Category Archives: Incontinence

Bed Wetting Help

 All little boys and girls have gone through this stage, which is why bed wetting is not something new. Nocturnal Enuresis which is more commonly known as bed wetting is involuntary urination while in deep sleep. Although almost everyone outgrows this as they get older since the bladder capacity eventually becomes bigger as they grow, it could still be a big headache for parents during this stage. However, they don’t need to worry since there are some behavioral treatments done so that children can stop bedwetting as soon as possible.

Some of the methods done are:

  • Night Lift. One of the most popular Bed Wetting Solutions is night lifting. This involves waking your child several times during the night to let him urinate and then returning him to bed to continue his sleep. It may be a little hard at first since kids seem to still be asleep even while walking to the bathroom. But eventually, the child will learn to wake up during the night to urinate which will also help keep his bed dry.
  • Bed Wetting Alarm. This is considered as the most effective way to treat nocturnal enuresis. This method still involves waking the child, but compared to the night lift, it is not the parent who wakes the child but the Alarms for Bed Wetting. A clip sensor is attached to the bed clothing. The alarm will sound when it detects that the child has urinated. Once the alarm, is off the child will wake up and go to the bathroom to urinate. Just like the first method, this will also train the child to get up when he or she feels like urinating.

If the methods above still don’t work then it is usually best to go see a doctor and check what other alternatives and Bed Wetting Help they can provide.

Resources:

http://children.webmd.com/tc/bed-wetting-primary-nocturnal-enuresis-topic-overview
http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-psychology/bedwetting.shtml

How Does an External Catheter Work?

There are times when men or women have incontinence problems or have undergone a surgical procedure. At which circumstance, urination can be difficult From time to time, we all excrete wastes including urine. External catheters are a device attached to the genital to collect urine. Catheters vary based on sizes and gender, albeit there are catheters that can be used for men and women.

Mentor Freedom Cath

Types of Catheters

There is a corresponding external catheter for both sexes. These are the male external catheter and female external catheter.

  • Male External Catheter. A male external catheter is a sheath in rubber material. It is attached over a penis to empty the urine. Some catheters take the form or shape of a condom, like the Texas catheter. At the tip of the catheter has a tube attached to another tube, which leads to the collection bag. There are also catheters that use Velcro attachments. Others use a special type of tape to fasten the sheath around the penis base. The external catheter for men is attached to a tube made of plastic, which leads to a bag. The bag stores the urine until emptied. Another term for catheters is freedom cath because it enables a man to urinate without the trouble of getting up. Men who suffer from incontinence can seek comfort from using a male external catheter.
  • Female external catheter. The catheter used for female takes the form of a tube which is tucked into the opening of urethra, the urethral meatus. Mostly, women use catheters to empty urine especially if they had sedation for surgical operation or to determine the conditions of the bladder through injecting some fluids into it.

Wide Band Self Adhering Catheter

The female catheter has two types of collection bags. One type of a drainage bag is large and which can hang under the bed of the patient for overnight use. The other type is known as the leg bag because it is connected to a leg, which makes the whole device discreet.

References:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-female-catheter.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-external-catheter.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-external-male-catheter.htm

Living with Incontinence After a Prostatectomy

Living with Incontinence After a Prostatectomy

Men who have a prostatectomy for prostate cancer, often find themselves suffering from post operative urinary incontinence. Although in this case, the cure is not worst than the disease, many men still find the new problem of incontinence as a new significant upheaval in their lives. Internal catheters are uncomfortable and often painful. Wearing diapers is not a welcomed event and brings a whole new set of problems with odor, leaks, skin rash, etc. For men who still live very active life styles, diapers are not an appropriate solution for incontinence. Four other popular alternatives are available that many men have found to be much better solutions for male incontinence than internal catheters and diapers. These alternatives are male external catheters, incontinence clamps, collection pouches and absorbent briefs or shorts.

