Hi all hope you are all coping with the snow . I started self catheterising on wednesday first two days absolutely fine. By fri evening the problems started, found it difficult to insert the catheter, started bleeding and since then only managed to do it once. I now feel very uncomfortable and finding it quite hard to pass urine and when I do it hurts. Any advice would be welcome, thanks. Karen x
hi Karen
I had the same problems in the beginning but it will get easier I promise. You need to be relaxed and not in a hurry. The bleeding will go in a day or two so try again tomorrow. I had a mirror to begin with but found that wasn’t much help. You just need to find your own way around your body and it will get to be second nature to you.
Hi Mary, thank you for the advice I will persevere xx
I too used a mirror to start with but I had to use a big make-up mirror on the floor, sit on the side of the bath and direct the catheter flow into a jug! but it did get me started. It does get easier and now I just do it! It has made life so much easier - I can go wherever I want, when I want without worrying about my bladder doing its own thing in public… the freedom it has brought is amazing. It helps to think about what the future will hold when you’ve conquered doing it… and its definately worth it.
Hi I found the mirror more of a problem, you just have to use your fingers as a guide , I still have times when I can’t get it in but persevere , you will probably get a uti at the start ,so if you get symptoms go to your dr .
Hi Karen, having pain passing urine sounds like you may have a uti so it may be worth getting it checked. I self Catherise and this sounds funny but I do it sitting on the toilet. I have a chair in front of me with a mirror (I can’t do it without) and I find this much easier. I have been changed to SpeediCath Compact Plus by Coloplast and I find these much better. They are smaller and much easier to use than the much longer ones I previously had to use. They are also coated in a sterile solution so they reduce the risk of infection. Contact your incontinence nurse if you are finding it difficult. Don’t worry you will get the hang of it. Take care.
Hi Karen I used intermittent catheters for 10 years and still had the need to use a mirror to see what I was doing!!! I used to sit on a stool and balance the mirror in between my legs and wee into a jug! I bled for a little while until things settled down. You may have a UTI so get a sample into your GP, do persevere as it changed my life using them. I now have an indwelling catheter in. Take good care and keep warm in this snow!! Linda x
Thank you all for the advice I am sure it will get easier, I am still on long term antibiotics o hopefully they will clear up any infection I may have . Thanks again. Karen xx
Hiya…as others say…keep at it…the area may be a bit sore…ask your nurse for some local anaesthetic gel to apply to the area and o to the catheter, Also what type of catheter are you using? Speedycath? water lubricated. ? single use? Your Continance nurse should be able to advise over phone or in person…def get a sample to your gp…and try and drink lots and relax as my h as possible. I was fine with isc for a while but urethral spasm and spasm of the sphincter muscle to bladder made it difficult to insert and remove the cath…muscle relaxants may help ? em x
Hi Em thanks for the advice, I have the nurse coming in the morning so will get urine tested etc. hopefully it will get easier. Karen x