Cure Medical intermittent catheters tryouts
Posted , 11 users are following.
I have been self cathing for almost 3 years now and I have been using Coloplast Speedicath hydrophilic catheters due to jimjames suggestions. At the beginning, I had so much bleeding that I almost gave up, especially with the coudes. Almost 3 years later, I still have occasional unexplained disturbing minor bleeding. At one point I thought that something is wrong with my anatomy and I am not meant for long-term CIC, until I tried some samples of catheters from Cure Medical.
Cure catheters are definitely softer and more flexible so they are easier on the urethra and I have felt less irritation and haven't had any bleeding with more than 50 tries. I am going to switch to Cure from now on. Cure catheters also cost much less. Hope this helps.
3 likes, 62 replies
pluff_mud hank1953
Posted
Hank, which model Cure catheters are you using? Are they hydrophilic? I have used Cure catheters in the past, but my medical supply house quit carrying them. They are trying to reestablish a relationship with them. I used the pre lubricated Cure catheters that are not hydrophilic. That said, Coloplast does make a soft plastic non lubricated catheters. They are even softer than the Cure ones I tried. You do have to self lubricate them, which is not a problem for me.
I mainly use straight tip latex catheters. I find the straight tipped catheters the easiest to insert. Coude tipped catheters are supposed to be easier for men to insert, but I find it just the opposite. I also think there is less chance of injury with a soft, straight tip catheter.
hank1953 pluff_mud
Posted
I tried both non and hydrophilic Cure catheters and they are both equally soft. For the non hydrophilic, I just dipped it about 2 inches into a water based lube. Coloplast Speedicath coudes almost always bleed me so I was using straight. But with Cure, I've been using coudes with no problems. Haven't yet but I will try Cure straights soon. Cure also has some pocket catheters.
Cure has the Ultra version which is prelubed with some gel. The gel kind of burns my urethra so I just wipe it of with a sheet of toilet paper, and dip it into the lube. Voila!
pluff_mud hank1953
Posted
It was the pre lubed Ultras I was using. I didn't have any burning sensation, but the lube was thicker than what I regularly use. My test for softness or flex is to hold the catheter straight out, holding the funnel end and see how much the catheter deflects down. Latex are the softest, but the soft Coloplast was close. The Cure Ultra was not quite as soft as the soft Coloplast. Are the non lubricated Cure catheters softer than the Ultra?
hank1953 pluff_mud
Posted
I would say the non hydrophilic ones are a little softer than the Ultras. Is there a soft Coloplast ? The Coloplast Speedicath I've been using is quite stiff, therefore can cause bleeding easily, especially with the coudes, since we then have both stiff and pointy.
pluff_mud hank1953
Posted
I agree the Coloplast Speedicath hydrophilic catheters are stiff. I have some samples. I go slow inserting them. The non hydrophilic ones are called Self-Cath. They make two versions in each size. The product numbers beginning with "1" are the soft ones, and the product numbers starting with "4" are the regular ones. For example, FR16 straight tip soft are 116, and regular are 416.
hank1953 pluff_mud
Posted
Good to know. Thanks.
keith42667 hank1953
Posted
I appreciate the discussion on this gentlemen.
I've been doing cic for nearly 2 years now. I think in April sometime. I had settled on the coloplast fr12 hydrophillic straight tip. I used the 14 as it was a little easier to insert but the 12 also worked and I figured since it was smaller there would be less trauma. I had bleeding for about a week and then red taint for awhile after that. My GP's office gave me a rubber one that they had (it was all they had) and it must have been at least an 18. She also gave me a syringe that threaded on the end which was full of saline solution to flush out after I cathed. I didn't do that, because I didn't understand but I got a couple of; what looked like clots came out initially. Kind of scared me but the next time I did it was much less. I guess I must have used that rubber catheter more than once. I had prostatitis at the time and was taking A/B for it. I didn't know what I was doing and the doctor wasn't in so I was kind of winging it. Thank God I got through that. It was awful with the overflow incontinence. I tried some Cure ones. I got several samples from a couple of places. The Coloplast work well for me. I'm thinking of going back to the straight because the coude doesn't seem to really help much. I don't have much trouble getting it inserted even with straight tip.
hank1953 keith42667
Posted
I've also been using Coloplast Speedicath 12fr straight for a long time. Still had minor bleeding, maybe once every 5 insertions, not bad but still bothersome. Have not bled with Cure catheters.
