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My bladder, my life

Bladder management

  • Bladder types
  • Starting with catheters
  • Problems
  • Life hacks
  • Inside the bladder
  • Equipment
Problems
  • Working out what's wrong
    • I normally perform intermittent catheters and have recently started leaking in between
    • I have a suprapubic catheter and have recently started leaking out my penis or urethra
    • I’ve had lots of UTIs lately and they seem to keep coming back after I finish my antibiotics
    • I’m having trouble passing my catheter
  • Other problems
    • Watching your fluids
    • How to avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI)
    • Autonomic dysreflexia
    • Bladder and kidney stones
    • Prostatitis
    • Leaking
    • Bleeding
    • Vesicoureteral reflux
    • Hydronephrosis
    • Stricture
    • False passage
    • Catheter blockages
    • Bladder washout

    Leaking

    Sometimes you may have leakage of urine at unwanted times. Leakage can cause many problems such as damage to your skin as well as embarrassment in social situations. Leaking can even stop you going out altogether.

    Leaking from the bladder can also occur with people with indwelling catheters (IDC or SPC).

    Leaking with IC

    Your bladder may be:

    • oversensitive to filling (overactive bladder)
    • overfilling due to the amount of liquid you drink and how often you do your catheters
    • irritated due to an infection
    • under extra pressure due to an overloaded bowel.

    If you are leaking near to the time that you are doing your catheter, and your catheter amounts are high (greater than 500mL), then you might consider doing extra catheters.

    If you are unable to solve the issue, or your leaking doesn’t have a pattern, discuss the issue with your doctor or the spinal urology nurse.

    Leaking with IDC/SPC

    Leaking with indwelling catheters is sometimes called bypassing, as urine leaks around the catheter.

    This type of leaking is usually caused by bladder spasms or a catheter blockage, both of which cause pressure in the bladder to increase.

    Causes of catheter blockage may be as simple as having a full drainage bag or kinked tube. A full bowel can also cause leaking around the catheter.

    Leakage is not normal for a well-managed bladder so it should be discussed with your doctor or urology nurse.

    Prostatitis
    Bleeding

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    Quick links

    • Bladder types
    • Starting with catheters
    • Problems
    • Life hacks
    • Inside the bladder
    • Equipment

    About this resource

    This web resource is part of a research project to improve bladder management at the Austin, by increasing the use of intermittent catheterisation.

    The research project is funded by TAC.

    Submit your feedback

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    This research project is brought to you by

    Austin Health
    TAC
    ISCRR
    WorkSafe

    Contacts

    Austin Health
    03 9496 5000
    Victorian Spinal Cord Service
    03 9496 5220
    Spinal Urology Nurse
    03 9496 5904
    spinalurologynurse@austin.org.au
    VSCS outpatient Nurse
    03 9496 5176
    vscsoutpatients@austin.org.au

    Disclaimer

    This information has been developed for Austin Health use and has been specifically designed for Austin Health. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. Austin Health accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed on this website. Written information should only be used in conjunction with advice from the health professional who is looking after you.

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