Catheter

3 litres a day sounds an awful lot. I wasn’t emptying my bag every half hour. I remember a nurse warning me to drink plenty fluid but not too much as it will affect your electrolytes.

Hi Colin

As I recall the leg bags are 1/2 litre and the night bags are 2 litre so if you are drinking that much fluid you will be filling them up - but not that quick.

I  would have a word with your dedicated support team if it's filling up that quickly.

Kind Regards

Brian.

Thanks Brian I call them

colin 

I was filling my day bags very quickly. I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

My husband had his prostatectomy just over 8 weeks ago and the fill rate was variable. I was emptying it for him because he was finding it difficult to bend to reach the tap and some days it was filling very quickly. One thing that occurred was the bag having air in it which caused pain when the drain tap was opened. I googled to find out why this was happening and read that this happens when the bag isn't completely flattened against the leg. This was the problem and it didn't happen again.

Also make sure that you turn the drain tap on when you attach the night bag and make sure the night bag tap is turned off. I made both mistakes and fortunately I'd put the night bag in a strong carrier bag or I'd  have had a yellow patch on my living room ceiling.

Hi Colin

Thinking about it again last night, I had an indwelling catheter for 10 months - I used the short pipe and had it strapped to my thigh.

I would empty the bag on a regular basis as the fuller it was the more uncomfortable it was to carry. Just a thought, are you emptying it when it's say 1/2 full (250ml).

This could be why you are busy emptying the thing!! .

Kind Regards

Brian.

Hi Brian, yes emptying it when half full as instructed. I guess it’s trial and error until I get it right. Thankfully it comes out on the 4th but then I guess I move to pads for a while. 

colin 

Thank you. Yes doing opening taps as you mentioned. I’m putting my foot on rim of toilet and emptying my bag but depends if hubby can lift his foot that high. 

I think there was an element of him taking advantage of my willingness to do everything for him.

Just to add  the carrier bag I used for the night bag was the one that the spare bags came in and I hung it on the end of the bed to keep it off the floor and clean. The morning after I'd left the tap open it was contained in the carrier bag.

In your other post you mentioned pads. My husband got sample packs by contacting Prostate Cancer UK and speaking to one if their specialist nurses  I would contact them now.

I ordered pads and pants for my husband before his catheter was removed as he had some leakage when he had spasms. He was instructed to take 4 pads and a change of trousers and underwear when he had the catheter removed.

He was also contacted by the community continence service and they sent 13 packs of daytime and 13 packs of night time shields. These are quote small and the absorbancy isn't enough yet to contain the level of leakage.

I did some research and ordered maximum day time and night time disposable pants from Incontinence Choice UK. They worked out cheaper than Asda own brand and my husband is happy with them. I ordered them on an 8 week subscription as it works out cheaper, but I think his next order date can be postponed because he's reduced the number of changes substantially thanks to him doing the pelvic floor exercises.

The day time pants are black so they're more like underpants and I'm delighted too as my washing has reduced with less boxers to wash. I also got him some mesh pants from the same company to use with pads but he prefers the disposable pants.

I also managed to get an extra wheely bin from the council to cope with the volume of pads/pants.