Self Catherization: Issues and Problems

Hi Frank,

Not that knowlegeable regarding PSA. Maybe others will chime in. Here's an idea.

There are many reasons for retention. Our plumbing is quite complicated! Probably a combination of a stretched bladder combined with your prostate obstructing the flow.

Here's an idea. Before you try a Natural Void, sit in a bathtub with hot water for around 5. The water just has to cover your bladder. I read a study where this helped NV post anathesia. Nothing to lose. Let us know. And feel better soon!

Jim

Frank, excellent PSA for your age. Ask in your laboratory, they give such information.

Hi Zid, I had a blood test for PSA--one year ago it was 6.8 July 2015

this year jan 25 2017 it went down to 5.42. I will ask my uro what caused the change in MARCH.I was taken dutasteride to shrink the prostate,but don't know if if could have dropped the PSA?

Hi Frank, Both dutasteride and finasteride shrink the prostate and lower PSA. Long term dutasteride usage can even halve the PSA. How effective it is to BPH symtoms depends on each individual and where the shrinkage occurs. Hank

Frank, Not sure what you mean "hot at the health"? 

But back to sitting in the hot bath. After sitting for 5-10 minutes, try a NV right after. In fact, if it feels right, just void right in tub although this was not done in the study.

Jim

The water temperature they used in the study was 40-45 centrigrade which is 104-113 F.   I just ordered an inexpensive water thermometer from Amazon to experiment myself. The Zacro LCD Digital Aquarium Thermometer is around $8.

Another strategy is to use warm gauze and place it on your bladder while sitting for 20 minutes prior to voiding. Gauze was pre-soaked in water heated to 25-30 degrees Centigrade. Another group in study used what they termed a "hot pack". Also for 20 minutes but at a higher temp of 50 degrees C. Both groups had better Natural Void attempts than the control group.

So, that's three things to try -- sit in shallow bathtub for 20 minutes, hot pack for 20 minutes, and warm soaked gauze for 20 minutes. 

Jim

Jim, I mean the hot tub at a health club,it gets pretty hot in there. 

Have you heard anything bad about the hot tub?

thanks, frank,

For a number of reasons I would do the experiment at home in a shallow hot bath at the temperature noted. Do it when you feel the urge to urinate. Stay n for 20 minutes and then try a natural void. If it doesn't work, you can then self cath. You can also try the other methods using gauze, etc. I think there are too many distractions at the gym hot tube plus the hot tube may be too deep. Also, not sure what the temp is. Of course, if you want to try it at the gym, no harm, as we are experimenting. Hey, if it works, it works! Just make sure you bring your catheters in case it doen't.

Jim

JIM IT'S WORTH A TRY, THANKS

FRANK

You could start with something easy. Soak a washcloth or small towel in some hot water out of the faucet which should be around 120F/50C. Sit back and put it on your bladder for several minutes with a beaker in the other hand to catch any potential urine. You can also do some light tapping if that helps. Lastly, if nothing happens, try walking around a bit and then repeating the heat.

-- Jim

It may sound counter intutive but if you're getting a UTI then it's better to cath more not less. You don't want stale urine, you want to flush the bladder out. Don't try and be a hero and seek a doc and antibiotics if what you have cross the line between colonization and UTI. 

That's a tough call dropping the cath on a bathroom floor. I guess if no choice better to use it (rinse first) than deal with AUR. I always carried more than I need as I have also been known to drop them. Never thought about how freezing temps might affect the hydrophillic coating but I guess it could. 

Jim

Well, I always keep a stash of caths and alcohol pads in a mailing tube in my car.  Very discrete!  Mine have frozen and thawed so many times, and I've had no problems.  I stand by the trunk, and slide one down my pants.  A little chilly, but by the time I'm ready to use it, it is body-warm.  Never had a problem with this method.  

Also:  I always carry more pads than caths.  I have on more than one occasion found a pad that has dried up!  Bad place  to find onesself, so I always have more than one in my back pocket!

I'm with JimJames on this idea of drinking more, cathing more, when a UTI is suspected.  Also, I guzzle fresh lemon or lime juice, mix in a spoonful of apple cider vinegar, sometimes drink kubucha (which I otherwise AVOID!  Dreadful stuff), as some folks swear by its abilities to squash UTIs.  More liquids to dilute and neutralize the UTI buggers...

OTOH:  that is NOT a tough call for me, at all, about a dropped or contaminated cath:  DON'T USE IT!  Or assume a likelihood of a UTI of who-knows-what origins!  GACK!  Unless ther were very good reasons not to do so, I would declare Medical Emergency Time-Out, and head home for more catheters.  Or... carry spares, like we do...

Last point: as noted in my post to JWRHN, I've been freezing those SpeediCath catheters, both in my car trunk and my checked luggage for two winters now, and never had a problem...

(My last reply is being "moderated."  I'll try a different approach.)

I would never use a dropped catheter!

I have carried SpeediCaths in my car's trunk (boot) and in airliner holds in my checked luggage over two winters now, with no ill effects.

Cartoon,

I think I would have a hard time as well, in fact if my catheter so much as touches a part of my body other than the urethra, I throw it away and start over. That said, it would be a difficult decision away from home where the alternative could be a trip to the ER.

FWIW I have read about this scenario (catheter dropped on public bathroom floor) a number of times in the literature and the recommendation is to rinse the catheter off and use as opposed to skipping a scheduled cath. Every time I come across that I wince but it is what it is.

Jim

Mmmm, yeah, that ultimate dilemma: to use a soiled catheter or face other risks!  Having almost faced that choice, I have taken to ALWAYS carrying backups!