Alternatives to Internal Catheters and Diapers for Post-Operative Urinary Incontinence

Hollister Extended Wear Male External Catheter

External Catheters

An external catheter is used to direct the flow of urine to a leg bag or collection bottle/bag. External Catheters are similar to condoms and are sometimes referred to as "Condom Catheters" or "Male Catheters". External catheters provide a much lower risk of obtaining a bladder infection than internal catheters. Usually made of latex, external catchers are flexible and provide an excellent seal. For people with latex allergies, silicone catheters are also available like the Rochester UltraFlex External Catheter or the Mentor Clear Advantage Latex Free External Catheter. Another type of external catheter that is very popular is the Texas Catheter. The Texas Catheter is very soft and flexible, offering a high degree of comfort for men. Some examples of Texas Catheters include the Rusch Texas Catheter or the Kendall Texas Catheter.

Bard Dispoz-A-Bag Urine Leg Bag

A tube attached to the external catheter directs urine to a collection bag. These urine bags are often strapped to the upper part of the leg and are therefore are often referred to as urine leg bags. A vinyl best-selling leg bag is the Bard Dispoz-a-Bag. The Dispoz-a-Bag comes with many options, including sizes of 9, 19 and 32 ounce capacity, bottom cap, Flip-Flo valve, drainage tube, extension tube, latex leg straps, fabric leg straps and even a Bonus Pack selection. Prices start at $3.43. A new leg bag holder is available for securing leg bags to the upper thigh that are very secure. This leg bag holder is called the Spandex Leg Bag Holder by Bard. Some men prefer the security of the Spandex over leg bag straps, particularly for highly active men engaged in sports activities. At night, when there is less urine flow, the urine is collected in a Bedside Drainage Bag or Bedside Urine Bottle. The bedside urine bottle is washable and reusable saving you money.

Rusch Urine Collection Bag

Male Incontinence Clamps

Incontinence Clamps come is a variety styles but have the same function–control urine flow. Constructed of plastic, foam and sometimes metal, Penile Clamps prevent urine leakage by applying light pressure. These clamps do not require surgery or intrusive chemicals and are external the body. An Incontinence Clamp is placed around the penis, interrupting the flow of urine through the urethra. Pressure is placed on the bottom and top of the penis so that the blood vessels on the sides of the penis are not blocked. The leading incontinence clamp is manufactured by Bard and is called the Cunningham Clamp. It sells for $34.50 each.

Male Drip Collectors or Incontinence Pouch

A male incontinence pouch comes in basically two types. One type is placed on the penis to collect seeping urine into a soft absorbent material. The outer layer is moisture proof keeping Turing from leaking unto your trousers. And example of this type of urine drip collector is the Mentor Male Absorbent Pouch. The second type is similar to the first but also employs a compression device to help cut-off the flow of urine. The ActiCuf Male Dribbling Pouch is the most popular male incontinence pouch on the market and sells for $5.00 each.

Incontinence Briefs or Boxer Shorts

Dignity Mens Boxer Shorts for Male Incontinence

Discreet protection can be found in Incontinence Briefs that look and feel like underwear and are also available in boxer shorts also look and feel like regular boxer shorts. No one would suspect you were wearing a protective garment that can accommodate many types of absorbent pads. The Dignity Men’s Boxer Shorts are available in medium, large and xLarge waist sizes of 34 to 44 inches. Another option is the Uro Concepts Better Pant which is both a re-usable brief and convenient comfortable leg bag holder. For heavy incontinence, the HealthDri Men’s Brief is available in waist sizes 38 to 48 Inches.

Vitality Medical Supply Online

Vitality Medical carries each of the products described above.

How to Treat Male Incontinence? – Squeezer Klip

Urinary incontinence is defined as the accidental leakage of urine.  This can be caused by a variety of conditions and can be treated in a variety of ways, such as the Squeezer Klip. The Squeezer Klip is a new form of incontinence care for men.  The Squeezer Klip is designed to fit easily and comfortably to stop the flow of urine.

Common types of incontinence are:

Urinary Incontinence Care

  • Stress Incontinence – the involuntary loss of bladder control as a result of coughing, sneezing, or physical exertion
  • Urge Incontinence – the loss of urine as a result of an urge to urinate that cannot be stopped
  • Overflow Incontinence – the leakage of urine that can result from urinating only small amounts during frequent trips to the bathroom.

