Guys with UI, why not use condom catheters?

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Hey guys, I was looking around the boards here and it just seems a lot of guys with UI wear diapers. I am confused as to my that would be preferred over an external condom catheter with a leg bag? A condom catheter would be sealed and keep you dry, no odor, no skin irritation other than maybe a little from the tape and the moisture on the end of your penis, but you'd be dry everywhere else. Hmmmm?

 

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Most men say they experience leaks with that system.

 

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After attempting a condom cath for months after Foley problems, then after a few years and a botched procedure I couldn’t tolerate the Suprapubic anymore, I found two BIG problems for me.
1) I don’t know about anyone else, but my “body” changes size often throughout the day and especially at night, going from strangling to loose. I found after a few hours if I had a strong bladder spasm it would just blow the thing off, and it’s just like wearing nothing at all.The “swelling” was Extremely uncomfortable to say the least, especially if it happens in public. Even worse when it blew off, like ripping off sports tape! When things then returned to “normal”? I would get leaks during spasms so I ended up needing to wear padding anyway.
2) The Urology Nurse gave me some extra adhesive that looked like toothpaste, and some cloth / sports tape to hold things together. This did not stop the strangulation, only made it more painful. Finally when I went to remove it after removing the tape, I ended up having to go to the ER to get the rest off! It took a couple of weeks to heal after that. NO THANKS!
It was a pretty painless choice to stick to diapers after that! Just out of curiosity has any other active young guy had a good experience with these?

 

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It reminds me of a joke. Why did the condom go flying across the room? It got pissed off. Sorry, just adding a little humor. As snow said, it can still leak, and it can be uncomfortable.

 

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I've tried condom caths before. One brand left my "Unit" with very painful sores where the adhesive was.
Another brand didn't cause sores, but I had ALOT of trouble with kinks between the tubing and the cath, which caused a backup of urine, which caused the thing to come off or come loose and leak!! After a few wet beds and wet pants, I gave up on the things and went back to diapers.

 

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Egadz, guys! Makes sense and sounds terrible! @artiejr Thanks for the humor!

 

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Yep @artiejr, that was a good one! Frankly I have no desire to try one of those condom catheters simply because the tubing would get in the way of things and I could imagine that the whole thing would pull on me like crazy. I think I would notice that much more than I notice wearing just a pull-up! I even forget I have them on at times! They work for me and that's just fine!

 

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Hey guys, I was looking around the boards here and it just seems a lot of guys with UI wear diapers. I am confused as to my that would be preferred over an external condom catheter with a leg bag? A condom catheter would be sealed and keep you dry, no odor, no skin irritation other than maybe a little from the tape and the moisture on the end of your penis, but you'd be dry everywhere else. Hmmmm?

First, I fill a leg bag way to quickly.
Second, I have had catheters come off in the night.
Third, I have an allergies to some of the adhesive... nothing like having layers of skin down there die..
Lastly, with bowel issue to there really is no other choice..

 

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Every urologist that I’ve consulted (and I’ve consulted a few!) has recommended that I use a condom catheter. One urologist even told me that wearing a diaper was “unmanly”. (I fired that one!) in any case, I’ve tried condom catheters on a number of occasions, but I’ve had problems. The most embarrassing incident that my incontinence has ever caused occurred at a Christmas party at my boss’s house. I bumped the leg bag against the corner of a table and burst it, causing a major leak onto an antique Persian rug. Another problem with a condom catheter is that it’s difficult to unhook it in order to urinate in the toilet, which is something I can do about half the time. So I prefer diapers. They’re comfortable, and diaper leaks are never as catastrophic as the incident at the Christmas party.

 

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Good replies everyone, I was just wondering since I know a lot of guys in wheelchairs who opt for the condom catheter and seem to prefer them. I just use an intermittent one when I have the urge to go. I get an electric shock like touching my tongue to a 9v battery, but it shoots through my whole body and doesn't go away until I drain my bladder. It's a condition that all high-level spinal cord injuries have, but experience differently. Autonomic Dysreflexia.

 

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For me it gets flooded, and can't handle the amount of output so it leaks. I also have not been able to handle wearing the leg bags. They are just a no go for me.