Howard31850 hank1953
Posted
Hi Hank - thanks for this info. We have been following almost identical paths over the past 3 years. I also had trouble initially with the Speedicaths coudes like you. I solved the problems in 2 ways: First I learned the anatomy of my urethra so instead of just holding the "dive bomb" position all the way from the start I would hold that position for the first third of the catheter and then rotate horizontal for the next third and then point straight down for the last third pushing the catheter gently upwards till it entered the bladder. Then I reversed the whole scenario pulling it out.
The second thing that made a huge difference was to add some lube gel into the catheter sleeve and let it slide down and coat the catheter for a minute before I pulled it out. So I hung the catheter on the wall and then pulled down the tab about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way and then squeezed some gel into the top of the open part. I know these are hydrophilic pre-lubed catheters but I found that was not enough to get past my huge prostate so by adding this extra gel it really made a big difference.
So now i am up to maybe 4000 self-caths with these catheters and have not had any problems for well over a year. Good luck. Howard
hank1953 Howard31850
Posted
Thanks Howard for the tips. It's very tempting but I told myself never again to try a Speedicath coude. I bled enough from them. Especially now I found Cure catheters. They are definitely more forgiving.
pluff_mud Howard31850
Posted
I'm not up to 4,000 yet, but I've been doing CIC for a year and a half, and I have over 2,000 insertions. Only one time since I started did I have any blood on the catheter tip after removal. I also follow Howard's insertion routine - straight up to start, then straight out until I get to the prostate, and then down to go up through the prostate and into the bladder. The last position is not totally straight down - maybe closer to 45 degrees. Luckily, no UTIs since I started. I do use fairly large size catheters - 18FR in latex and 16FR in plastic.
hank1953 Howard31850
Posted
Hi Howard, I will try your extra lube + inserttion technique on the boxes of Speedicath catheters I have left to see if there is any improvement. On the last third, do you point it straight down or at 45 degree angle as pluff indicated ?
Howard31850 hank1953
Posted
Hi Hank - on the last third the catheter and penis are pointing straight down into the toilet vertically and I am then pushing gently upwards on the funnel into the penis. I can feel when the catheter catches the bladder because the catheter then seems to pull itself upwards into the bladder. If you look at the shape of the urethra you will see that it is best to be vertical for the last third since that then follows the shape of the urethra at that point. Then just reverse the 3 steps exactly on withdrawl. Howard
gary37907 Howard31850
Posted
I did my second CIC last night and it to say the least was uncomfortable. Used a 12 fr Cure Ultra pre lubed. The first time I used a 14 fr and it was so uncomfortable that I tried the 12 this time. Not a lot of difference with the 12. No bleeding but today I'm pretty sore and hate the thoughts of possibly having to do it again tonite or anytime soon. Does this get easier and less painful/uncofortable as time time goes by??? Please tell me yes! I am such a chicken that prior to both CIC's I took Xanax which gave me courage enough to get it done. LOL I could become a Xanax junky if I have to do this every day. So far I don't have to. The retention comes and goes though my bladder is never emptied just occasionally it is difficult to empty at all. I take generic Cialis which helps but not always. I am mainly learning CIC as a result of adivce from other forum members who suggested that I learn to CIC for when I have the BPH treamtment of choice, so I don't end up with multiple visits t the ER for retension. What a curse this is. I'm a very healthy individual otherwise.
Howard31850 gary37907
Posted
Hi Gary - you should be very proud of yourself!! You have now gained control over your bladder instead of your bladder controlling you! The first time I did CIC I cried (true!) and then I fainted in the doctor's office. I said I could never do it again and would just have my prostate removed. But when I go home I searched the internet and found this forum and jimjames who took me by the hand and guided me through the experience. I would visualise him standing next to me talking me through each step. I was determined to master this just as I had mastered other things throughout my life that were very scary at first.
