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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

    Stricture

    A stricture is when the urethra becomes narrowed because of damage to the wall. A stricture can occur when a catheter rubs against the urethral wall and causes damage. It can also happen if you don’t use enough lubricant when inserting catheters.

    Signs and symptoms of a stricture

    You may have a urethral stricture if you have:

    • Difficulty passing a catheter
    • Increased pain
    • Bleeding.

    Management options

    The best way to manage a urethral stricture is to make sure they don’t happen in the first place:

    • Use plenty of lubrication when inserting catheters or use a self-lubricating (hydrophilic) catheter if possible
    • Use the smallest catheter that provides good drainage
    • If you use a long-term catheter, make sure it is properly attached to your leg so it doesn’t pull.

    Sometimes a stricture will need surgery to fix

    This procedure is called a urethral dilatation.

    It is common for strictures to reoccur. If you feel that this is happening, it’s likely that surgery will need to be repeated. Get in contact with your GP or spinal urology nurse to get the ball rolling.

    stricture
    stricture

    Hydronephrosis
    False passage

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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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