Diapers v catheters

I get the feeling here in the UK, at least, that the medical profession's first choice for the fully incontinent is the catheter rather than diapers. Pads, yes for the partially incontinent but otherwise no diapers. Certainly anyone I have known who have been fully incontinent were only offered catheters.

Am I correct, and is it the same elsewhere?

The sllip over kind of catheters work sometime but if you let go suddenly (urge incontinence ) you may just blow the thing off of you and wet your pants. Indweeling catheters give infections to easy. That's one the main reasons hospitals here prefer diapers instead of catheters. They are easier to treat a rash then a bladder infection any ol day.

I have worn both diapers and external caths as well as a sheath urinal. I much prefer diapers. The catheters and the sheath urinal always make a sore place on my pee pee.

The way it was explained to me at my local hospital the last time I was in for a procedure was if you are staying more than one day cathader. It is more sanitary and easier for the staff to keep track of fluids.

For out patient procedures they actually prefer diapers. Less risk of infection.

My doctor wants me to use catheters. I hate them and will not use them. I'd rather have a diaper strapped to me than pee bag.

Several of the urologists that I've seen have told me that they think that an incontinent man should wear an external catheter and leg bag. One even told me that wearing a diaper is "unmanly." I've tried external catheters several different times. But I've found them to be fiddly to deal with, and I've had a couple of extremely embarrassing catastrophic leaks when wearing an external catheter. The tube connecting the external catheter can come loose so that you pee down your pants leg instead of into the bag. And on one particularly dreadful occasio, I bumped a full leg bag and caused it to rupture and dump its contents onto an oriental carpet at my boss's house. I find diapers much more comfortable to wear, and most diaper leaks are rather small and hard to see if I'm wearing dark-colored pants. Over the last few years, I've told a couple of urologists that I am simply going to stick to diapers whether they approve of it or not.

I guess that I'm old fashioned. I prefer the McGuire sheath urinal over other alternatives. Diapers are too bulky for me and are a hassle to dispose of. Condom caths can blow off and I don't like the feeling and adhesives. I believe that many are dissatisfied with sheaths due to the following:

1) Buying the inexpensive brand. There is a big difference in quality and durability among manufacturers. This is not an advertisement, Urocare has the best products: sturdy sheaths, different sizes, better quality jock strap. The sheaths have a valve on the end of them that various bags or hoses can be attached to. Unlike the other manufacturers, the valve is securely affixed to the sheath.

2) Getting the right fit. Properly trimming the inner sheath is essential to comfort and a secure fit. Once I got the hang of this procedure, I have never had a leak daytime or while sleeping.

3) There are many leg bags of various costs and quality. The Hollister pleated bags are best in terms of durability and comfort. Some of the latex bags, like the "sport" bags are also very well made.

If I needed some sort of protection, I have to say I find the catheter route very unappealing,

Maybe the pleasure I get out of diapers is colouring my opinion, but all of these cath options look way to complicated, uncomfortable, and too "medical" on top of it all. They also look like they are way too prone to disasters, whereas a diaper can be worn unnoticed (if that's what you want) all the time.

Just my opinion, but should I start to need to wear, it's going to be a diaper.

If I needed some sort of protection, I have to say I find the catheter route very unappealing,

Same here. I see those "home delivery catheter" commercials all the time on TV (I watch the "old 60s / 70s sitcoms" channels and based on the advertising you see, they must think all of the viewers are in their 80s). Catheters look like they'd be (at best) very uncomfortable and (at worst) would just downright HURT.

So if I ever get to the point of being incontinent, it's diapers for me, all the way! The only problem is, I'm not sure how I'd react to actually HAVING to wear them and everyone knowing about it. I'm so used to doing it for fun and sneaking around and hiding everything that, having it all out in the open would be kind of strange at first (though I'm sure I'd learn to love it...wink wink).

A lot of it depends on the individual and the cause of the incontinence a lot of time the reason a catheter is required is for a person whose sphincter isn't working properly and their bladder won't fully empty without assistance to avoid a bevy of nasty side effects in order to void what the bladder can't a catheter is needed at least that is the way I understand it

As I have posted earlier, I Wear diapers for a reason I'm both bowel and bladder incontinent.

I was admitted for neck surgery two years ago and the nurse told me that the hospital did not like diapers. So after surgery I woke with a catheter in next morning. I called the nurse in to change the bedding because I had a runny mess. They needed to clean up. As they finished I told them if they had read my pre-admintance chart they would have known just why I wear diapers.