www.incontinentsupport.org

Hello friends,

I recently came across a website for an alternative to condom catheters, called the mens liberty.. instead of the condom, little petals attach to the tip of the penis using a different adhesive than condom caths..and its supposed to be better than diapers... im curious as to whether it might work for me and if anyone has tried it. I am skeptical about it being practical for a few reasons..applications seems a bit more complicated than putting on a diaper.. with my lack of fine motor control, not sure if i could get it on... and would be WAY too embarrased to ask someone to help me.. and in order to use it you have to use dial soap which gets rid of moisture in the skin...correct me if im wrong but isnt skin devoid of all moisture a BAD thing? anyway, the way this thing works is by sucking up moisture....
now, what i want to know is..when i have htis on.. what happens if i get the random.. male stiffness (guys know what i mean), and my thing is pointing straight up? its supposed to use gravity to let the urine go down.. how do i know the leg bag wont detatch from the tip? Like i said i'm skepical..any input would be greatly apprecated.. i need to go back to work..

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"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

I've seen those but I far from convinced they would stay on. Sheaths (external catheters) are, in my view, far safer and probably easier to put on. One of those and a drainage bag contains everything and avoids the extra heat of diapers.

I tried one of those regular condom catheters and it did not work very well. Very uncomfortable and painful to take off. To much adhesive. Plus the tube was too big and I would have to buy new baggie pants. For now I still continue to use depends real fit for my leaks.

NO WAY would i use conventional condom catheters..I do'nt like the idea of A gluing something to my equipment.. or B..having something velcro strapped on there..

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"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

I recall I ordered a sample years ago when I was searching to an alternative to diapers, and these, for me, did not work. You need to get an exact fit on it, and with the "petals" that apply, I found it almost impossible to get a proper fit. I also didn't like the bag set-up they had, but that was changeable at least.



Sociologygeek, you would be surprised at how comfortable the external catheter actually is when you get the right product in use, you forget it is even there. I prefer them when I am out for the entire day, and I know bathrooms are going to be an issue finding in my days journey. They are a nice alternative to everything else out there, and my medical also covers them, but nothing in the disposable section. Puffy

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Puffy
BC, Canada
Fighting the "Bladder Battle" since 1995

Yet the 'petal type' you mention involves gluing the thing onto the glans of the penis and not gluing onto the shaft which sounds worse to me.

I don't have sensation 'down there' due to paralysis so can't comment on how comfortable or not sheaths are but they are a whole lot less fiddly then diapers and once applied and a bag connected that's it for a day. Pick a 750 ml bag and any gush is contained to be emptied when convenient. It's got to be worth a try.

Ok, let me addresss both the points made by puffy and wheels. Puffy, may i ask how long you have been using condom catheters? how long can you wear one for? does the product still work if a random male stiffness causes your equipment to point upright? Does it work for someone with poor fine motor control? have you ever had pain removing it? I admit, i am considering alternatives to diapers, but only because i don't always want to have to deal with skin breakdown and rash..airing out helps a lot...but might be inconvinent.

Wheels, your point about me not wanting to try the condom catheter but thinking about trying libertiy.. and both using adhesives does have some salt..the reason why i THOUGHT the liberty might provide a beltter alternative is that it uses a different kind of adhesive, one that appears to be water-soluble, thus easier to remove. By the way, while diapers do seem fiddly to you..and i admit they are, some of hte time... im not sure for me how less fiddly they would be. As far as fiddlyness goes, i think the cloth diapers would be more so than disposables. and by the way, if you find disposables fiddly to use when it comes to diapers, maybe your using the wrong diapers..i use attends breathable extra absorbent and with the refastanable tabs that are TRULY refastenable, they are a snap to put on and get the right fit. although you do have to to be careful to not rip the tape off the backing..but i thin the same is true for poly backed disposables. Well, soon my biofeedback will start and hopefully it makes this bout of incon go AWAY so i dont have to worry about diapers OR condom caths...woudlnt htat be nice??

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"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

SG, I have been using them on and off for 15+ years. Normal wear time is 24 hours, then you apply a new one, although I have had some that have held out so well I could have made it 48 hours without issue. Yes, barring a serious bend in the tubing that causes flow to stop, then you will have an issue, but really, how long do erections last at our age? lol Fine motor skills may be problematic for you, as you really need to get a good fit/seal when you put it on, so that may be something to talk too a continence advisor/nurse about, or your doctor. I have yet to encounter pain on removal, and I also use a skin prep that give a better bond with the adhesive. they do make a removal liquid to assist with taking it off, of a hot shower works good too! Anything else, feel free to ask! Puffy

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Puffy
BC, Canada
Fighting the "Bladder Battle" since 1995

Puffy, you bring up "at our age." Just to get a clear perspective on demographics on who the condom cath works for (i am a sociologist after all, demographics play a HUGE part in research) may i ask your age? My age is 31...

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"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

When I started using sheaths I was 34! Erections or not, they stay on and provide assured drainage.