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Catheter Day bag/ night bag problems

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User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 03:24

Hi all

When I connect the day bag to the night bag it seems to be pot luck if it works or not , sometimes you can see flow is instant and I have to set my alarm in the early hours to empty it , on other occasions such as tonight I woke up with pain in my bladder to see that it hasn’t filled at all , when I disconnected from it my leg bag filled up twice in quick succession 

there is no change in how I am doing things so am baffled at why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t , the only thing I can think of is that these day bags don’t seem to be the best of quality , on numerous occasions now i also see that the bag is empty despite the fact that I have drunk lots of water soI have  to apply pressure to the tubing and manipulate the bag ,then a gush of urine will come from the catheter filling the bag up 

anyone any thoughts on this as I have to say I wasn’t expecting this many issues on the catheter side of things ?

is there a better quality bag that reduces these issues ?

thanks

Nick

 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 10:53
It's more like to be a question of how the tubing is routed and this can be particularly problematic when you are in bed.
User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 16:46

Hi.  I’ve had no problems with my bags at all.  I connect the night one and have been able to sleep on my side some nights.  I place it in a cat litter box as I found the stand to be as high as my bed so obviously gravity was working.   Hopefully it will be ok for you tonight.   Best wishes Simon 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 17:08

Niko, it may just be a bit of debris or sludge blocking the catheter opening. It can sometimes be an air lock, or the position of the catheter in the bladder. As you have found disconnecting and reconnecting can restart the flow for no apparent reason. Is the leg bag tube a long one. Something else worth trying, just before going to bed leave 200mls  in the leg bag, connect the night bag to the leg then open the leg bag tap and let the 200ml into the night bag. Or, drain the leg bag, connect the night bag wait until the leg bag starts to fill before opening the leg bag tap.

 I have had a permanent suprapubic catheter for eight years and only had a handful of problems with my catheters.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:11

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks Chris

Im hoping it was related to a temperamental day bag as since I changed it to a new different brand one it has worked fine last night and today

what you mention about leaving 200ml is a great point and was mentioned to me by my CNS so I have been doing that already 

I am really hoping it was a faulty day bag as the one today is just constantly gently filling up , the other one would on occasion fill on its own but mainly would need adjusting or manipulating to then fill up in one go 

thanks agin for pointers 

all the best

Nick

 

 

 

 

Nick , you could be quite right. In the good old days leg bags did not have a non return setup, I refrain from using the word valve. I suppose it is possible that the layers that form the non return function have stuck together or malfunctioned.

Hope all goes well from here.

Thanks Chris 

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User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 10:53
It's more like to be a question of how the tubing is routed and this can be particularly problematic when you are in bed.
User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 12:40

After posting I changed to a new day bag and connected to the night bag again, this was at about 06.30 and straight away I could see it working so managed to get about 5 hours sleep , bag was 3/4 full when I woke up, 

have to see now what tonight brings , wasn’t expecting this sleep lottery :(

 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 16:46

Hi.  I’ve had no problems with my bags at all.  I connect the night one and have been able to sleep on my side some nights.  I place it in a cat litter box as I found the stand to be as high as my bed so obviously gravity was working.   Hopefully it will be ok for you tonight.   Best wishes Simon 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 17:08

Niko, it may just be a bit of debris or sludge blocking the catheter opening. It can sometimes be an air lock, or the position of the catheter in the bladder. As you have found disconnecting and reconnecting can restart the flow for no apparent reason. Is the leg bag tube a long one. Something else worth trying, just before going to bed leave 200mls  in the leg bag, connect the night bag to the leg then open the leg bag tap and let the 200ml into the night bag. Or, drain the leg bag, connect the night bag wait until the leg bag starts to fill before opening the leg bag tap.

 I have had a permanent suprapubic catheter for eight years and only had a handful of problems with my catheters.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 17:38

Thanks Chris

Im hoping it was related to a temperamental day bag as since I changed it to a new different brand one it has worked fine last night and today

what you mention about leaving 200ml is a great point and was mentioned to me by my CNS so I have been doing that already 

I am really hoping it was a faulty day bag as the one today is just constantly gently filling up , the other one would on occasion fill on its own but mainly would need adjusting or manipulating to then fill up in one go 

thanks agin for pointers 

all the best

Nick

 

 

 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 17:55

Thanks Simon, good point as mine is on the stand and although it is lower than the bed it’s not by much , I’m hoping it might be resolved but if not then I will try your way 

cheers

nick

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:11

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks Chris

Im hoping it was related to a temperamental day bag as since I changed it to a new different brand one it has worked fine last night and today

what you mention about leaving 200ml is a great point and was mentioned to me by my CNS so I have been doing that already 

I am really hoping it was a faulty day bag as the one today is just constantly gently filling up , the other one would on occasion fill on its own but mainly would need adjusting or manipulating to then fill up in one go 

thanks agin for pointers 

all the best

Nick

 

 

 

 

Nick , you could be quite right. In the good old days leg bags did not have a non return setup, I refrain from using the word valve. I suppose it is possible that the layers that form the non return function have stuck together or malfunctioned.

Hope all goes well from here.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 27 Aug 2025 at 18:22

I’m hoping so Chris as I really need a good night sleep 🤞

 

thanks again mate 

 
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