www.incontinentsupport.org

Jon I'm not going to split hairs with you. If you want to leave then go ahead and leave. I'm sure our leader schoppy can remove you if you wish. As a moderator that's not with in my capabilities to do. So anyway it's been real. But apparently not real nice I wish you luck .................Sandy

jonbasic has now been removed from this forum per his request.

Good call Sandy! I agree totally with you!

I don't know what's eating Jonbasic.....other than all the fears and worries that go with finding you are incontinent and "condemned" to living life in diapers. Both incon Forums, Schoppy's here and Brew's over on Yahoo Health Groups are about 99% "diapers" because the vast majority of people who are incon or become incon go to diapers first (a logical move) and many stay with diapers, despite the stigma we face with the general public, hence we keep our underwear a secret...no big deal.

But, in fairness, both sites have discussion threads on meds and exercises.....but as we all know, the success rate is pitiful and if you are on a drug therapy for OAB, as well as it might seem be working.....most will opt for a diaper when going out and wanting to be sure NOT to have an accident in public. Same for kegal exercises...."sucess" can mean going about the house without a diaper....but most will not venture out...... without a diaper....just in case.

The surgical option is way down there in popularity, in my opinion, which I think is shared by most. An occasional thread arises if any new comes along but I'll never forget one post from one who underwent the surgery for an artificial sphincter and.....still finds the need for diapers for "sure protection" when going out. Well, for me, I will skip the surgery....finding nothing wrong with diapers.

Internal caths (Foleys) are really reserved for the medical field in my opinion....no one should be messing with internal caths unless under the care of a medical professional and I'll bet Lyle will back me up on that one.

Self cathing, aka clean intermittent catherization, is an option for some but the risks are great and discomfort during the procedure is just not worth it, for many or most, unless medically necessary to get our residual urine from the bladder.

External condom caths and sheaths leave the women out (for the most part) and I enjoyed my experience (in the distant past) with a condom cath that sticks on.....I really liked the freedom I experienced wearing normal cotton underwear. I don't think I would ever really get used to the leg bag, but it was just a necessary evil to go along with the freedom from the bulk of diapers pinned around me. And the freedom from having to change diapers....that was great! Going to the toilet to empty the leg bag put me in the "normal people" category of going to the rest room to do what you do in restrooms. Yeah, a mind game I suppose, but still I liked the freedom to go all day and party into the night without ever having to deal with a wet diaper or change a diaper in order to keep going.

But.....and isn't there always a but? It's a lot of work to get prepped and hooked up and removal at the end of the day, necessary for me, as I thrash in my sleep and could not use tubing and a bedside bag. Leg bags are not high in the comfort category and I even made an elastic suspender to help carry the weight and keep it in place. And, probably what ended my affair with condom caths is: a diaper leak is usually a mild annoyance that you can deal with, escaping notice. A leak when a condom cath comes off, is catastrophic....totally wet pants, socks and shoes. That never happens with a diaper. I do offer a write up in our Primer.....on the condom cath "routine" and maybe things are better now...better adhesives or better attachment somehow.....but as for me, I'm done with that phase. Washing out and rotating leg bags and tubing. Dealing with pubic hair when rolling on this sticky as hell condom.....OK, I'll stop now! It IS an option and Lyle does it justice to support it as a viable option....I'm sure many men have great success with it and never wear a diaper.

Sheath urinals....I can not comment. Never tried it. The McQuire urinal is the big name in this appliance. I like the idea of NOT having to stick a condom on with adhesive....but the tubing and leg bag issues remain and I never wished to spend the money to try this, after my condom cath experience.

I hate to see Jonbasic pack up and go away.....I think he is selling us short.....we have a ton of experience in so many different folks suffering from just about every degree and type on incontinence possible. Anyone just needs to ask a question and a good many of us are quick to respond with what we can contribute....and while diapers are 90+% of the discussion, that is because 90+% of the folks ask about diapers and diaper wearing issues but that should NOT mean we are ONLY about diapers.....we have many threads from the past which I tried to summarize above for other management techniques.

JoeK

JoeK: I do agree with you no one should use a Foley catheter unless it is one of the last options and then question your doctor for other options.
If a Foley Catheter did not have so many problems that goes with it I still say it is so much more comfortable to me than the alternative ways to control urinary incontinence.
As for using a catheter be it a Foley or condom cath or a McGuire urinal in some 40yrs I used them all I never had a bag break tubing come off I just stayed dry I had nothing but luck with them.
This is not saying I did not have several bags leek small amounts but it was the manufacture design so I changed to another brand and no problems not one leek in many years.
McGuire urinal and a condom catheter are low maintenance and can be taken off at night. The McGuire just take it off and rinse it out let it dry overnight condom catheters just through them away.
Now a Foley catheter is high maintenance it must be kept clean. Several times a day the user should clean the catheter and the area around where it enters the body. Then use Neosporin or some other antibacterial salve. Then it should be put on where the catheter enters and don’t be a afraid to let a little get on the catheter according to my urologist.

Condom catheters and McGuire urinals have little risk of infections in fact if I got my quotes straight they are as safe as a briefs.

Here again in my case I suspect in time I will need to have a super pubic catheter my urologist has already mention it.

I do feel bad that jonbasic left I don’t know what his problem was his post sounded like he was worried someone would see his diaper I posted alternatives.

2lyle

I don't get it either, nobody was incorrect in posting alternatives to diapers, I use the condom cath ofter, and have never had issues with the system, a bit of prep and maintanence, but secure if you are worrisome of diaper recognition! Oh, well, we can't please everyone all the time, right? Puffy

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