Well, it’s finally going to happen, next week I’m going to learn to self catheterise.
So, what do I have to expect?
I’m not sure my fingers are going to be nimble enough, and will I have to use a mirror?
The nurse is coming here to teach me.
Hi Flowerpot
I was dreading learning to self catheterise but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and straightforward it was!
I’m not saying that I’m totally happy about it ( I think that there’s always going to be that part of me that feels it’s a sign of things getting worse) but it has just become routine.
I’ve never use a mirror as I find it just confuses things! Once you get used to it you just know, roughly, where you should be aiming for.
It can feel a little uncomfortable for a few minuets after, a sort of a cystitis sort of feeling, but it soon passes.
Well that’s been my experience of it any way, so I hope it goes as smoothly for you. I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry.
Teddie xx
I’ve been doing it for 3 years now. In the beginning I used a mirror, but actually I had more trouble with that than doing it without. It’s now very straightforward and is a lot easier than you think, even with iffy hands. For example, my hands don’t really work well enough to write more than a few words (luckily nowadays handwriting isn’t what it used to be), but I can catheterise easily. You have to develop the technique for yourself really, it comes with practice and a lot of wasted catheters so don’t expect to be expert immediately. Also, start with one type of catheter but don’t feel that you’re stuck with it. There are countless makes of catheter and changing from one to another is easy, you just tell your delivery company that you wasn’t to try some others out, they’ll send you some samples and you can pick what suits you best.
Sue