For someone doing intermittent catheterization (scheduled five times a day at 12am, 6am, noon, 4pm, and 8pm), is it ok to occasionally miss or postpone a scheduled cath? For instance, if we were to go out for the day to a musuem or to a movie would it be a problem skipping the scheduled 4pm cath? Or, if one night we're extremely tired and decide to cath at 11pm and then wait until 7 or 8 in the morning to cath again, is that a big problem? I know this shouldn't be done everyday, but what are the major implications associated with missing scheduled urination breaks?

Also, UTI's seem to be occuring much more freuently since the accident. It's been about four months and we're on our sixth UTI. Is this normal? What can we do to prevent UTI's, other than cranberry juice/pills and plenty of water--we're already doing this.

Lastly, are there any major urine-related problems (other than UTI's) associated with sexual intercourse?

Deviating from your schedule should not be an issue as long as you stay dry. I never keep to a set schedule, it has to be a convenient time and place in my opinion. Personally sometimes, like if I have been drinking I cath more often, if I haven't drunk much in the way of fluid then it will be less often. As long as your bladder doesn't get over full then it's ok plus I never wake up in the night just to cath, that's not the recipe for a good nights sleep! Don't run your life around the bathroom!!!

But what if she can't tell when her bladder is full? You say, "As long as your bladder doesn't get over full then it's ok," but is there a way to know for sure if the bladder is full? Occasionally, she will drink very little and cath a ton (like 500 cc's) and other times she will drink lots and cath only 100cc's. What's this mean? I know our bodies store water, but maybe there's more of an explanation.

Thanks for the reply.

I agree with Trinity, don't let the bathroom run your life. I cath 5am, 9am 1pm, 5pm, and the last one around 10pm. I do not get up throuth the night to cath.
IUT's happen every so often. I know the signs and have test strips to check urine. My doctor lets me call in and they sent the script to the pharmacy and hubby picks
it up. I have never gone to doc for it, makes life easy, well easier. You will get used to your new body and will be able to read the symptoms. I plan my outings and them my cathing
and cath earlier or sometimes an hour later. You know how much you take in and plan for it. Hope this helps

Certain drinks run through my body quicker than others like caffeine and alcohol drinks. That could explain how sometmes there's more quantity.

As for nighttime, drink less before going to sleep. You should be ok for 8-9 hours if you keep your intake down at night. As far as UTI's go, they're from fecal matter, or yeast infections, getting into the bladder, or not cathing enough. I wouldn't recommend skipping a day time cath, ever. Just cath before going out, as suggested above.

I tend to drink more, so cath more during the day.
6AM
10AM
1PM
5PM
10PM
Give or take an hour here and there.

I can't give any good advice regarding UTI prevention, except to not recycle caths. Since I now get a new one every time I cath, I haven't had a UTI for over a year.

I used to cath every three hours, and still leak between, all too often. I ended up using condom caths and cathing in the morning and before bed.

I often cath as much as 1000cc in the morning, but wear a diaper at night in case of leaks.

If she isn't leaking, waiting a bit to cath is not a problem. As long as you completly empty your bladder twice a day, the rest will take care of itself.

As for UTIs, my urologist put me on low doses of Microbid. Since I've only been doing it for two months I'll have to reserve judgement on it's success.
ed

The occasional missed cath doesn't seem to have too much impact - but then again there are those times when his body decides that even the scheduled time was not soon enough! IMHO, maintaining a good sterile procedure while cathing is much more important than being a couple of hours late.

He's also noticed that the more clear fluids (lots of water and light beer, in Tom's case) makes a big difference. When he was drinking lots of diet soda he had many more UTI's. He also supplements with cranberry pills and probiotics, and that seems to be helping too.

And yes, it takes awhile for the fluid to work through the body. After an evening out he might not have a lot when he gets home, but that next morning more than makes up for it.

He has also gotten a couple of types of condom caths intending to use them if he knows he will be out for an extended period of time but so far he hasn't experimented with them. The whole leg bag thing is a bit daunting.

Basically, she's gotta figure out what is right for her and her body. Good luck!

-Janet

P.S. - Tee-hee - just as I was going to post this Tom called and said "Bud Light rocks!" meaning that yesterday's slightly cloudy urine is now pretty and clear after last night's "treatment". He said I could quote him.

i like the leg bag thing because of the freedom it gives me. why do you think its "daunting"? anybody else like using leg bag? if not, why?




ya, you NEED to learn your body.. no matter what. even if you use a leg bag, you still have to know your body before anything else.

He seems uncomfortable with the idea of wearing a leg bag out in public. Just the uncertainty that someone might see it, or it might leak, etc.

thanks

Hey q. What type of caths are for one time use and are they pre-lubed? Need to know to see if ins. covers them for me. Gotta be better than boiling and jellying up. Thanks, Steve

I dislike leg bags. For one I have a retentive bladder to begin with, so leaking is a non-issue for me, and secondly I wear primarily shorts everywhere. Also, since I have a retentive bladder, condom caths are a nogo for me, and with full sensation foley's aren't too fantastic (not to mention pictures of torn meatus and other penile injuries from extended foley use) and I am also pretty active, with quite a few floor to wheelchair and such transfers in a single day. I don't like to think of the trauma to little-hikkakaru throughout the day with a foley and too many transfers.

However, I will say that the freedom of a legbag when I binge drink would be fantastic >:D