www.incontinentsupport.org

Medical supply company has done well by me. Just received new condoms and two different leg bags. Bard and Coloplast. Both look markedly better than what I was wearing before. I transferred my Fitz-well fabric leg bag straps to the Bard and am wearing it now. Feels good.

I decided to jump out of the rowboat and wear the catheter and the new Bard leg bag when I go to see Jurrasaic World at a matinee this afternoon. I'm nervous about doing it, but the actual risk is small. I am not wearing a diaper or pull-up this time in order not to tug at the connection between the leg bag extension and the condom. If I have a urine leak, I probably can cover it up. My bigger concern is a bowel accident as I will be without a diaper during an outing for the first time in years! It is a calculated risk, but my preemptive enema was very effective so I should be good for well beyond 12 hours. It is just the mind game and the fact that I usually do not chance it.

--John

I came back dry from my outing! However, It sure felt strange going "commando" and not wearing my security blanket (diaper).

I'll keep the condom cath on overnight but will to change back to a disposable diaper tomorrow for a longer trip when I would be at too great a risk of a bowel accident. I probably would be o.k., but emotionally I would be too anxious about it.

I am very pleased that all this is giving me more options.

--John

Kind of free-ing isn't it JD? A new option over a diaper is always welcomed, they get old fast, but necessary for most all of us to avoid the anxiety getting caught without can produce. I will be travelling this weekend, and sleeping in my car overnight, to avoid a one night camping set-up (too much work!), just going to the ocean for some camera time, will be utilizing my nighttime rig for sure! Looking forward to wandering in some OLD growth forest! Might even have a photo or two upon my return! Puffy

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

Puffy - Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope to see some photos!

Wetters

Puffy, yes, "free-ing" is a very good choice of terms.

It continues to amaze me how much of coping with our incontinence has to do with the emotional or psychological aspects. When my incontinence became worse and I was new to most of this, I was immersed in only the physical aspects and the "tools."

Enjoy your trip to the ocean and, if you can, post some pictures.

--John

JD. All I can say is WOW! I'm very happy for you! Thanks for keeping us posted.

The experiment continues. Today I am going to try out the second new leg bag my medical supply house furnished me when I complained that the first bag was cheaply made and had disconnected from the condom.

I just tried the Bard bag with good results. Today I am going to try out the Coloplast bag. It holds only 800 ml as opposed to the 1,000 ml of the Bard bag. Both bags are being worn with the Fitz-All fabric leg bag holders with hook and loop fasteners and a fabric band to hold the tubing on the thigh.

I am becoming much more positive about this. Enough so that I told my wife that, once I get more experience and have time to iron out all of the little details, I probably could use a condom catheter during an extended vacation trip (like a cruise) to reduce the number of diapers I have to take with me. I am not yet confident enough to say whether I would wear the condom cath during a shore excursion, but definitely at night and aboard the ship during sea days.

The downside is that I would have to wear trousers while most of the men are wearing shorts.

If I decide to wear a condom cath for extended travel, I probably would upgrade (at my own expense) to a more permanent system like the UroCare Latex bags with a fabric leg-holder and over-the-knee support. All of that will be the subject of future experimentation. As I am retired military, I believe firmly in repeatedly testing things under "combat conditions" before relying on them. So, some version of this thread will continue for some time.

--John

O.k. guys, two serious questions for those of you wearing condom caths.

#1 - Here's a very personal question. How are you "hanging?"
Are you wearing underwear or anything except for the condom or are you going "commando?" If you wear something, what is it and have you encountered any difficulties with the clothing interfering with the tubing? I am very conscious of the pull of the tubing on the condom. I am not worried that it will pull off, it is just that when the tubing moves it tugs or pulls on the penis. I am keeping it to a minimum with a fabric thigh strap. It is not uncomfortable, it is just that I am not used to it.

#2 - Are any of you wearing (or have you worn) a diaper or pull-up with the condom cath? You probably would not unless you are double incontinent, but some of you have indicated some bowel incontinence. What worked for you and what did not? If I try to keep the condom cath on for extended periods during daytime, I eventually run into my higher risk period of having a bowel accident.

Anyone know any condom catheter jokes?

--John

When I was wearing sheaths, I wore more Y front style pants with the 'part' pushed through the fly. This worked fine. I have occasional leakage from the rear and though pants are not the answer, they do contain things until cleaning can happen.

John,

With the problems you are having I would recommend just letting the diaper handling it. There are less frustrations and pain letting the diapers do what they are designed for instead of fighting with the alternatives. Sure they work for some people, but not everyone.

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When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.