The first thing to understand about a leg bag is that there should be no shame attached to wearing one. The use of a leg bag is a very common procedure. Simply put, a leg bag is a vinyl bag strapped to the leg that is used to collect urine that is drained from the bladder by way of a Foley catheter. The leg bag can be worn under the clothing and is often undetectable. A leg bag can be purchased wherever ever medical supplies are sold.

There are many conditions requiring a leg bag catheter to be prescribed. The most common is a form of urinary retention that is the result of a surgery such as prostate or gynecological. In these cases, the leg bag catheter is only prescribed for a minimum amount of time until the patient can resume normal urinary functions.

There is no escaping the simple fact that the insertion of a Foley catheter can cause discomfort. That is why the smallest type of catheter is used first to prevent any unwanted expansion of the urethra. Depending on certain conditions, a larger catheter tube might be required to prevent blockage.

Typically, a leg bag is sold in two different sizes. The small size can contain up to 18 ounces of liquid while the larger size has the ability to hold up to 30 ounces. Patients have found that the small bag can be worn during the day while the larger one is swapped out for sleeping during the night.

Gravity does a lot of the work with the leg bag by providing drainage below the bladder. The goal is to make sure the urine doesn’t get backed up because this could lead to infection and is the main reason for having a leg bag catheter in the first place. It is recommended that the leg bag is drained on the average of every eight hours.

As with any type of medical procedure, any patient who is dealing with a leg bag catheter needs to keep the area clean. This means washing hands before and after handling the leg bag apparatus. Also, the area around the tube insertion should be kept clean as well. It is also advised that a patient who has a leg bag catheter continue to drink a lot of water. This helps regulate the flow of urine and can keep away urinary tract infections.

When the time comes for the leg bag catheter to be taken out it should be down by a trained medical professional such as a registered nurse or doctor. Once the catheter has been removed, normal urinary function should return to the great relief of the patient.