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Water-based liquid lube for self catheterization - CIC

Posted , 6 users are following.

hank1953
hank1953

Has anyone used a liquid in stead of a gel lube for catheterization ? I am currently using a prelubed hydrophilic catheter Coloplast Speedicath 12fr, but the catheters sometimes are very dry. I have tried gel like Surgilube but found it messy mainly because the gel did not want to go inside the uretha. I thought maybe there is a liquid that I can kind of squirt it in, before inserting the catheter. I found some liquid lube advertisement but they seem to be for the sex market. Hank

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • pluff_mud
    pluff_mud hank1953

    Posted

    I have thought about trying it, but have yet to do so. I don't know if they would coat the catheter as well as the gel.  All lubes are essentially multi-purpose.  However, I would check the ingredients first.  I am surprised you need extra lube for hydrophilic catheters.   I usually us unlubricated catheters, but when I use the hydrophilic ones, they seem to be very slick.

    • hank1953
      hank1953 pluff_mud

      Posted

      Most of them are slick. However, some of them are not. Maybe it has to do with quality control. Hank
    • cartoonman
      cartoonman hank1953

      Posted

      Hi Hank,

      In almost 4 years of cathing (SpeediCath fr14s), I've had only 4 come out of the wrapper completely dry, and two of those were because the wrapper had been damaged.  Mine are manufactured in Hungary.  If it happened more frequently, I would contact the intermediary (In my case it's Comfort Medical.), and ask for a refund!   With the proper amount of liquid in the package, they ought to just slide right in!

    • hank1953
      hank1953 cartoonman

      Posted

      Thanks cartoon. Not very many of them are completely dry, yet many not having enough fluid in them. I can tell the difference between the ones that would be dripping vs the ones that seem to be wet but without the dripping. I bought them all last year due to insurance reasons. Maybe they are drying out on me. Hank
    • cartoonman
      cartoonman hank1953

      Posted

      Ah, good question!  The packages have a use date on them; have a look!
    • hank1953
      hank1953 cartoonman

      Posted

      I found 2 dates on a box: 2017-08-04 and 2019-08-04. I assume the first date is the manufacturing date, and the second one is expiration date. Maybe why they are drying on me. I am trying to go up to size 14 and I need the extra lube so I hopefully will not experience the soreness that usually occurred when I use size 14. Hank
    • Howard31850
      Howard31850 hank1953

      Posted

      I've used bout 2600 of these catheters over the past 2 years and never came across a dry one. Are you shaking the catheter back and forth a lot before opening in case the liquid has settled? And yes those dates are as you describe.

    • hank1953
      hank1953 Howard31850

      Posted

      Yes, I shake them well before use and it makes no difference. Perhaps you are lucky or by the way you soak them with lube jell before use, I don't see how you can tell whether or not they are dry. I am going to try Pepasan method and report results. Hank

    • Howard31850
      Howard31850 hank1953

      Posted

      Hi Hank - When I swing the catheter package back and forth before opening I can hear the liquid sloshing around. I've never had a case where I didn't hear that sound. If you wish I could send you a photo of my setup. It really is easy. Anyway good luck with Pepsan.

    • hank1953
      hank1953 Howard31850

      Posted

      Howard, I will try to listen to the sloshing sound next time. Thanks for the tips. Hank
  • Pepasan
    Pepasan hank1953

    Posted

    I buy the cheapest ordinary personal lube in plastic bottles from my local chemist (drug store) and dilute it 50/50 with clean water (in my case straight from the tap, but in some areas it would be important to sterilise the water by  boiling and cooling. I open the screw top and dip the tip of the recently unwrapped dry catheter an inch (2cm) or so into the fluid in the bottle. I turn the tip upwards to allow the lube to run away from the holes in the tip and insert. This always seems to be sufficient to provide easy painless travel up through the urethra. After emptying my bladder, I screw back the bottle lid asap to avoid too many air-borne bacteria from entering the bottle ready for the next time.
    • hank1953
      hank1953 Pepasan

      Posted

      Thanks Pepasan. What you are doing is exactly what I am looking for. Can you let me know the ingredients of the lube you are using, or a brand name even better, so I can be sure to get the same or the equivalent ? Hank
    • hank1953
      hank1953 Pepasan

      Posted

      Pepasan, are the catheters you are using hydrophilic ? Hank
  • Pepasan
    Pepasan hank1953

    Posted

    The Catheters I'm prescribed are dry and not Hydrophilic. The instructions say they must be used with separate lubrication. I buy Boots Silky Lubricant (I'm in the UK). Currently £3.49 for 75 ml. They have a press top with a tube inside to dispense the lube, so actually I decant the contents into a clean screw-top plastic bottle to mix it with water.

    • hank1953
      hank1953 Pepasan

      Posted

      It's great that they are not hydrophilic. It means they are cheaper than the ones I've been using. Thanks again. Hank

    • hank1953
      hank1953 Pepasan

      Posted

      Hi Pepasan, I have been using your method with dry catheters and it is working OK. However, rereading your instructions " .. dip the tip of the recently unwrapped dry catheter an inch (2cm) or so into the fluid in the bottle. I turn the tip upwards to allow the lube to run away from the holes in the tip and insert. ..", I couldn't imagine the turning the tip upward. Can you please explain further. Do you mean you point the tip toward the ceiling so the liquid can move to the dry part of the catheter ? Thanks.

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