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First day of self catheterisation

Posted , 5 users are following.

kimmyMac
kimmyMac

Hi all, I was just after some advice. I'm a 20 year old female, After having a catheter since March I went to see the consultant today. I was really hoping to get rid of it altogether but that didn't work! I failed a trail without so the Doctor recommended self catheterisation.

So today the nurse taught me to do it myself and I got it pretty much first time! The relief was great! But since I've been home I've felt the urge to go to the toilet most of the time ( but can't myself) so I've used the catheter. I'm having really bad pain when trying to insert it and when I try and take it out. I have blood on the end of the catheter and when I wipe. The first time I tried myself out with the hospital I really struggled to get it in but was in the right bit? Should it hurt this much? This is my first time doing it so not sure if there is usually pain?

Sorry for the long message but just want a bit of reassurance.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • ruth89482
    ruth89482 kimmyMac

    Posted

    Hi just joined Patient in the hope of getting some support and information.for several months now i have been experiencing bladder incontinence where i occasional leak urine without warning and was wondering if i too needed self catherisation.
    • kimmyMac
      kimmyMac ruth89482

      Posted

      Hi, you've came to the right place then smile

      Have you spoke to your doctor about it? I don't know much on incontinence as I have urinary retention where I just can't go!

      Do you feel the urge to urinate and how often do you go? Just to make sure that it's not because your bladder is too full which is causing it too leak, it could be multiple things like the muscles have lost the ability to hold a volume of urine.

      Feel free to write back and I can try help the best I can with what I have been through smile I would definitely speak to the doctor who hopefully would refer you to a urologist.

    • ruth89482
      ruth89482 kimmyMac

      Posted

      Hi Thanks for getting back to me. Ive been having problems with slight leakage for a while now.I keep putting off going to the doctor but the time has come when I need to go. I am 62 so well past the menopause and have only had one child.Im having to resort to tena ladys just in case I have an accident which could happen anytime.

      Thanks for replying.Hope you get your water retention prolem sorted. please feel free to write back.

    • kimmyMac
      kimmyMac ruth89482

      Posted

      Hi yes I would definitely go see your doctor who will hopefully refer you to a urologist. That's the best I can recommend as they will be able to do all the test and get down to the cause of it! I would recommend while waiting to see the doctor not to go long periods between going to the toilet as this may not be helping. Also self catherisation might help you if when you do go to the toilet you don't completely empty your bladder causing leaking, so the Cather can make sure the balder is empty.

      They are thinking mines is something called 'neurogenic bladder' where the nerves don't send the signals from the bladder to the brain to say it's full, so waiting on a MRI of my spine and urodynamics testing! MRI on the 21st of July so not too long to wait!

      Let me know how you get on. I hope you get some answers soon x

  • dnd33190
    dnd33190 kimmyMac

    Posted

    Hello kimmyMac,

    I know it has been 3 months since your post.  I was wondering if you have had any progress since.  I had 2 surgeries to remove a huge pelvic mass in March and have been self cathing since.  I will be having a urodynamic test done September 17th to test my bladder.  My doctor told me that in no way did he damage a nerve to my bladder.  This mass was sitting on my bladder and wrapped around my colon.  I don't know how long it was there but my doctor said about 5 years.  Now my bladder will not work sad  Have you had any changes since?  

    • kimmyMac
      kimmyMac dnd33190

      Posted

      Hi. Since my last post I have been in and out of hospital all summer and just recently spent 3 weeks there and only got out last Saturday.

      After going into retention so many times and ending up in hospital I've had an operation to have a suprapubic catheter inserted through my skin into my bladder. I've had an awful time and really struggling to cope.

      I have since been diagnosed with a condition called fowlers syndrome. I was only diagnosed in the beginning of august. I now have to wait for specialist treatment in Glasgow to get a sacral nerve stimulation operation to help me pee by myself.

      Let me know what they say after your urodynamics. Feel free to ask me anything at all I've pretty much experienced everything to do with bladders now!

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