Posted , 20 users are following.
Is anyone else here doing it. What length of time have you been doing it in total. I`ve been at it for five months now. I had Turp which was unsuccessful ...I worry I might have to do it for life..Anyone else in this situation on here.?
0 likes, 61 replies
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Barnie GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
Hello,........I have been self catheterising for 10 years......5/6 times a day..... please dont get depressed... It becomes normal once you get into routine. I go on cruises and other holidays and take a good supply with me.... and always carry one in a small pouch.... I have had no problems....but just be aware of hygiene.... dont want to get water infections... just take your time, especially in public toilets...dont be rushed. I tend to look for M & S and other stores. Their toilets are normally cleaned regularly.
GInAndPlatnic46 Barnie
Posted
Thanks Barnie..that reassures me somewhat in case I have to be doing cic for a long period..I use speedicaths which are prelubed and as long as Im accurate when it enters the tip of my penis I can usually get it in a 1/4 cm before it even touches the inside of the urethtra. I do shower twice a day and if I think germs may be lurking (in the middle of the day), I wash the end of my penis first, or use a baby wipe...although they do irritate a tad.
TKM GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
Geoff,
I use providone iodine which can be purchased at most drug stores to wash around the opening. It is a sterile antiseptic that kills the germs without stinging. It has a redish brown color so you can tell what has been washed. After your done you can wash it off with a paper towel and water.
Providone iodine is used to wash the skin before most surgeries.
If I am away from home I usually just use paper towels and soap.
I hope this helps,
Thomas
ed_ten_72 Barnie
Posted
10 years... That's quite a run. And you say you haven't had a single "accident" during the whole span?
lester90053 GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
It depends how retention started to begin with. Mine started when I had an automobile accident after I had Green Light Laser to cure prior retention which was O.K. after 8 months of recovery. Then the accident gave me retention again. As I was about to replace the Foley catheters with CIC, my system suddenly sprang back into action again and remains steady after a few years. I keep it that way by taking a daily diuretic. But everyone's system is different. Discuss it with your urologist.
Motto GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
First, what lead to the Turp? What is or was the obstruction?
How did TURP not work?
What is current obstruction?
How big is your prostate?
Have you had a cytoscopy to see the obstruction? Why can't it be removed or fixed?
Do you know where the obstruction is located?
Have you sought out a new Urologist?
Nothing should be permanent.
The trick here is to find the procedure you need and then get the best URO who does it to do it for you. These UROs aren't very open about what they do before you see them. So if you see a Uro who only does Turps? Guess what: you're getting a TURP.
Or, as I like to say: "When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
So, get the cyto to figure out the blockage, where it is. Ask the uro what procedures are best for that blockage.
Come back here with that information and we can discuss what would be the best procedure for that blockage. The guys here know a LOT about this stuff and I appreciate the way I got schooled up just reading the stuff on this board.
Good luck.
GInAndPlatnic46 Motto
Posted
Thanks Motto....I do not really know why turp didnt work. I can ps normally but small amounts then it stops. I woke the other night with an erection from the need to ps. I started and it was like old times with a really good flow, but then all of a sudden just stopped. So I cathed and voided 500mls...I know it is too much but It was 3am and I guess had drank too much tea the evening before, even though I cathed at around 9.30pm...I usually cath between 150 and 400mls.
My prostate was moderately enlarged, whatever that was and has been reduced by the rebore down by half.....When I ps, there is no great pressure. I am worried that my bladder may have been over stretched as way back in February before the turp I had 2.4 ltrs drained over the period of an hour via p***g naturally and cathing for the first time. I had to be tutored in cathing there and then in the hospital, where I had gone for a flow test. So it all took over an hour and I had drank around 1.5 litres on water (too much I know) before going in for the flow test
I have had a rear end ultra sound scan and it showed a 2cm piece of prostate still remaining near the sphincter muscle. I "think" the one next to the bladder
I have not had a cytoscopy. I am due for a urodynamic test in October ( national health service is over burdened sadly)
oldbuzzard GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
Years of BPH can make you force your bladder and in turn, do serious damage. More likely than one retention incident, years of struggle probably damaged your bladder.
