s and have been in support groups helping other men live good lives. This is one of the ways that I can help others come to a solution for some problems in their life. And this problem certainly could get people down.

There’s nothing quite so difficult as knowing like, I’m a singer, I sing in a choir, and sitting in the midst of a row of other men beside me and suddenly I realize “Oh, I forgot” and you’re in trouble and it’s hell. You can avoid that by going to a product that will help control your leakage and your incontinence. And I want to support that. Don’t be discouraged by the things that happen initially that make it tricky. Its not the perfect answer. But it’s a hell of a lot better than the other options.

Maureen McGrath

That is fantastic. I think in this day and age people want the quick fix, they want the pill or the surgery to turn things around. But it sounds as though with the Contino® device, you just need a little patience and persistence. And ultimately, at the end of the day, your quality of life will improve, get back to enjoying those hobbies and activities that you enjoyed. I mean, you’re, you’re 90 years old and singing away. And what more can we ask for?

Don

One, one final thing. Talk to other guys who have found a solution. I’ve already had conversations with two men who were curious and had questions and I hope I helped them. I’m always honest with them when I when I talk to them that, you know, it’s not perfect, but sure works.

Maureen McGrath

That’s fantastic. Don, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to join this Contino® Conversation. I really appreciate it and I’m sure so are the men who are suffering out there with urinary incontinence. Thank you for sharing your story and giving them some hope, quite frankly, because as you know, hope is what keeps us all going. It’s been a pleasure talking to you today.

Don

Thank you. I’m happy to have done it.