Sick of the Belly Bag

[paramoto]

Whenever I travel for the past few years I have been using a Belly Bag with a foley. The concept and convenience is great. However, always in every trip I every couple of days the belly bag intake valve will malfunction and not allow urine in, so I get soaked. I unplug the catherer to empty the bladder, which is not advisable as bacteria can creep into the open bladder. It happens with new and old bags, which is too bad because I really like the product.

Now, for my next trip I plan to try out a leg bag. But I hate the idea. Any tips on using a leg bag? Can a leg bag be used in the lap attached to a foley safely and without issues? I have also read that some leg bags create a vacuum in the valves that also inhibit urine flow, which would be the same problem. Any ideas?

[SCIfor55yrs.]

I am a bit unclear about your situation. Do you use the foley all the time or just when you travel? What are you using when you are not traveling and why do you change to the belly bag? As for valve issues, I have used legbags for many years, and the most common problem preventing urine flow is that the flutter valves can get kinked if the legbag is not smoothed out when attached to a leg. A wrinkle high up in the bag puts a crease in the valve. Some leg bags have a valve with a small ball in it that works differently. I do not recall using one.

[paramoto]

At home I straight cath. I use the bellybag when travelling because it allows me longer times without needing to use the bathroom, less risk of accidents and just much more convenient when outside of my daily routine.

[wheelin 48]

ive laid a leg bag under my shorts kinda by my belly a few times and it worked coursei wasnt transfering around causeit just lays in there lose but nock on wood it hasworked and thats with a condum catheter

[gjnl]

Urocare makes a latex leg bag in a number of configurations. One style, their shorts/thigh bag may be helpful to you. Although, now that I am thinking about it, it may be difficult to empty, where a bag on your calf would be much easier. I have used Urocare's latex and vinyl leg bags for years and have had good luck with their "little red valve" system.
http://www.urocare.com/products/Uroc...aryLegBags.php

Instead of the straps that come with the bags, I would invest in some type of a sleeve that fits around your leg and the bag fits in a pocket. There is more support for the bag with these sleeves or as they are called "socks".
http://www.urocare.com/products/FabricLegBagHolders.php

Another alternative to a sleeve or sock to hold the leg bag is Better Pants. They take the place of underwear and have a pocket built into them which holds the leg bag.
http://www.betterpant.com/

Hope these suggestions help.

All the best,
GJ

[paramoto]

Thanks everyone for their help. Thanks for the PM´s too. I am checking out the suggestions.

[paramoto]

The vertical use urocare bags seem like they would work, but they are 44 bucks a piece. Is there a less expensive vertical use alternative? I would only use it for a few days per shot.

[gjnl]

Originally Posted by paramoto

The vertical use urocare bags seem like they would work, but they are 44 bucks a piece. Is there a less expensive vertical use alternative? I would only use it for a few days per shot.

The latex bags are washable and are meant for reuse. Urocare sells an acid based cleanser for the latex bags. They recommend against using Clorox, vinegar, toilet bowl cleaners and ammonia. The vinyl Urocare bags come in two sizes, use the same flutter valve technology, are not contoured (simple rectangle design), and are disposable for about $!2 to $15 a piece. I (use a Supra Pubic Catheter) wear the vinyl ones for two weeks at a time, washing them twice a day with hot water and soap, rinse/soak for 5 minutes with rubbing alcohol, rinsing with hot water, drying, and reattaching to the night collection system or wearing them for the day.
http://www.urocare.com/products/Uro-...aryLegBags.php

Try an internet search for disposable leg bags. Major manufacturers like Bard, Hollister, Flexicare, Mentor, etc. all make some type of disposable leg bag that you might find more suitable and afforadable.

All the best,
GJ