condom cath advice needed

janhu

I pulled a back muscle trying to roll my LO while changing his diaper. Is this a valid reason to use a condom catheter?  I have no other help for this type of activity.

Do condom catheters have a higher risk of UTI than with diapers?

I'd like to get recommendations for the most comfortable ones to get on and off, and at a reasonable price. I assume not covered by most medical insurance?  What about if on hospice?

TIA

JDancer

A condom cath is noninvasive, so unlikely to cause a UTI. They can be easily pulled off or come off, if your LO is fidgety. It's worth a try

Jo C.

Hello janhu and a very warm welcome to you.   External male catheters are covered by Medicare for fixed number each month; it is somewhere in  the 30's plus I think.The external catheter must be changed every 24 hours. 

One has to know the size of the catheter and if you use Google search asking about "external male urinary catheters," you will  find all sorts of information about this and how to measure for one.  There is a skin adhesive to help the catheter to stay on and in place.  Google has a host of assistive information sites re this.  However; you will still need to bend for diaper changes for stool as well as for bathing.

Do you have a hospital bed so you can raise the bed so as not to have to bend so far down?  Medicare will pay for one if there is a medical necessity.

Also; there are electric mechanical lifts that can make diaper changing easier.  This link is for one of  the simpler ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7LJZ_jVjk

Possible Option:  Since your husband is unable to sit, stand or walk and has a complex disease process, if it is appropriate for his condition, I would like to suggest one other idea possibility.   Have you thought of having Hospice come in on service?  They will provide all care option needs as no cost to you - hospital bed, lift,  guerney chair, supplies for incontinence including diapers and peri wash, a bath aide, social worker, a visiting RN, and chaplain if you wish.  This may be something that would add much to your support system as they also serve supporting the caregiver and may be worth looking into.

If you think of Hospice as an alternative, start another Thread re this topic and you will get much input.

Please let us know how you are doing, we are all here in support of one another and this now includes you too!

J.

May flowers

We didn’t have luck with keeping an external catheter on, but my FIL is not circumcised and he is fidgety. 

I use a pad under him that has handles on each side - that and raising thr hospital bed  has made it much easier to turn him. 

sandwichone123

Janhu, you have good information on this thread. If you do decide to go with the external catheter please be aware that there is a learning curve. You will go through most of the first month's supply before you can reliably (mostly) get it in place so it stays and doesn't leak. Don't give up after a half dozen times if it leaks or falls off.