J. O' Connor wrote:
> I have not socialised (going to restaurants ect. with friends) since my
> operation, as the feeling of having urine running down my legs from an
> over-full pad would not conform to the ambiance. On my internet travel I
> came across and ordered a gadget called 'SqueezerKlip'. Its purpose is to
> close of the urethra without disturbing the blood circulation to and from
> the penis. I am waiting for it to arrive any day now and if it works, will
> use it only in situations like socialising, shopping, long travel ect.
> Has anyone heard / used of this gadget? How did you find it? Did it work for
> you?
Here's my take on the ActiCuf
http://www.gturological.com/index-4.html
version of the SqueezerClip, sent to my uro and to the ActiCuf's
manufacturer. (Realize that these devices hold only an ounce or three,
wheras a Depends diaper will hold cups and can be boosted with Depends
booster pads.)
Test report on the ActiCuf incontinence pouch, as posted by me on
alt.support.cancer.prostate:
First impression out of the package:
Nice, small, flat, low-profile; it’s going to hide easily.
It’s a soft, light, flat, paper, squeeze-mouthed, coin purse.
There’s no thick foam padding like what I expected, and it takes some
serious squeeze pressure to open it; clamp it on two stacked fingers and
it feels TIGHT! If you think I’m sticking THIS into THAT and releasing
the bear trap, you’re nuts. I want to catch any stray dribble, not cut
off circulation and, ultimately, what’s left of my manhood.
But what the hell … the website says it’s comfortable, and we KNOW
websites don’t lie.
So after a couple of stiff belts, I squeeze the bear trap open wide,
insert all the way, take a deep breath, release the bear trap
slooooooowly, and … holy cow; I don’t feel it at all. It’s all in the
geometry of the “bear trap”; it can exert a lot of “pinch” pressure when
wide open, but the pressure isn’t even noticeable down at operational
range. And I’m guessing most guys needing these things only THINK their
operational, slightly compressed diameter is going to challenge it.
Bottom line: BEYOND comfortable. In fact, I couldn’t even feel it a
minute after clamping it on. No, it didn’t leave me numb; it just didn’t
pinch.
Slip test:
If it’s that comfortable, won’t it slip off accidentally if it gets
heavy with leakage? Tug … tug … yep, it sure could … but only if you
plan on carrying a pint of urine in that 3-ounce pouch while you go
jogging. It takes some serious tugging to get it to slip AT ALL –
nothing you’d ever experience unless your family dog gets a good grip on
it – and even when it does slip, there’s no discomfort at all. This
thing is SECURE. Ånd, LORDY, but it feels good to get back into boxer
shorts!
Blood circulation test:
Now, it’s great when a penis fills to the bursting point with blood;
everybody involved enjoys it … unless it doesn’t empty when the time
comes. If this pinching action lets blood in but not out again, we have
a problem, Houston. So let’s give it the acid circulation test now that
I’ve had it on for an hour or so: give the business end a goose to test
its senses ... strictly as a clinical circulation test, I swear: OOOOOH
… that felt GOOD! It passed that test, too ... and I’ll be back in a few
minutes.
The Potty Test:
Ya squeeze the clamp, remove the pouch, take care of business, reverse
the procedure, and walk away. Anyone who notices in a public restroom is
watching WAY too closely. Three hands would help (you’re holding three
things unless you’re sitting down), but it works fine with two. And it’s
small enough to conceal adequately with your hand if you walk over to
the trashcan to throw it away. If even that’s not discreet enough for
you, just use a stall.
Wear test:
I’ve worn it for several hours in my first trial, including a moderate
exercise and physical therapy routine with extensive stooping and
bending. Once again, I forgot I was wearing it. If the instructions
didn’t say not to wear it to bed, I would have. It may as well not be
there, it’s so comfortable. What else can I say?
The leak test:
Most of my leaking is in the evenings, standing around doing nothing.
Frequent very small squirts, just enough that I need a little
absorbency. Pads provide that, but provide no assistance in preventing
the leaks.
The modest squeeze of the Cuf assists a little in detecting and averting
these small leaks.
The ultimate test: The Gym.
Today it went to the gym for my triweekly, four-to-five-hour, full-tilt,
non-stop, gut-busting workout involving most types of equipment in a
HUGE gym. (Darn RIGHT I took a diaper in my gym bag as backup, but I had
no need for it.) Once again, I forgot I was wearing it … until I
dropped trou in the locker room: “So what are YOU staring at, buddy?
Here … catch!” ;-)
Or maybe you could scream, “AAAAAAGH! What the hell’s THAT?” (Paint some
little beady eyes and glue a little fur and a tail on it if you want to
try that one.) Or just surreptitiously remove and discard it with a wave
of the hand, as I did; it requires much less explanation.
And finally the street test: how obvious is the Cuf?
Anyone who can spot this device in a pair of slacks or shorts is looking
at my crotch WAY too closely. It’s just not visible . . . unless, of
course, you’ve oriented the bear trap fore’n’aft rather than sideways,
which is likely to trigger all sorts of commentary, partly because this
gadget’s pretty small.
Unless you guys can think of something I missed, I rate this the ActiCuf
a 9.5 in performance (if it had PREVENTED leaks with its pinch action,
as its instructions almost imply, it would have gotten a 10). It
definitely would not have worked in the days when I was completely
flooding the Depends Tsunami model 2-3 times a day, but it’s neither
intended nor advertised to handle major incontinence. But at $5 EACH --
10 times the cost of a 24-hour diaper and 20 times the cost of a pad --
you’d better have a really, really good motivation to avoid pads or diapers.
Let’s compare the ActiCuf directly with its competition. What advantages
does it have over pads or diapers?
Easier and more discreet than pads or diapers to change and dispose of.
(Try cramming a diaper in a restroom fliptop trashcan without
self-consciousness or touching the lid!)
Dryer than pads or diapers if you don’t overfill it. I could wear one
ActiCuf now for 24 hours in comfort and confidence as long as I check it
whenever I go to the bathroom. (It turns pale blue when damp with urine,
so you have some degree of indication how you’re doing on the current
refill.)
Speaking of confidence … most pads have a fallout risk; these don’t.
Wherever you go, it follows, unlike a pad which demands your presence
front and center to do any good.
And speaking of comfort … these are certainly more comfortable than
diapers, and even more so than pads since pads require Jockey shorts.
BOXERS RULE!
It doesn’t show beneath your clothes, as diapers may.
No more sweaty groin in warm weather or rooms.
You can carry a few of these in any pocket unnoticed; they’re far less
bulky than packaged pads.
ActiCuf disadvantages?
A TINY bit more hassle at the urinal until you master the one-handed
abra cadabra (you’ll master it in two days). In the locker room I just
turn my back to others, but it might pique your cell-mate’s attention in
jail.
Five bucks a pop – 10 times the cost of a diaper and 20 times a pad’s cost.
Unless you’re totally satisfied with less expensive pads in every
scenario you face, this Cuf is a great addition to your arsenal. I think
it’s a wiener … er, a winner … if you ever wish to pay $5 for any or
all of that impressive list of advantages for an hour or a day. But I’m
guessing the price of these great products will come down when demand
increases, as I’m sure it will. They WORK!
I.P.