Catheter configuration
Question:
Many decades ago, (70s?) they discovered that long-term neosporin use could be related to deafness (I think with children). I don’t know if this correlation even held up under further scrutiny. I don’t think that this would be at all comporable to 2 weeks of cath lubrication, but I can see how a nurse, who worked in the field back when, could recall "Neosporin is bad" without any specifics. Read the cautions on the label. Just don’t slather your kids in it for months on end. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "KenA" wrote.. if you remember why the VA nurses recommended against [lubing the catheter], I’d be interested in knowing. I Googled up my original post on that. The senior nurse I asked gave no reason for not using an ointment. The only aspect of it she gave a reason for was not NOT using alcohol to clean it, as it erodes tissue. I’d tend to go with what works for others, plus asking one’s own nurses. The VA has a huge statistical base, but also a lot of inertia. I.P.
Response:
I used the large bag exclusively except when I went out (and I went out a lot w/ it – even to the bar!) and I wore regular pants from the get-go. My hose was long enough (oh, come on, guys!) that it simply exited the bottom of the pants leg and I still had a couple of feet. I took a coat hanger, straightened it out, and hooked it to the bag – I could then walk around w/ the bag down low but w/ the "handle" at hand level. Standing up cooking – hand the closed end over a cabinet knob; I put one of those big metal clips on the edge of my desktop and hung the whole thing on it. I promise you – I am the poster boy for the catheter – I had NO trouble whatsoever. I also wore boxer briefs to keep the catheter from moving around and tugging on the business end. Bill Denton RP 2/12/02 PSA .67 Memphis
Response:
"Tom" <wrote All cath bags strap to your leg and pants of any kind are worn over it. I’m not sure what you mean by external. Basically the tube comes out of your penis and goes right into the bag. All clothing is worn over it, tube, bag and all.
Once the tube leaves my body, where it goes is MY choice, as long as it doesn’t go above its upper opening inside my bladder. I found the bag-in-a-bucket approach extremely convenient at home and in the car. I hardly used the leg bag at all. I.P.
Response:
Frank, I read all of the advice and it was all great. I’ll tell you mine…being in Chicago, I found basketball ’snap-pants’ (I had Michael Jordan pants…with a ‘23′ and Bulls logo on them 
Like I.P., I used the BIG night bag all the time and kept it in a bucket. Never the leg bag. I went out and carried the big bag in a bucket (covered by a towel or T-shirt). It came out thru the snaps at any level. If you use sweats…just cut a hole in them and thread the tube out where you wish. About lube…great advice. I used bacitracin, but Neosporin is fine too. Slide the penis up a bit…and lube the cath LIBERALLY with the ointment. (You can’t use too much). Then, when the penis slides back down…it will be lubed. I thought that it was better to use the ‘big bag’ than to switch to a leg bag and straps. Your wife doesn’t really need to sew velcro in…the slit is fine. You’ll have it for 10 days or so…and it will be OK. Any questions…just ask. My best wishes, Ron B. Chicago
Response:
I asked my VA nurses, who see PC pts by the hundreds locally and the VA collects PC data by the thousands, about lubing the catheter with antibiotic ointment. They emphatically said not to do it. If they gave a reason, I’ve forgotten it. I.P.
Response:
I used a leg bag during the day after reading Walsh’s warning about the possible consequences of an accidental pull on the cath. I didn’t like the idea of a long tube hanging out there. Of course, I did have a puppy in the house at the time. Tom
Response:
Right from the get-go I noticed a burning, painful sensation whenever I moved around a bit. After a few days I discovered I could replicate the sensation by manually sliding the tube in and out a centimeter or so. Close inspection revealed a dried splotch of blood on the underside of the tube that was acting like a rasp every time the tube slid one way or the other. Scraped the splotch off and all was well for the duration. No ointment or lube needed. Just thought I’d mention one more thing to look for if everything doesn’t seem quite right. I’m also one of those with the tube going down the pantleg and back up the outside. I carried the bag in a cloth tote with a handle. I’d drop the bag down the pantleg and then put on the pants. Went walking at the mall and around the neighborhood proudly displaying my satchel and cranberry gradually changing to lemon juice filled tube. Either nobody noticed or they were too polite to make it obvious. I did use the leg bag once or twice but the big bag was more convenient for me. I thought of going without a bag, just the tube dangling below my shorts when out barefoot in the yard (it was summer at the time) but my doctor wife was horrified and nixed the idea claiming that would compromise the sterility, etc., etc.. No matter, you will get used to whatever suits you best and you will do fine although the day it goes will be one of your better days. Dave Perry
Response:
Went walking at the mall and around the neighborhood proudly displaying my satchel and cranberry gradually changing to lemon juice filled tube. Either nobody noticed or they were too polite to make it obvious.
