Belly bags.

sunnyone

Im thinking of trying a belly bag, do you use one and if you do what are the advantages over leg/thigh bags or the valve I currently use?

GlasweJen

My bosses son has one and got a massive infection, can't say I know much about them though.

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

My bosses son has one and got a massive infection, can't say I know much about them though.

My SPC is infected anyway, Im hopeing it will heal up eventually but a perminant artificial tube from stomach to bladder that gets changed all the time will never fully heal up.

GlasweJen

That's true. I'll ask boss about it tomorrow if you want?

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

That's true. I'll ask boss about it tomorrow if you want?

I wouldnt want to put you on the spot jen, but if it ever comes up in conversation (and most conversation will be about you ATM as its such an unsual situation, even more so then SPC's) could you just mention a friend of yours is having problems with hers?

GlasweJen

Lol Sunnyone I'll be glad of the distraction! All I've had all day is heart talk lol.

Boss is pretty open about what's going on with his son so I'll ask after him and go from there.

GlasweJen

Hi Sunnyone so spoke to boss and he said this.

His son lost function when a surgery to his spine went wrong and the nerves for the bladder and bowel both got cut by accident. He started with regular catheters then got the spc through the stomach which was great but son was restricted clothes wise and also found that the thigh bags made him look disabled which he didn't really want (he uses an electric wheelchair but he likes his independance).

Advantages for his son have been:
* easier to manage having the bag within reach
* wider choice of clothing available
* less infections (but bigger infection than any previous system, could be coincidence though)

He said the only disadvantage is that the actual bags are a bit hard to get hold of and the health board were funny with the numbers they gave out.

His son has a closed system if that helps.

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

Hi Sunnyone so spoke to boss and he said this.

His son lost function when a surgery to his spine went wrong and the nerves for the bladder and bowel both got cut by accident. He started with regular catheters then got the spc through the stomach which was great but son was restricted clothes wise and also found that the thigh bags made him look disabled which he didn't really want (he uses an electric wheelchair but he likes his independance).

Advantages for his son have been:
* easier to manage having the bag within reach
* wider choice of clothing available
* less infections (but bigger infection than any previous system, could be coincidence though)

He said the only disadvantage is that the actual bags are a bit hard to get hold of and the health board were funny with the numbers they gave out.

His son has a closed system if that helps.

Thanks for that jen, Ive have a valve on mine so I havnt been using (trying) bags until recently and Ive had problems from the begining with them, with the bag its a closed system and its supposed to be better infection wise but not so for me lol.

I cant use intimitent catherters due to the RA in my paws so its SPC with a valve or bags as perminant urethral caths arnt very good for me.

I cant see getting bags as a problem for me, I have a very good continence nurse and spinal clinic, I am a powerchair user too and I know of at least one other powerchair user that uses leg bags attached to the chair :eek: Imagine everyone seeing your wee sloshing around as you zip about :eek:.

One more thing if you dont mind, does he use a normal night bag?

Thanks again jen, its not the commonest disability topic.

GlasweJen

I'll ask if I get a chance tomorrow, got to go in and collect some stuff for interview.

GlasweJen

He uses a regular bag at night and gets on fine with it but he doesn't sleep the full night so it does get changed at least once a night.

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

He uses a regular bag at night and gets on fine with it but he doesn't sleep the full night so it does get changed at least once a night.

I want to try a ordinary night bag attached to the just under my mattress, i have used them on a stand before but havnt used one since the SPC, using bags all the time causes bladder shrinkage with causes even more problems with caths so i want to avoid that while trying to juggle the benefits of both valve and bags to get the best out of both.

A night bag is 2lt's here, I wonder what size they are in Glasgow?

Thankyou again jen.