Self cathing can and often does rehab bladders - but 5 months isn't usually enough time to see significant results - 1-3 years is the more typical time frame, so its quite possible that things will eventually get better enough for you to function without a catheter, but probably not for awhile.
The urodynamics tests will almost surely show what you seem to already know by process of elimination (no pun intended) - your path is open but you don't have enough thrust to empty without help. I would also (if you haven't already) have a scope done to ensure that the TURP did in fact do the job.
There are people who were worse off than you on this forum who were able to ditch the cath after awhile - so there is reason to be optimistic. This is also an object lesson for people whose docs rush them into procedures/surgeries. Had the urodynamics test been done first, self cathing before surgery would have made sense and posible allowed the bladder to rehab enough for natural voids post surgery. And if not, you could have avoided that surgery.
GInAndPlatnic46 oldbuzzard
Posted
Thank you for that oldbuzzard..it does seem in fact that turp was the only alternative offered to me. In hindsight I would have thought more than twice about having it done.
Motto GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
The first Uro I saw did the same thing. Let's do a TURP without any mention of the side effects or any less invasive options. I ran out of his office.
alan86734 GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
Hi, Geoff,
I second what the other four have said. I have a total of some 4 1/2 years of self-cathing, on and off. Flexibility, which drags in patience are the two key words here. There are many variables involved so, rather than flood you with irrelevant facts I am going to wait until you post your replies.
I am now at 3 sessions per day using straight Fr-16s from Cure Medical. I occasionally go up to a Fr-18 to remind my urethra to stay alert. My complaint(s) started out with kidney stone when I was 17 years old and have wound up with urinary retention at a ratio of about 50/50 on average. By the way, I'm 90 years old and still enjoy a fairly strong libido.
In the meantime I'll give you the standard, "Hang in there my good friend; help is on the way!"
Warm regards, alan86734.
GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
Thank you Alan86..I cath around four times a day. I ps some naturally also. I am at least glad about that as I feel it flushes the urthethra out.
I used to measure everything but got fed up so now just measure my cathed urine if I think I have drank too much... to make sure Im not overloading my bladder & be more carfeul the next time.....I know it can be too late by then but It keeps things in check for me and usually I cath between 150 & 400mls with occasional mishaps of 500mls..
I can only guess amounts, because I do not measure my normal urination output, but it is often just around 100 mls or so..& was when I used to measure it....I stopped measuring because I just wanted to feel normal and ps into the toilet pan with no bottle lurking.
pluff_mud GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
I just passed the two year mark for self cathing. I echo what others have posted. I self cath 4 times per day. I have not had a natural void during that time, although I try sometimes when I feel the urge. Don't be in a hurry and maintain good hygiene. I wash my hand with a antibacterial soap, use baby wipes to clean the penis and use care when handling lubricant packs and catheters. CIC is a positive for me, after suffering with frequent and sudden urges to urinate and getting up several times each night. I am not afraid to get out of the house or travel. I have a little travel kit I carry with me away from home. I do recommend that you try different catheters and lubes, as they can vary in ease of use.
Supertractorman GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
I had an urgent TURP after I could not pass water, and in less than 12 months it had grown back again causing the same problem and was self cathing until I could not get it past again. They wanted to do a second TURP and I refused and had the Prostate removed. Now suffer from stress incontinence partly due to TURP and now waiting for op on sphincter valve for artificial sphincter. Keep self cathing while you can.
Light1 GInAndPlatnic46
Posted
I did CIC for three years. Just had REZUM last month with Dr. Kevin McVary at Loyola University in Chicago. I can pee now and no adverse side effects. What a blessing. By the way, my prostate was 93 grams with a median lobe.