External catheter question

[kruznkru]

After RP I’m wanting to try external catheter for bout 3 months
Urologist says to try it if I want too
I’m only “leaking” while standing - not sitting/laying down at night so no need to use while sleeping
I do void myself during the day but leakage is enough to try the external catheter route
Any help on a “hot setup” plus what not to get
I’m trying to do research and have looking at coloplast
Thanks

 

[Eden98]

I have only used Coloplast and they work for me but i can't compare with other brands. Most important is choosing the right size, and obviously shaving, otherwise you gonna regret it when taking it off. Once you have the right size you probably won't feel you wearing it. The urin bag though is different, that can be quite annoying. For your upper leg a holder that goes around your waist prevents it from slipping down, or a legbag to your lower leg with a strap around the top of your calf works also very well. A urinbag only strapped around your upper leg will eventually slip down.

 

[kruznkru]

Eden98 in an earlier post you said you use a 250ml sport bag - how do you attach
it so no slippage ?
Upper or lower leg ?
Seems upper leg/thigh would be more discrete
I’m getting my “parts” together.
Ordered EC sampled from coloplast and Hollister
Thanks for any input

 

[Eden98]

I use 2 different urinary bags. The Coloplast Active legbag has an adhesive backside and is attached to the upper leg. I like these best because they don’t slip down and the outside is made from a cloth fabric which feels very natural. Downside is they can hold only 250ml while regular bags can hold 500ml. And the fabric does deteriorate so they don’t last that long.

Another legbag i use is the urinary sportsbag of the brand Manfred Sauer. These are regular urine bags but the outlet is on the length side which means they are worn sideways on the upper leg. This way i can hide them easily under my shorts. Downside is they are only attached with one leg strap. The opening for the strap is also very narrow allowing only a small strap. I always cut them open a bit so a wider, Coloplast leg strap fits through and cuts a bit less in my skin. To prevent it from slipping down i use medical tape to stick it to my skin. And i always stick the connection between the external catheter and tube to my skin. That prevents the hose from flipping around and potential getting a kink in it. Tbh i don’t know if that works if you are able to get an erection.

These are the 2 legbags i use when i use a external catheter, because i only use them during holidays and i want them to be discreet under shorts or swimwear. When i need a foley catheter the legbag is usually attached to my lower leg.

 

[kruznkru]

Why do you not wear a cc all the time ?
Or at least during the day ?
It seems cc are more comfortable from what I’m reading (haven’t got samples yet to try} if you can get the right cc fit and leg bag ?

 

[Eden98]

First because of the costs, diapers are covered by my health insurance and the external catheters are not. The catheters are not cheap for continuous use and the urine bags are neither. The active bags are good for 24 hours, the normal bags for a few days. Some manage to rinse them but the smell of urine is very persistent so I usually don’t use them longer than 4 days. For occasional use it is manageable and the convenience is worth it.

Second, I do sometimes experience fecal incontinence, quite rarely but i don’t like to be uncovered. Therefore on vacation, in addition to the catheter, I still use swim diapers and special swimwear.

Third, my skin gets easily irritated. Peeling off the catheter every day, the adhesives from the active bag, or the tape, the legstraps, it all leaves its marks on my skin, more than a diaper does.

 

[kruznkru]

Thank you for your input
Being Incontinent still while standing up is very frustrating.
I’m using north shore go supreme with poise heavy pads but after and hour or so I can feel things starting to leak thru.
I still void on toilet so really don’t want to go diaper route if possible
I can afford the $ cost for cc so this week when I get samples in I’ll see how things work
Thanks again

 

[kruznkru]

Haha - Wish I could speak German
Manfred Sauer

 

[RBG]

Have any of you considered Sling or AUS surgery instead?

 

[kruznkru]

I have !
But only 3 months in my specialist will not do anything until 6 months.
Another specialist says wait 1 year ?
Since I’m only 3 months in I need to find a “bridge” till December
Actually with a cc I can measure amount of leakage
Thanks for the reply