 

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I used the Hollister Extended Wear. Number 9207... I also bought a Bard Latex Extension Tube.. This was more flex1ble.. Then I bought a StatLock Catheter Stabilization Device that stuck to the upper inside of my leg that held the Extension Tube in place.. Then around my ankle was a Rusch leg bag... 32oz.. I did get better leg bands with velcro.
Everything worked great.. Loved it.. It actually gave me back some of my life back.
It never came apart... The condom catheter did not hurt to remove...
I worked out in the gym,, Traveled on the airlines, did about everything. I went through many condom catheters before I found the one that really worked good, and was not expensive.. I think I payed 1.30 per condom catheter... Also,, you will need to put some Desitin on before the condom catheter for rash protection.
Now I have the AMS800, and I do not need them anymore... But I did wear a diaper just in case the hose came apart from the condom catheter..
Oh,, Do not wear them at night when you sleep.. You will get a rash..

Amazon sells a lot of these items... Hope this helps.

 

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HI @Inconimiss, I can see why condom catheters aren't you're "go to" solution for incontinence! Oh wow! :O leaking onto a Persian rug at your boss's house? If it were me, I'd swear off condom catheters forever and a day! Not only that but I don't think I could ever show my face at work again! I really sympathize with you. That must have been horrendous!
And wearing diapers is "unmanly?" I would have fired that guy, too! Hey you gotta do what you gotta do and if diapers are the solution then do it! If it works for you then why not?
I think that doctor went to the same medical school as a doctor I once had when I had a bladder infection not all that many years ago. He said, "men shouldn't get bladder infections." Well, I had one and I'm a man! Hello! I told about that one a few threads ago within the past week. I don't know if you saw it or not but that's as ridiculous a statement as saying wearing diapers is unmanly.

 

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Thank goodness my doctors are up to date on incontinence and information on how to deal with it. Most have recommended medications. I said not for me, too many side effects. I told them I'd handle it my way using diapers and plastic pants. All are ok with that.

 

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I have what I would describe as "minimum moderate" UI. When I tried External condom catheters, with highly meticulous technique, and using the 70% more adhesive ones, carefully sized to be correct.

The results? As a side sleeper, I had a bag hanging behind the brass rail bedboard, which was as perfect as you could have it situated. No kinks of any kind. I checked it for TWO hours before going to sleep on one side, and then I woke up in an hour - everything fine.

Then, I carefully turned to my other side, with no kinks, moving the tubing to my other side, making sure everything was PERFECT. WHAT HAPPENS? Within minutes, I feel urine leaking into my diaper with its additional thick stick on pad. I pull the bag to rush into the bathroom. The condom was leaking at that time, though still on. I had to quickly unroll it, so urine wouldn't get over the floor.
\
MY BED? Urine leaks on my fitted sheet, on the mattress topper pad, and even into the memory foam topper!

After that, I said NEVER, EVER again will I touch a condom catheter.

 

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A condom catheter may only be better during waking hours where you can quickly correct any leakage issues.

 

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I sometimes sleep with my intermittent catheter in on my right side just to avoid waking up with a very full bladder and severe Autonomic Dysreflexia which causes a spike in blood pressure. I sleep like a rock and don't move at all, so that works for me. But I'm paralyzed and can't feel. I wouldn't expect you guys to shove one of those up there unless you were sadistic lol.

 

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They worked really well for me, i just got fed up self cathing every half an hour. I felt they were ok for home use where I would not be walking round much but had to pluck up a lot of courage to wear when outdoors, walking in London etc.

The Foley is the best answer for me and to use a waist worn suspension bag holder so it fits nicely underneath trousers and doesn't "slosh" around much as it did on my calf. Hollister short "Inview" were my favourite and did not leak too much. Had the odd accident but for the most part, contained my leaks.

 

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Hi @laalaauk, seems like you have your Foley routine down pat and you know what to do so you're still comfy with it! From reading your description it sounds like there is no pulling sensation which would be my big bugaboo!

 

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@billliveshere Bugaboo, love it!

I have found a waist worn suspension strap which connects to a 750ml bag and find this holds up really well with no pulling. I found I produce too much urine to be contained in a leg bag and all those straps are a faff.

I try and use a spigot for the evening to stretch my bladder and try to keep some elasticity, what's left of it, going. Works a treat and no more bladder ache during the day.