www.incontinentsupport.org

Yes, I also use the skin prep, either the Smith & Nephew or Cavilon, but that one is more expensive. I also recommend the Urocare leg bag holder, I have 2, alternate them, and they hold up well. As far as fit, you could try a larger size, I can go with either the 28 or 31mm, the larger needs a not so flaccid member to put on, but not a full erection either. I prefer the smaller size, as it fits almost perfectly when limp, and is not noticeable at all during the day, very natural. Puffy

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

Good advice, Puffy, as usual!

The skin prep I ordered is the Smith & Nephew. It should arrive today.

To remove the last condom I eventually used alcohol-soaked cotton balls to slowly dissolve the adhesive a bit at a time. I wish I had thought of that earlier.

I skipped the condom cath last night as I have a dermatologist appointment this morning. It also gave the irritated skin of my penis a rest. Will try again tonight and will try to wear the cath longer tomorrow. To do so, I will have to skip my morning intermittent catheterization, but my recent residuals have been pretty good.

It is interesting to see what can be "normal" in the discussions in this group. Just a couple of years ago I never, never would even have considered discussing the skin of my penis in a public forum!

This strange discussion again emphasizes all of the many small things that are part of living with incontinence - and doing so well. To me, that is what this group is all about. I would not get this level of detailed and helpful information from my doctors.

--John

Try ostomy glue remover.
That is what was recommended for me. I have since moved on to a different brand that is not as difficult to remove.
Which would be Conveen Optima Male Self-Adhering External Catheters. I really though that the other brand I used would be stuck with me (or on me) for life...
And I can't take credit for the coat hanger trick. I read that somewhere and just passed it on.

Scott

Thanks Scott! That is another tip I would not have thought of.

The Conveen Optima Male Self-Adhering External Catheter is what I have now and which, for me, have been so difficult to remove! I actually like the condom as I find it to be both secure and comfortable.

I am going to ask for some samples of other condoms with different sealing mechanisms to try them out. Certainly something with external tape would work if I can find a good brand. Any recommendations?

However, today I am trying to wear the catheter for a much longer time in order to see how much of a difference that makes when I try to remove it.

--John

Glad to see you are persevering, John.

By far the best sort of sheath is a self-adhesive one. I have tried all sorts at different times and got pretty wet sometimes too! Honestly, the Conveen ones are very good and you should be pleased they don't come off easily as ones that are easy to get off have a habit of coming off on their own - with a flooding of course!

The way to get the things off is in a bath or in the shower. The warm water usually makes the glue come away more easily and the remains can be washing off in the shower too.

Incidentally, I got some from a firm called Rochester and if you think what you have is hard to remove.... it has glue oozing out at the end and I would have been really in trouble if I had no shaved the hair in the surrounding area. I only tried a couple and then wrote them off to experience.

Thanks Wheels!

As part of "persevering" I went out of the house while wearing my condom cath for the very first time today. As part of the "learning curve" (aka series of disasters), I remembered why I wear black jeans when I suddenly realized that my pants were wet and I was leaking onto the floor. Only by good fortune, I happened to be in the handicapped stall of a men's room in a community activity center!

My first thought was that the condom had come off, but, to my surprise, it was the connecter between the condom and the leg bag extension. Simple fix after I wiped up the floor.

Not sure exactly what caused the problem as I checked the connection prior to leaving the house. For the first time, I wore a pull-up diaper with the condom cath just in case of an unlikely bowel accident. It could have been the extra pull at the leg of the pull-up. I had cut the leg bag extension tubing to eliminate excess tubing and kinks. I don't think it is too short, but it might be. However, the condom and leg bag extension are different brands. I know that the connectors are supposed to be universal, but ...

Guys, am I supposed to reinforce that connector between the condom and the leg bag with extra tape or something?

When I arrived home I was very pleased to find that my UroCare Fitz-all fabric leg bag strap with hook and loop fasteners and the fabric strap for the condom tubing had arrived. It looks like a good product and may solve my problem. The wide leg bag straps are immeasurably better than the elastic straps with buttons. I have those straps both at the top and bottom of the leg bag. The strap for the catheter tubing should keep the tube more or less where I want it against my thigh and that should reduce the pull on the condom.

Wow - now I am beginning to see why so many people become discouraged before they have a chance to iron out the kinks in the condom cath system.

It was unfortunate that my wife was with me to witness my having a catastrophic accident with the new condom cath system. That is not exactly confidence building. As a retired RN, my wife has been a little bit skeptical as, when she was actively nursing, condom catheter leaks were common.

Again, my thanks to all of you for your help.

--John

Connectors are annoying things and you have my sympathy. The reason they come adrift is often because the bag had sunk down and stretched the connector. The answer it to make sure that this can't happen by, as I gather you have, fitting something to hold the bag up. The supplied straps are pretty useless even sat motionless in a wheelchair!

Keep going, though, You will get there!

Wheels,

Yes, those elastic straps are pretty pitiful.

I will note that this time, when I tried to remove the condom, it was markedly easier. Probably that fact that I had worn it longer - 21 hours - had something to do with it.

My Smith & Nephew skin prep arrived this afternoon, so, after I intermittent cath, I'll put the condom cath back on for the night. I feel good about the new fabric leg bag straps and feel more confident about wearing the system out of the house.

My medical provider has been surprisingly helpful and is shipping me by overnight express larger condoms plus the Coloplast Conveen leg bag to match the brand of the condom (and hopefully fit better at the connector).

Tomorrow, wearing the condom over the skin prep, I shall continue to "persevere." Wish me luck.

--John

Keep at it JD, it will one day be a trust worthy & simple system you can do almost anything in. One word of advice on the skin prep, make sure you have placement right, cause once it is started, there is NO going back! As far as connectors go, I like a plain 5-1 plastic, it has graduated rings around it, getting larger, and is a bit big, but never had one come loose during the day I fund the small ones included with the extension tubing to be useless. They look like this one http://medovations.com/surg_disp_5in1.php Puffy

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

Puffy,

Thank you for that great recommendation! I was not aware that they sold the connectors separately. That certainly becomes an inexpensive upgrade.

This again demonstrates the value of the information exchange in this forum. Think how long it probably would take the average new condom cath user to find something like that out on his own!

--John