[Lucydog]

This has probably benn covered somewhere before but I couldnt quite find the answer. Ive gone over to an indwelling cath and so have been supplied with a whole load of bags, different sizes, tubing and so on to try. These mostly come from Charter who are my usual suppliers. Im not sure they really have what I want though. Ive determined that my preferance is to have the bag high up on my thigh, as Ive already managed to open the valves twice on ones on my calf!!!! But Im really pretty short, being about 5'1" so Im finding even a short inlet tube a bit too big as i end up with quite a bit of length to be taped up. What I think I need is a bag that I can connect directly to or has a really really short connector. The choice of bags seesm to be enormous so if you have any suggestions Id like to know. Ive asked for some samples from Mannfred Sauer as well. Dont know if anyone else will send me any to try though.

thanks very much
L

[Nick's mum]

What about a variable lenght tubing that you cut to size yourself?

Ulla x

This post has been edited by Nick's mum: 30 September 2007 - 09:21 PM

[Deej]

Hi Lucydog,

I use a Simpla short tube 500ml leg bag, which I actually wear in front of my lower abdomen as I don' t like to have a tube and bag down my trouser leg - I know this is supposed to make me more prone to infections due to improper drainage, but I have not had any problems on that score up to now.
They also do a 350ml version (I think). Oh and I use the ones with a lever tap rather than a slide one, so it doesn't open by itself very easily.

Good luck in your search x.

This post has been edited by Deej: 01 October 2007 - 04:03 PM

[russ1]

Yep - Manfred Sauer, definately the best selection - try the bendi bags which sit on the inside of the knee normally - sounds really odd but works really well, but I've worn them on my thigh with shorts sucessfully as well as using their specific thigh bag which is smaller - they do direct inlet versions of these and the valves all have an elastic band to stop accidental opening. I'm 6ft 1 and use direct inlet bags so you're clearly not going to need any tubing!

While wearing a bag high up on the thigh seems like a good idea I've found in practice that it is more intrusive than a bag lower down the leg and hence only do it that way when I'm wearing shorts. Try the bendi bag with top strap above knee and lower strap below knee it really does work well - I was very sceptical before I tried it. The picture on their web site is quite off putting as it shows the 1300ml bag which is huge and unnecessary mostly (but great for long flights or afternoons at kids football tournaments with no disabled loos) but the smaller 700ml capacity is much more discrete. I'd never go back to a calf bag now, the only advantage of the calf bags it that they're easier to empty discretely in a hedge if caught short!

I tend to keep a selection of bags and just use the appropriate one to the activity and clothing planned for that day. Mostly that's the 700ml bendi bag but having the bigger and smaller options for when required is great.

[Jsec64]

Hi Lucy

As mentioned in previous repsonses Manfred Sauer would probably have the type your looking for. I myself have recently spoken with them and have the descreet bag, which i think is 300ml. They have been really helpful on this tricky subject with plenty of samples. The Bendi Bag seems a good option too.
Hope all goes well
John

[Izziwhizzi]

Lucydog, on Sep 30 2007, 08:12 PM, said:

This has probably benn covered somewhere before but I couldnt quite find the answer. Ive gone over to an indwelling cath and so have been supplied with a whole load of bags, different sizes, tubing and so on to try. These mostly come from Charter who are my usual suppliers. Im not sure they really have what I want though. Ive determined that my preferance is to have the bag high up on my thigh, as Ive already managed to open the valves twice on ones on my calf!!!! But Im really pretty short, being about 5'1" so Im finding even a short inlet tube a bit too big as i end up with quite a bit of length to be taped up. What I think I need is a bag that I can connect directly to or has a really really short connector. The choice of bags seesm to be enormous so if you have any suggestions Id like to know. Ive asked for some samples from Mannfred Sauer as well. Dont know if anyone else will send me any to try though.

thanks very much
L

Hi Lucy

Indwelling caths are great and easy, but 25 years down the road with one (days before spc) the one thing I would of wanted done differently is not to have a continuous drainage with my indwelling, which wasn't an option. I know with spc's you can get flipvalves on the end so you can maintain some volume.
From what I understand bladders shrink very quickly (a matter of weeks) never to resume your present size and a small bladder (we all have 25ml-50ml) is very much an inconvenience in lifestyle and a significant health issue. I would love a bladder that could hold even 100ml and not void after 2 mins. PM me if you don't understand why.
I understand you've just had a baby, my bladder with indwelling wasn't back to normal (leakfree) for way over 6 months after both my kids and my bladder wasn't traumatised with either birth. Hope your urologist has sent you down the indwelling route for the right reasons and not his ease to get you off his back. Their use is significantly frowned upon by the USA SCI professionals.
Just my thoughts.

L

[Tinbasher]

Lucy

I can personally recommend both the BIG BENDI and the thigh bag from Manfred Sauer and they will send you samples if you email them from their website.

Tin

[Lucydog]

Thanks for the ideas. I know there are big disadvntages with indwelling but Ive chewed this over and over with my urologist and there are no answers. We both agree that ISC just isnt working for me. Im getting incontinent and being very wet, to being overcontinent and carrying around over a litre despite regular emptying... not good for kidneys either. Ive been getting kidney pain which doesnt feel great. So there are pros and cons either way. This isnt intended to be a forever fix, we are monitoring it on a monthly basis and hopefully I can get back to a better routine eventually.

thanks
L

[LadyPilot]

I don't have an indwelling catheter and I know when I need to 'go', But because I'm a C7 I don't want to be doing transfers I need not do, so I self cath into legbags while I'm sat in my chair.

During the day I use a leg bag called 'Freedom Triform' this has a capacity of 500ml and the tube is only 6cm long. Maybe this is what you are looking for? I can send you one if you want, just PM me.
At night I use a Simpla S4 Drainable 2-litre bag which has a tube 100 Cm long, just so I don't have to get up out of bed!!

This post has been edited by LadyPilot: 06 October 2007 - 06:36 AM

[Stacie]

[font=Georgia]Hiiiii,

Ive been paralyzed for over 17yrs, since age 17 soooo Ive experienced alot!
Since I was injured so young, vanity was important but I didnt want to stop wearing shorts so I found a leg bag 17yrs ago which I still use that works awesome with no tubing, the only downfall....more emptying!!
but hey, works great!

Heres the website and order info, they are from Bard and are tiny

http://www.bardmedical.com/products/loadPr...aspx?prodID=285

Order No.
150101
9 oz. Leg Bag with rubber cap valve (1 pair latex straps) 48/case


Hope they work
Take care,
Stacie