www.incontinentsupport.org

JD,

I know, it is not worth much, but you have my sympathy. My therapist asked me today about my inventory of incontinence management products. I have a whole plastic tubful, complete with a fitted cover, which my wife and/or daughter purchased for me at WalMart. It is full of leg bags that did not work, condoms that would not stick, or that stuck but could not be removed, and several meters of tubing that will never be used. Your willingness to experiment amazes me. I wish I had your stamina. You have my respect and admiration.

I have the same tub of non-used stuff too Patrick, mostly sample leg and night bags I never liked. Puffy

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

Guys, that is funny about the tub. Got one.

And you are quite correct. It is filling up with items that did not quite perform satisfactorily, but that I hate to throw in the trash because of their cost. I don't know where these types of items could be donated. Any ideas?

--John

I guess there must be such a place, somewhere. However, I would feel guilty foisting off on others the appliances that did not work for me.

I have a lidded container for such things as well. My garbage can. It goes out weekly.

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- Tom

Wetdad, you probably are correct and I will just have to discard the items in my tub. It is unfortunate, as many of the items probably would work quite satisfactorily for someone else.

--John

Just to provide an update, my experiments with condom caths have slowed to a crawl for unexpected reasons. My urologist had me intermittent cathing twice a day and taking a double dose of Flomax. As my post-void residuals had dropped, I expected my urologist to discontinue one or both of my intermittent catheterizations.

To my surprise, at my last appointment with my urologist he wanted me to increase intermittent cathing to 4 times a day! I guess the drop in my residuals was good - but not good enough, considering that I was taking double Flomax.

I negotiated down to only 3 intermittent coatings a day due to complications with my fecal incontinence and the difficulty of cathing after I have on barrier cream, diaper, PUL pants, and compression pants.

The bottom line is that it now has become much more difficult to use the condom caths! I have decreased the number I receive per month from my medical supply house. I will continue to experiment on a reduced basis. I will use the condom caths during my cruise in January as my urologist said that I could drop back to only one intermittent cath per day for that period.

Again, my thanks to all who have assisted and guided me with the condom catheters.

--John

After reading this, all I can say is I am glad I don't have to try and use catheters! It sounds very uncomfortable!!!

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When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius

JD,

I have just re-read this thread. It is most instructive in that it shows just how dealing with incontinence is a life-long tale of trial and error. There is so much individual variation, so much change, that nothing ever completely solves our problem. I am in your debt for the time and effort you have expended in showing me, and the rest of us, how this works. Kudos and thanks.