So the good news is that it does get easier - so easy in fact that it is actually easier now than flossing my teeth!! But you mus be careful and mindful to not rush things and master your technique. It really is no big deal - you are just sticking a straw a few inches inside to drain your bladder. My secret was to go slowly and never push if it hurt. Some bleeding is normal at the start as the tissue lining the urethra is very vascular like the gum linings in your mouth. You may recall when you first started flossing your gums would bleed but then they stopped bleeding. It is the same with CIC - once the urethral tissue gets used to the catheter the bleeding will stop. Don't hesitate to PM me if you wish. I will help you. You are learning a skill that will help you the rest of your life and may even save your life as it did mine. Good for you! Howard
pluff_mud gary37907
Posted
The first two times I tried to self cath using a stiff plastic coude tip catheter, I ended up with blood coming out of my penis. It was scary. I had to clamp down on it to get it to stop. My uro recommended trying straight tip latex catheters. Since then, things have been good. At times my urethra seems tighter than at other times, but I have had no insertion issues. I have a new sense of freedom, as I no longer worry when the next urge to urinate is going to suddenly occur and where the closest bathroom is. I sleep through the night. I have never experienced any soreness, although I have found different lubricants can cause some slight irritation.
Being tense, may be part of your problem. Try to relax. If you feel yourself tensing up, stop and try to relax, and then keep going in. Do not force it, as that is when you can cut yourself. I have also found with stiffer catheters that pushing up on the perineum when you get to the prostate can help the catheter make the turn.
Question regarding Cialis. I thought it was still under patent and wasn't available as a generic - at least not in the US.
hank1953 gary37907
Posted
Gary, Cure Ultra is not a good one to start with. It's convenient, yes, but the prelube is a thick gel that can irritate your urethra. When I used Ultra, I wiped the gel off and apply a water based lube before use.
hank1953 gary37907
Posted
The best one to start with is Cure hydrophilic HM12 or HM12C. It comes with a water packet.
hank1953 Howard31850
Posted
Hi Howard, what is the best leg position for CIC ? Do you squat ? Legs apart, how wide ?
gary37907 pluff_mud
Posted
Puff generic cialis (Tadalafil) is easy to get from Canaidian pharmacy ( must have valid prescription tho). Don't know if i'm allowed to mention it here but Northwest pharmacy (Canadian) is $116 for 90 day supply. I believe it has so far kept me from daily CIC. Tried Uroxatrol but as much as much as i'm scared to death of CIC i would rather do it daily than suffer the side effects of Uroxatrol. Thanks for your support!
alan86734 Howard31850
Posted
Hi, Howard,
Your description "...the catheter then seems to pull itself upwards into the bladder....." matches my own experience exactly except that I describe it as ".... catheter seems to be sucked into the bladder...." Same difference. We're obviously on the same track here!
Warm regards, alan86734.
pluff_mud gary37907
Posted
Looks like it must be off patent in Canada. I took Tamsulosin and Finasteride before I started self cathing. The Tamsulosin caused retrograde ejaculation. My uro eventually took me off both drugs after I started CIC. Now, I don't take any prostate drugs.
There is nothing to be scared of doing CIC. You need to get comfortable with it.
Howard31850 hank1953
Posted
I've been using Surgilube for 2 years now and it is great in all respects. I just squeeze a little down the quarter-open sleeve and give it a minute to coat the hydrophilic catheter and it works like power steering.
Howard31850 alan86734
Posted
Thanks Alan. I found this effect by experimenting with the final angle while pointing downwards into the toilet. It really is a nice effect. Then when the bladder is finished emptying I just release the upward pressure and the catheter ejects itself from the bladder - like power steering!
I forgot to mention when inserting the first third vertically downwards using jimjames dive bomb method that I keep my index finger over the cup to stabilize the tip of the catheter during insertion and the first third. Then when i swing it down horizontal for the middle third I bring my thumb and index finger around the side of the green funnel. Take care. Howard