Self Catherization: Issues and Problems
Posted , 44 users are following.
Self catherization (CIC) is a proven and tested method of emptying your bladder completely. And while most people find it an easy and painless procedure, understandably some have problems, especially in the beginning. This thread then deals with problems and issues people may encounter with CIC.
For those not self cathing, or for more general information on the topic, there is an ongoing thread here:
2 likes, 1488 replies
Wilbur1968 jimjames
Posted
Thanks again for everyone's encouragement. I am going to try again today. The pain from last week's attempt has subsided. I will get the hang of this. I still NV enough that I don't have immediate concern without cathing, but the doctor says it's recommended for all the reasons stated here--help retrain and hopefully reduce the size of my bladder, etc. They have me scheduled for a Urolift in two weeks. I'm not super hopeful, but from what I've read, it won't hurt to try. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
jimjames Wilbur1968
Posted
Hi Wilbur,
Have you measured your natural voids (NVs)? If not, you should be doing a void log at this point measuring both NVs and catherized volumes.
Also, you might want to share with us your background in terms of symptons and tests run.
Last week you mentioned your doc wasn't too hopeful with Urolift and suggested Holep. You also mentioned a bladder pacemaker, which I would not rush into at all without more research.
Again, don't know your history, but why jump into Urolift now with a questionable outcome and then try and fix things after with CIC? Why not try and rehab your bladder first with CIC and get a better idea where your voiding function stands possibly with more testing including urodynamics.
I'm not in the "won't hurt to try" especially when neither you or your doc are not that hopeful. CIC can buy you time to make the right decision.
Jim
paul44935 Wilbur1968
Posted
Hi Wilbur,
Although I'm new at this and haven't read all your discussion, let me say that I drew blood and some pain before the final pass into the bladder. What works for me is to go into urinating mode at that point in order to relax the opening and then continue the catheter's progress after the initial give. That last tight passage does seem to be quite lengthy but once in I'm confident of getting through. There has to be consciousness of entrance however partial at that point rather than bounce back. Good luck and gentle as she goes, Paul
stebrunner jimjames
Posted
Hey, does anyone know how to get ahold of a site administrator? On May 4th I suddenly stopped receiving notifications from any of the prostate problem threads. I checked my settings in my account, and it's checked that I want to receive email notifications. Don't know why they suddenly stopped. Don't know how to solve this problem. Thanks for your help!
Stebrunner
jimjames stebrunner
Posted
The easiest way is to click on "report this" on one of your own posts (not one of mine please
) and then write them your concern. FWIW while I usually get email notifications promptly for threads I've responded to, I often either get delayed notifications or no notifications at all on newly opened threads even though I'm subscribed to the Prostate Group.
Jim
frank74205 jimjames
Posted
Thanks
frank
Wilbur1968 jimjames
Posted
I started again last Saturday and so far, so good. I agreed to try it three times a day, but i've increased to six times today. Feels good to know I'm doing something for myself to hopefully help my bladder heal. I postponed the Urolift for a few weeks to see how I do. My bladder is pretty enlarged, and i don't get the urge to cath sometimes until there is over 400cc. But a few times this week i had the urge with only 200cc.
zdzislaw jimjames
Posted
Wilbur1968 jimjames
Posted
Hey guys. I've been cathing for a week. At first i could only do it successfully if i was on my back, but since that isn't terribly convenient, i tried it standing this weekend. I was ok yesterday, but starting today it's been uncomfortable and tonight I'm back to drawing blood when i withdraw the catheter. Is there some magic to the withdrawal process? Has anyone else had this problem. I'm more frustrated than anything else. I really want to be better at this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
?Oh, also, my NV have pretty much ceased since i started. Any idea why? It's kind of worrying me.
Thanks.
jimjames Wilbur1968
Posted
Drawing blood the first two or three weeks is normal. Nothing to be concerned about and you are doing nothing wrong. In a short period of time, you body will adjust and there will be no more blood.
There are a couple of reasons your NV may have stopped and again this is normal. The first reason is that now you are emptying your bladder completely by self cathing, it doesn't get overfilled. It's possible that previously to self cathing you were only able to void with large volumes which is not good. The second possiblity is again that the body is adjusting. Just give things a few more weeks and all should be good.
Lastly, you should keep a simple void log. This will be helpful both to you, your doctor (if they care
) as well as helpful here if you have any more questions. Just get a plastic beaker with ounces and ml markings. You can find them in the grocery store. Then record the time of each void and the volume. If you can't do a natural void then the volume is zero.
Again, it's only been a week for you, and honestly sounds like you're doing better than I was after week one. With time self cathing becomes a non issue and easy and painless as brushing your teeth.
Jim
paul44935 Wilbur1968
Posted
Hi Wilbur, I'm new at this too and have had a couple of issues with blood. In my case it has been when not careful enough inserting. Confidence led me to keep pushing when there was bounce back of the catheter. Then I couldn't complete the insertion and the catheter would be half-filled with blood on withdrawal. Conscious relaxation of the tract muscle at the point of difficulty as when naturally trying to void helps me with the insertion. Easy goes it, Paul
jimjames paul44935
Posted
How long have you been cathing and what catheter and size are you using? Does it have a Coude tip?
Jim
paul44935 jimjames
Posted
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your interest. It's been about three weeks now that I've been doing CIC. I was using a straight 12 until it started to catch and fill with blood. Then a 14 that has caught just once (with blood). Subsequent insertion, however was fine. I tried a 14 coude for a bit, initially it was fine, but I reuse my catheters (cleaned and then stored in 99% alcohol) and I could tell that the increased flexibility of the coude would cause me to lose control of the curved tip with foreseeable difficulties. I do feel as though I have become familiar with my internals and, as I wrote in my response to Wilbur, a conscious relaxation of the muscles allows for relative ease of passage. Granted that the 14 coude I used did not have a marker strip so that there was less control upon subsequent use. (Storage in a container of alcohol requires bending the catheter and then rinsing in warm water before use makes for a less than straight instrument.) Cheers, Paul
jimjames paul44935
Posted
What catheter brand and model are you using? I'm assuming you're paying out of pocket if you're reusing? Makes sense given the cost. And yes, you don't want to cath with a coude that isn't in alignment, however not sure alcohol is required. Maybe try something milder like a providone idodine solution that should disinfect just as well but might be kinder to the catheter. Like I mentioned to Wilbur, three weeks is nothing and the body will keep adjusting.
Jim
Jim
paul44935 jimjames
Posted
Medline, Gentlecath, basically an asortment of freebies at this stage. I have no particular issue with them and the alcohol doesn't appear to have any deleterious effect. To soak and store for reuse requires them to be folded. The resultant curve if anything seems to suit the physiology. The passage is tight and I have to take care, that's all. Thanks Jim. Paul