For those of us who use a urinary catheter, or have a urostomy, questions often arise about the use of urine collection devices such as urinary leg bags and urine drain bags.
If you want to use an external, off body drain bag and use a foley catheter or have a urostomy pouch that you wear inside your waistband, doing so can present a challenge. How do you route the drainage tubing so that it is outside of your clothing.
There are options available, and they are relatively inexpensive.
1. Shorts: Depending on the season, or climate you live in or visit, wearing shorts is an option.
Pro: no modification of clothing is required.
Con: Shorts aren’t always an option due to weather, clothing choice, etc.
2. Pass Through Design: slacks, jeans, shorts, skirts, and dresses. A pass through, Velcro sealed, hidden opening, typically in a seam, below the bottom of the urostomy pouch or catheter / tubing connection. With the pass-through design, the tubing (and bag) can be passed through the opening, so you do not have to disconnect (you do need to empty the bag first). The Velcro seals the opening around the tube and is VERY well hidden.
Pro: You can use a leg bag when desired, and switch to external bag, without removing clothing or disconnecting from the drain tubing. Ultimate freedom.
Pro: Available on new clothes from Buck & Buck clothing. Modification was under $20 for me to have done at Buck and Buck. Customer service from Buck and Buck was 100% top tier. Rapid shipping.
Pro: Alteration can be done by local sewing expert on existing clothing in good condition.
Con: Limited styles but I was able to find the styles that I normally wear. Buck & Buck has high quality 5 pocket jeans, in heavy denim and I found Cargo Shorts that are like what I normally wear. The alteration was under $20.
Here is the modified 5 pocket jean. When worn, the pass-through opening, visible on the right leg, is on the inside thigh. Not uncomfortable at all.
Below shows tubing coming through. The entire empty drain bag can be passed through. No disconnect required. Combine this with a neoprene tube cover and Privy XL, and you have a great combo.
Here are modified cargo shorts: These are on the inseam, I have them flattened out for the picture, but the opening is centered on inner thigh.
Just passing through:
3. Hidden (or not) Hole: I have had success doing the following, but option 2 above is by far my preferred option. I make a hole and then cover it with a patch, open on the side. I have also opened a seam. You simply make a hole, and then I use an iron on (or sew-on) patch, being careful to not seal it all the way around. Fraying can be an issue so seal the cut edges of the hole. People have told me they sew it, I’ve used a tiny amount of super glue.
Phone: 1(800) 458-0600
Ordering: Find the slacks, pants, shorts, etc. that you like and then add them to your cart. Pay and add a comment that you want the urine drain tube opening installed. They will call you, to go over options available. For my alterations, I added a Velcro opening (open towards the back) 5 inches long, on the inseam 2 inches below the crotch seam. They shipped within a couple days of placing the order. Pretty fast.
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