Lynne – T12 paraplegia

What are my tips and tricks to using catheters?

• Try out new equipment. Knowing that it does or doesn’t work for you is important information.
• If I was starting from scratch again I think I would have trialled the mirror that you can attach to your leg so that you can see the urethral entrance.
• Overnight I use a 2l drainage bottle in a bucket; this reduces the need to get out of bed and thus reduces the number of transfers in a day.

How do I perform IC myself?

First I get set up:

• Wash and dry hands
• Transfer onto toilet. I often sit on the toilet sideways rather than with my back to the wall. This allows me to lean back far enough to better insert the catheter.
• I pull my pants down and position my legs.
• Set up my equipment.

Then I’m ready to perform IC:

1. Use a wipe to clean the entrance of my urethra.
2. Unwrap the top of a pre-lubricated catheter.
3. Hold the catheter about ½ to 2/3 of the way up, and avoid the tip. I hold the catheter between my thumb and middle finger.
4. Using the first and third fingers of the other hand to find the outer lips (labia) of the vulva and slide them towards the top. Holding the labia slightly apart, I then use the middle finger to mark the entrance of the urethra.
5. I slide the catheter in slowly.
6. As soon as I hear the trickle of urine on the water I stop moving the catheter and hold it in place. My aim is to have the tip of the catheter just inside the bladder.
7. I use the last ring and little finger to touch my skin and act as a marker so that I can tell if the catheter is being pushed out by the contraction/collapsing of the bladder. I very gently resist this pressure. For me, I have found that this pressure usually means my bladder is about empty.
8. I hold the catheter firmly between my thumb and middle finger.
9. I use my first finger to gently push the tip of the catheter around if I can’t hear the urine hitting the water.
10. When finished I gently slide the catheter out – in the same line that it was sitting in the bladder.
11. Wrap up waste and put in the bin.
12. Wash my hands.

 

How do I go out for the day?

When I go out I take either:

• SpeediCaths as I find them small and can therefore be taken in a hand bag easily
• Or I take a small wash bag (as you would take camping) that I call my “bladder bag” in which I store everything.

My bladder bag has:

• The bag itself comes with a mirror which I can use to do a skin check or to make sure I have fully cleaned myself in the event of a bowel accident
• Lubricated or non-lubricated catheters
• 100ml tube of lubricant
• Small packet of non-scented baby wipes
• Packet of “incognito” which are small, black bags for sanitary pads. I can dispose of the things I use in one of these bags. If there is no bin to can take the bag in my hand bag to dispose of later.
• Clean underwear in a small zip lock bag in case of small leakages. The bag can be used to store the wet underwear.
• Small (usually ultrathin as they take less space.) continence pads of two difference absorbency amount. (Usually a small and a super). They were also better at absorbing fluid when I had my period.
• If I have a bladder infection I also take a couple of sachets of Ural as I find it decreases the bladder irritation I feel
• Antiseptic hand wash in case there is no soap in the toilet (which happens a lot)
• Handful of gloves in another zip lock bag.

How do I travel long distances with catheters?

On long distance or international travel, I use an indwelling catheter. I find it is easier to empty.

I drink A LOT of water to help reduce the possibility of bladder infection.

I carry a 600ml bottle within a small bag to empty the drainage bag if I can’t find a toilet or the toilet is inaccessible. This reduces the number of transfers I need to do in a day as I do a lot more pushing when I travel.

What do I do if I get an infection?

Here’s what I do:

• Drink a LOT of water and therefore reduce the time between toilet visits
• Slow down my social calendar for a week or so
• Look at my diet and fatigue as, for me, a bowel accident with equal a bladder infection
• Use Ural to reduce bladder irritation and the urgency sensation
• Have my GP provide prepared urine specimen bottles and pathology slips so if I think I have an infection I can get the sample tested should I be unable to get a GP appointment when needed.

How do I stay healthy over the long term?

Plod. I used to be like a bull at a gate. I worked and played hard and fast. If I do that now I end up over-tired.

I do one, at best two social activities in a day where previously I would have squashed four into a day.

I also try to eat properly using prepared meals, and exercise regularly.

How does having my period affect my catheters?

I found that using pads when I had my period too messy when I then tried to clean myself prior to catheter insertion. So now I use tampons.