RP December 16th 2019

Cool. Mine goes in a few mm probably 5-7 without measuring but needle is super fine. I put it in front thigh which nurses showed. Alternative a preferable is fatty side of stomach pinched I think but I’m happy with thighs as found an area without much feeling so almost feel nothing. Be nice to get the compression stockings off next week.

Hi Dave, pinch your skin & inject into the stretched skin, I did mine on my stomach & then often in my thigh, the knack is finding a fatty bit on the body. At night I used the larger bag which still drained even though lying horizontally, I gave up alcohol for the whole period until catheter removed & drank less tea or coffee, caffeine makes you urinate more.

Hope this is of some assistance,

james

Hi Dave

No pinching on thigh. I just find a spot where it will go in all the way without too much pain etc Area on my left leg is slightly numb from an old martial arts injury so making use of that. 

the clexane I have is really well designed and nurse said thigh is fine as that’s what she used when my stomach was well worn from all the ports.

i only use the night bag at night as I go to bed. I’m just mindful of pipe routing so less chance of pinching it off etc. Flowed find across legs and down side of bed into the 2ltr night bag on the stand in a builders bucket. During the day I did get caught once or twice with my mobile 500ml bag when napping. Woke up and it was at max pressure. So I just waddled you the loo to empty. I think if I had needed one longer I would have been tempted to get the 750ml expansion tank and hooked that down my leg.

As Chris said it’s wise to empty well before being full I think for hygiene and backtracking reasons although all my valves were non return type.

enjoy your Wednesday and should be over the catheter before you know it.

Dave

The catheter does not normally have a non return valve, the leg bag has a non return design. Some bags have a flap that closes, some have an arrangement of wafers that prevent backflow. When I started the journey nearly six years ago bags did not have backflow control, if you got a blockage you could lift the bag higher than the bladder and it would push the blockage back up the pipe. The current setup is called a closed system and once a component is removed it should be replaced with a new sterile item. On a catheter forum I belong to the night bag is a frequent topic of arguments.On some night bags the drain tap has to be broken to drain and is thrown away once used. On a night bag with a reusable tap my DN tells me in the home environment they can be reused for 7 days. If you have been given 10-14 night bags change it every day. A night bag is usually attached to the leg bag spout. 

I attach my night bag tube to my ankle with a leg strap or bag strap. I am a fairly restless sleeper and never have problems with pipes kinking. 

Thanks Chris

It’s a good point reference the night bag. The male side of mine was graduated so I just pushed the tube on similar to how the nursing staff had pushed it on. Maybe call and ask?

For me sitting upright one week on would have been quite uncomfortable. 

Problem solved regarding night bags. When disconectting the night bag the first night I had accidentally removed the little rubber tube that fits over the end of the day bag.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Just going through the paperwork received when leaving hospital. For the second time I have received instructions for the above. I started doing some prior to the having the RARP.

I am sure I have read somewhere either on here or somewhere else not to start these again until the catheter is removed. Although I am feeling pretty good for day four. I still have some tenderness down that area and sometimes sore when I sit. I still get the odd fleck of blood in the bag usually after a bowel movement.

I really can, t find anything in the literature from the hospital when to start but don, t want to give myself any unnecessary pain. On the other hand want to gain some control as soon as possible after catheter removal.

Edited by member 20 Dec 2019 at 20:31  | Reason: Not specified

Post catheter removal is advised. 

Can recommend NHS  Squeezy for Men App