Their skin was crawling in disgust! Or maybe they thought it was ricin and didn’t want to offend you. Maybe they were just relieved it wasn’t a colostomy bag. Or the older half of the crowd have been there, the younger half didn’t even see it because it didn’t have Brad’s or Angelina’s picture on it, and the Birkenstockers just thought, "Cool camelback, dude!" And, of course, author Joseph Heller just smiled and thought of Yossarian. I.P.
Response:
Thanks for the suggestions. I have decided to get a pair of sweat pants, make a slit in one leg, and my wife will add a few velcro tabs.
I seem to be in the minority but I found the leg bag to be just fine during the day. It’s true the overnight back holds more but if you just wear baggy pants you can pull the pant leg up past your knee and get to the drain valve. I could easily just go in a stall at a rest room, pull up the pant leg, bend my leg a little and it was just like peeing including shaking the end of the valve after I closed it to get the last drops off. My leg back strapped to my thigh. I’ve heard of some that strap down by your ankle.
Response:
Since I feel that use of an antibacterial ointment *significantly* minimized my cath. discomfort, if you remember why the VA nurses recommended against it, I’d be interested in knowing. It seemed such a logical thing to do with at least the 3 benefits I mentioned that I could think of. It leaves me quite puzzled as to what the disadvantages would be, especially since it (Neosporin/Polysporin, etc) contains an antibiotic. Has anyone else done this and had any negative effects? KenA
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I asked my VA nurses, who see PC pts by the hundreds locally and the VA collects PC data by the thousands, about lubing the catheter with antibiotic ointment. They emphatically said not to do it. If they gave a reason, I’ve forgotten it. I.P.
Response:
"KenA" wrote.. if you remember why the VA nurses recommended against [lubing the catheter], I’d be interested in knowing.
I Googled up my original post on that. The senior nurse I asked gave no reason for not using an ointment. The only aspect of it she gave a reason for was not NOT using alcohol to clean it, as it erodes tissue. I’d tend to go with what works for others, plus asking one’s own nurses. The VA has a huge statistical base, but also a lot of inertia. I.P.
Response:
It had been mentioned here long ago that some nurses said not to use the OINTMENT cuz it might eat into the cath rubber tubing. They thought a water-based lube would be better…but it DRIED too fast. I asked about that when I had my surgery and they said that ‘these days’, most of the tubing used can handle the Neosporin or Bacitracin (which I was given 6 tubes of . Dave (judamd) mentioned a great point about a dried spot of blood on the cath tube that acted as a ‘rasp’ on the penis. Good point…uh…BAD point, actually. :) And Jim talked about the leg bag…indeed it works OK…but after the production of the surgery…I didn’t want to be switching ANYTHING. About the ‘cranberry to lemon’ colored tube peeking out of the bag…I used an old shirt sleeve to sorta cover it. Best to all, Ron B. Chicago
Response:
A couple of things. First, the concern about the tube getting tugged is a real one but I solved that one by shaving my thigh and using the surgical tape I scarfed from the hospital to completely secure the connector to my thigh – it was not going anywhere. Second, the reason I advocate boxer briefs is to minmize the catheter moving in and out of the penis – if you use loose pants that thing is going to be swaying w/ every step and movement. There is just no need to slit pants or sew anything; I don’t get that. I wore regular pants (like Dockers), even over the leg bag, and no one ever knew a thing when I went out. Before surgery I prepared my bedroom for an invalid but the morning after getting home I just got up, showered, dressed, went downstairs, and had my usual coffee and paper. From then on it was a breeze. My brother, who had surgery the same day as I, is married and his wife doted on him and he stayed in bed like an invalid – and he took far longer to get over the whole thing than I did. Bill Denton RP 2/12/02 PSA .67 Memphis
Response:
Frank, All cath bags strap to your leg and pants of any kind are worn over it. I’m not sure what you mean by external. Basically the tube comes out of your penis and goes right into the bag. All clothing is worn over it, tube, bag and all. Tom
Tom, What he means is he wants to use the internal bag he had in the hospital. It’s not a leg bag. Don
Response:
Frank, All cath bags strap to your leg and pants of any kind are worn over it. I’m not sure what you mean by external. Basically the tube comes out of your penis and goes right into the bag. All clothing is worn over it, tube, bag and all. Tom
Response:
Thanks for the suggestions. I have decided to get a pair of sweat pants, make a slit in one leg, and my wife will add a few velcro tabs.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am scheduled to have an RRP in less than three weeks and am trying to get my logistics in order. This newsgroup is a real godsend. I appreciate your efforts to make other people’s lives easier. I am trying to determine what to wear while the catheter is in. I would like to keep my legs warm so the circulation is good. Several posts recommended sweat pants and that sounded good to me. However, I plan to use the external urine bag only and it isn’t clear to me how I would get the catheter tube from my leg to the external bag. Can the tube come from my leg back up my pants and then out? If you have suggestions other than sweat pants, I would love to hear them. Thanks. Frank
Response:
I am scheduled to have an RRP in less than three weeks and am trying to get my logistics in order. This newsgroup is a real godsend. I appreciate your efforts to make other people’s lives easier. I am trying to determine what to wear while the catheter is in. I would like to keep my legs warm so the circulation is good. Several posts recommended sweat pants and that sounded good to me. However, I plan to use the external urine bag only and it isn’t clear to me how I would get the catheter tube from my leg to the external bag. Can the tube come from my leg back up my pants and then out? If you have suggestions other than sweat pants, I would love to hear them. Thanks. Frank
Response:
I am scheduled to have an RRP in less than three weeks and am trying to get my logistics in order. This newsgroup is a real godsend. I appreciate your efforts to make other people’s lives easier. I am trying to determine what to wear while the catheter is in. I would like to keep my legs warm so the circulation is good. Several posts recommended sweat pants and that sounded good to me. However, I plan to use the external urine bag only and it isn’t clear to me how I would get the catheter tube from my leg to the external bag. Can the tube come from my leg back up my pants and then out? If you have suggestions other than sweat pants, I would love to hear them. Thanks.
Snap-on warmup pants! Since the entire side is closed by snaps, you have many choices of where to have the tube emerge. Or just cut a slit in some thick sweat pants. You don’t want any part of the drain system above the internal parts of the system because that would risk backflow (unless you trust an anti-backflow valve 100%). Tape your catheter to your thigh (the GOOD tape in the catheter kits will stay in place for weeks yet pull off hairy legs painlessly), run the tube down to the opening in your warm-up pants, lay your bag in a bucket with a handle, and you’re completely mobile. If you want to go to the mall, substitute the leg bag for the big bag and press on. I.P.
Response:
Hi Frank! I’d also highly recommend keeping the cath. tube and tip of your penis coated with something like Neosporin ointment to be more comfortable. For me, it: 1. Significantly minimized the discomfort/negative effects of the tub rubbing at the tip of the penis. 2. Protected the sensitive penis head skin for any ‘urine burns’ caused by urine leakage around the cath. 3. Provided some small degree of antibiotic protection at the end of the penis. I feel this one thing helped me significantly deal with the cath. The one time I forgot to re-apply, I was rudely awakened by a very uncomfortable tube chaffing against the opening of my penis at about 3:15am one morning. A quick dab of Neosporin eliminated the chaffing and I went back to sleep. HTH, KenA ===== – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am scheduled to have an RRP in less than three weeks and am trying to get my logistics in order. This newsgroup is a real godsend. I appreciate your efforts to make other people’s lives easier. I am trying to determine what to wear while the catheter is in. I would like to keep my legs warm so the circulation is good. Several posts recommended sweat pants and that sounded good to me. However, I plan to use the external urine bag only and it isn’t clear to me how I would get the catheter tube from my leg to the external bag. Can the tube come from my leg back up my pants and then out? If you have suggestions other than sweat pants, I would love to hear them. Thanks. Frank
