Leg bag catheter

[JAM]

Hi! I started my PAL’s on an external condom catheter at night and for us it has been terrific bc I can actually get a chunk of sleep time. We have had no issues at all with it.

I’d like to try a leg bag type catheter when we are going out. My question is when he is in his jazzy WC (which is what we use to go out) the bag sits on his thigh. That hardly seems like enough gravity. We did a trial run while we were inside and I also was confused as to how I would drain it if he had pants on? Also seemed like the urine just sat in bag on his thigh and after one time was fairly full??


Should we be looking for a leg bag that wraps to his calf instead? Easy access to drain and more gravity to work with since he is always in sitting position when it’s on??

TIA

 

[lgelb]

A lot of wheelchair users use leg bags. I'd make sure you are clear on whether it's single use vs. reusable and follow all the disinfection instructions for the latter. Some have alerts for when they are almost full, and easy connections to empty into the urinal, etc.

 

[JAM]

Thanks Laurie. I see how to empty it, but if he is wearing pants I would need to pull his pants down to get access to the bag in order to drain it into the toilet/urinal etc. . I was hoping to avoid him having to stand and wondered if going up through a leg of the pant is easier bc he could remain seated. That’s why I asked about a bag on his calf vs thigh. Although maybe I’m not using it correctly. We only tried it once just in the house and he had just boxers on. It worked okay, but I wondered how it would work with pants.

 

[Nikki J]

You can get pants with side zippers and or velcro. Google adaptive clothing

 

[lgelb]

I'm sorry, I forgot to respond to that part. Yes, the calf is best and as Nikki says, you can get pants that are baggy, close with snaps, or have side zippers. There are YouTube vids where guys (mostly with spinal cord injury) who use bags on their calves show their tips.

 

[JAM]

Thank you both AGAIN

 

[Alyse]

With wearing leg bag how do you best position on leg it so it works with gravity and doesn't back up to gravity