First time CIC tonight any advice? Tips?

Motto,

This site has a section regarding Self Cath-ing (CIC) with a lot of "tips" . Search Dive bombing - LOL sounds funny, but the tips involving Dive Bombing helped me a little. And I am still trying to not injure my Urethra . I'm sure other people will answer up soon as well. Everyone is very helpful on this site. Good Luck Brother,

Chuck

There are a number of tips in the forum. Do not force anything, and hopefully, you will be using something that is not stiff that could hurt you. There are a number of videos available on the manufacturers websites and YouTube. Make sure the catheter is well lubricated, if not hydrophilic, and try to relax. A lot of us use the dive bombing technique for the initial insertion and then change the angle to navigate the urethra.

Motto,

I found for first time use, the Red Rubber catheters are the best. They are soft smooth and flexible. You have to lubricate them with water soluble jell, KY Jelly, Surgilube, McKession, etc. Don't use vasiline, it will stay behind in the urethra and possibly cause infection.

The next best, I know of, is Bard Magic 3. It is made of silicone so is the most soft and flexible of the hydrophilic catheters. Hydophylics have an electrically charged surface that attracts water.

The third best, I know of, is Lofric Primo or Origo. They are hydrophilic but more flexible than Speedicath.

You are very likely to have bleeding the first time so keep everything as clean as possible. I use 2"x2" gauze pads to wash the tip and opening of the penis with Providone Iodine from Walmart or Walgreens. You can also use paper towels, but someone from the company I get catheters from recommended against paper towels, don't know why, maybe they leave fibers behind ? The Iodine will sterilize without irritating the urethtra. You can also use soap, preferably antibacterial. It may be useful to collect the urine in a measuring cup, to measure volume, and also check for cloudiness or bad smell, indicators of infection.

jimjames made a post a couple weeks ago about a method to help get the catheter through the bladder sphincter. I think it may have been in one of his original CIC discusions. Basically he said you run the catheter in until it hits the bladder sphincter. Then while keeping up gentle pressure you contract the rectum, like a Kegal exercise, you will feel the catheter suck in a little, then gently push it in more, as you relax. You may have to repeat that 3 or 4 times before it goes through. I have tried it and it works well.

Hope this helps,

Thomas

you should have a nurse at Urologist show you how, and if you use the types requiring applying gel and not the prelubricated i almost guarantee you will get a UTI

its easy once someone shows you how but you dont know what size is best, whether you need a coude tip i strongly advise against it.

Hi, Motto,

Welcome to the CIC Club!

Before I start I must give the usual warning: I am a retired engineer, not a doctor but I have over three years of self-cathing.

They say, "Relax!!!" then forget to tell you what to relax! You're a first-timer so I'll assume that you will feel the catheter as it passes through the urethra, then the external sphincter where you will feel increased resistance, next is the prostate where the sensation changes noticeably, then the inner sphincter about 1 1/2 to 2 inches further in, and finally the bladder. Throughout this journey you relax by applying the same effort as you would to urinate. Do not force the catheter; if it stalls out just wait, anywhere up to 30 seconds or so, while keeping the same gentle force. The muscle will eventually relax as it fatigues.

Not all of us feel pain, but rather an unusual sensation we have never felt before. In time this will become more welcome as it does signal success. Use plenty of water-based lube if you are using Red Rubbers to start with. Take your time, unless you are using hydrophilic (pre-lubed) catheters in which case you have roughly a 3 minute limit before the catheter tends to adhere to the urethra wall.

Catheter withdrawal should be done just as gently as for insertion. During this step keep the funnel blocked with your finger. This will keep the urine (and any blood?) trapped in the catheter, preventing it from flowing back into you.

I hope you find this helpful, along with the information available to on this site. Best of luck, and lease keep us posted on you progress as you find the time.

Warm regards, alan86734.

Hi Motto

Alan is spot on .

Once you have done it a couple of times its very very easy . I struggled at first but now its so simple . Put your penis is a vertical position to begin with when you first insert. Couple of "obstacles" that prevent it as Alan describes well.

For me the use of catheters i believe " cured" me . I had three years of obstruction and was pencilled in for invasive surgery . A trip to emergency with acute retention and 3 weeks of permanent a catheter and a period after of CiC somehow cured my obstruction. I now only CiC once a week after my weekly big drink with the guys . i now find it so easy to do and if it prevents you ending up in emergency or simply allows you to empty your bladder fully its well worth it.

Take it easy , and follow Alans advice and you will be fine

If you watched videos, you are ready to go. Just make sure you use soft catheters to avoid injury. Thomas recommended Bard rubber ones. I recommend Cure. Avoid Coloplast Speedicath until you earn some stripes. They are very stiff and still cause me to bleed, and I have 3 years of service. I tried many catheters and none of them caused me to bleed.