What clothing is most comfortable for coming home from the hospital and allows for easy access to the catheter bag while wearing and for sleep?
The basketball sweatpants with the fully zippered open leg style are the best. They wrap on instead of having to raise each leg to get into them while wearing the catheter.
Anything loose is OK. We took a couple of pairs of PJ bottoms and slit them down the side and put snaps in place. This allows you to take them on and off without dropping the catheter bag through the leg. You need to ask the Dr. what side he or she is going to glue the catheter anchor to. Mine was on the right side but I’ve met some guys who had theirs on the left.
Get some sweat pants (just 1-2 pair) and a few boxers one waist size up from what he normally wears. The boxers are easier to manage the catheter with rather than briefs. He will have abdominal swelling/distension but this usually will quickly subside.
We bought one pair of adjustable waist khaki slacks as he hated the sweat pants and couldn’t wear them to work. By 4 weeks he was down to his regular clothes again.
The incision is tender when you go home and you will need loose fitting pants. I think an elastic waist band with a tie string is best. Loose legs with no elastic at the bottom help by letting you pull up the leg to drain the Foley catheter bag while that is in place. It is about knee high and easy to stand by the toilet and drain.
Extra large sweats were perfect and boxer shorts are helpful too.
As for clothing, I bought myself a new terrycloth robe, slippers, a couple of pairs of loose fitting sweat pants, some t-shirts and a couple of packs of close-fitting briefs. The briefs will be especially important once the catheter is out, both to provide support as well as a good perch for pads, if necessary.
Several changes of pj’s, as the Vicodin post op can make you feel sweaty.
Sweats are fine for coming home from the hospital.
I found the snug jockey shorts were more comfortable than the boxers while I was wearing the catheter, for me keeping the tubing from moving around, especially while walking, was better.
I had a long, elastic bandage, about 8 inches wide, that I wrapped around my lower ab at times, just seemed to restrict movement a little and made it more comfortable moving around. I almost think a loin cloth is the best all around clothing for this!
I wore pajama bottoms and my robe home from the hospital. My wife had visions of being able to buy a night shirt at a store that evening. None of the stores here sell them! If she had known, she could have ordered one from JC Penney.
I went to a hospital supply store and got a hospital gown. I only needed it two nights. After that I felt good enough to put on my briefs (I wear the ones with the long legs.)
I have an email friend whose husband was totally comfortable wearing just boxer shorts, while the catheter was in.
My husband, pre-surgery, only had a wardrobe of jeans. I had to go get him several pairs of sweat pants to wear during his recuperation, as the jeans just did not work.
A really baggy (in the leg) pair of sweats. Sweats with a tie would be fine.
You need some type of loose fitting clothing for the “at home” recovery. The pants need to be something that will accommodate the catheter and collection bag without restriction. I used sweats which worked quite well.
My wife bought me some ab pads at the medical supply store. These are big sterile pads that I used to lay over the incision to keep my clothes from rubbing and pulling on the staples. We also taped the pad and plastic wrap over the incision for me to shower and keep the incision dry.
I wore the lightweight type sweat pants with no elastic in the cuff and a little oversized in the waist.
A pair of oversized basketball type warm-up pants with snaps or zipper up the leg (to allow discreet access to the catheter and bag). Get a pair that is large enough to accommodate the large (night) bags and smaller (walking) bags – that will be provided by the hospital. A dark color will be less likely to show wetness from any accidental leakage compared with a light color. Fast drying material (“parachute material”) is recommended if possible.
I have found convertible hiking pants (pants whose lower leg can be zippered off to create a pair of shorts) to work wonderfully well while wearing a catheter. This type of pant also has a side zipper on the lower leg, which makes leg bag access a breeze. You can open the upper zipper (the one that runs around the leg) part-way to switch bags and let out the hose to the large drain bag.
By far the best sweat pants for me were the snap-up style that the NBA players wear. They are all snaps up each side which make them perfect for ripping off when coach puts you into the game, or for easy access after your RRP surgery. The snaps are perfect for hanging the catheter bag on. When I walked around the house I would hang the bag outside the pants. When venturing out, I’d just hang the bag on the snaps again but from the inside. I found the small leg bag NEVER useful. Always used the big bag and there were no surprises. It fit inside the pants when I needed it inside.
I kept an ab pad on most days to limit the chafing of the tender skin. Even after going back to work, I didn’t button or clip my pants because it irritated the incision for a long time. Several months later, the button of a pair of jeans was still uncomfortable. Hide the opened pants with a comfy belt.
Nice baggy, soft sweat pants or warm-ups – oversize with drawstring if the weather is warm inside the house or out of doors.
Some big baggy mesh shorts (in summer).
Suspenders may be helpful, in place of a belt.
Get a pair of the pants that the legs zip off and a gym bag. He can put the catheter bag thru the zipper of either leg, and use the gym bag to carry it around with him when walking.