In men specifically, urinary incontinence is generally caused by any condition that damages the nerves that send signals between the brain and the nervous system.  These can include

  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Prostate issues

Where the prostate is involved, symptoms may include interrupted urination, weak stream of urine, and leaking.  In cases where leaking or dribbling is the issue, a Squeezer Klip can be an effective solution. This device is discreet and allows the user to lead an active lifestyle without threat of having a urinary accident.  The Squeezer Klip is commonly used in patients who have had a radical prostatectomy, or the surgical removal of the prostate gland, usually as a treatment for prostate cancer.  In the aftermath of the surgery, patients may find they have issues concerning both erectile function and urinary incontinence.  Although the Squeezer Klip does not address problems with erectile function, it has been shown to be an effective solution for patients who find that they have some level of Urinary Incontinence following prostate surgery.

The Squeezer Klip features a foam-covered ridge on the lower part of the device, and it is this ridge that is pressed up against the penis.Gyrx Squeezer Klip Incontinence Control The urethra is compressed and the flow of urine is slowed and eventually stopped.  As the lower arm of the Squeezer Klip presses upward on the lower part of the penis, the upper arm of the Squeezer Klip presses downward onto the penis. Because of the design of this incontinence device,  the veins, arteries and nerves running along the top of the penis are not compressed.  That means that blood flow to the penis is not affected, even while the urinary flow is stopped.

The Squeezer Klip features an adjustment knob that allows for the proper amount of spacing and pressure to be reproduced every time the device is used.  This allows users to not only determine the right amount of pressure for their particular needs, but also to ensure with confidence that the same amount of pressure will be achieved each and every time.

If you suffer from urinary incontinence or require Incontinence Care, you may be a good candidate for a Squeezer Klip.  Ask your doctor about it.  Find out more about the Squeezer Klip at the following link: Gyrx Squeezer Klip at Vitality Medical

How to Prevent Male Incontinence Accidents

The Cunningham Penile Clamp has brought control of incontinence to many men who were plagued with a constant leaking of urine. It’s a simple device, yet is extremely important to the side effects of prostate cancer, stroke, and other urinary problems.Male Incontinence Treatment

Successful use depends on choosing the right size. To measure, compress the penis between the thumb and forefinger, using about the same pressure you would use to stop urine flow. Now measure from side to side (not length), just below the head (glans). If the measurement is more than 2″, use the large size of the Cunningham Clamp. Below 2″, you will want the Regular. If the measurement is less than 1″, choose small size.

The Cunningham Clamp is a stainless steel frame that is hinged and supports two foam rubber pads. There is also a locking device. It contains some dry natural rubber. The penis is placed between the two foam pads and the clamp is closed. The bottom pad has an upside-down “V” that puts pressure on the under side of the penis and puts closing pressure on the urethra. The urethra is close to the bottom of the penis in the male. The objective is to use enough pressure to prevent leakage but not so much that it is uncomfortable. It can be used over and over. The sizing is by circumference, not length.

Once the clamp is securely placed on the penis, all you need to do is release the clamp in order to urinate. If you are using a self-catheter, you will need to release the clamp and then follow the same procedures you normally do with self-catheterizing urination.

Incontinence Device For Men

It’s a good idea to own two Cunningham Clamps so you can wear one while the other is washed and dried. You might even want to own three of these useful male incontinence devices so that you will have a spare in case you should lose one. It can be worn all day long, but you may want to release it from time to time to ease any discomfort caused by having it clamped.

The Cunningham Clamp should be replaced every three months or sooner if the foam deteriorates. Regular inspection for signs of wear is recommended.

To clean the clamp, wash it with mild hand soap in warm water and rinse thoroughly. Let it dry away from too much heat and out of direct sunlight. Do not use bleach, detergent, blow dryer, washer, dryer, or hot water with the Cunningham Clamp.

Vitality Medical has Cunningham Clamps in all sizes on its website, and the prices are competitive. Other incontinence clamp options include the Gyrx Squeezer Klip, The J-Clamp, and the Baumrucker Clamp. The Gyrx Squeezer Klip is anatomically designed for comfort and critical bloodflow patterns. The Squeezer Klip costs around $50 more than the Cunningham Clamp, but some find it more comfortable and it provides another great incontinence choice. Vitality Medical also has a number of incontinence accessories you will want to explore like the GT Urological ActiCuf, Dignity Mens Boxer Shorts, Depends Guards for Men, or the Mentor Freedom External Catheter. You can order from the privacy of your own home and it will be delivered right to your door.