44 replies to this topic

[Edinburgh Colin]

I am planning on changing the catheters I presently use, or at lease the ones I use when I'm not home.
I'm interested in what you use if you use ISC and do it yourself, not assisted.
Just brand and type for home or use when out and about or both and when I have a selection of types I would like to do an opinion poll vote to see what is popular.

Please just chuck a line with product info and I'll compile a survey and post it for voting if there is the interest?

Tags: Spinal Cord Injury

[dangerousdave]

Astra Lofric SIC
Astra Lofric Hydro Kit SIC

Edited by dangerousdave, 23 October 2010 - 04:31 PM.

[Trinity]

Speedicath
and
Speedicath Compact

[mellowgator]

conveen intermittent catheter 14m

[cas]

Speedicath compact. I've tried the speedicath with the bags attached for when there isn't a loo- but find these leak!

[Tinbasher]

I use Astra lofric SIC and Astra LoFric hydrokits. I like the new improved ones even better, less packaging and slightly larger bag to accomodate that first morning pee after the beery night before.

Recently I had to accept some Coloplast Speedycaths because of supply problems. I thought they were complicated, Indiscrete in18" long BRIGHT GREEN package with SPEEDYCATHin giant letters. Difficult to fold or get in a bag, difficult to open even with good dexterity, difficult to empty fully.

I didn't care for them much

[brython2]

Lofric Primo is the best I've tried, Speedicath I found is too rigid and won't pass the prostrate, these things just slide in no problem.
You can get them with or without a water packet.

[Edinburgh Colin]

mellowgator, on 23 October 2010 - 05:25 PM, said:

conveen intermittent catheter 14m

Hey mellow I hope you don't mean 14 meters long?
You mean CH14?

[LeeS]

I've only ever tried SpeediCath and get on fine with them, I use CH12's which are already in saleen water(i think thats what its called) I use these both at home and when out along with a collapsable bottle to catch the fluid. They are big and green but I just stick them into my old school bag and the fit in perfectly and I get on fine with them I read above some people have problems with how rigid they are but so far I've not experienced this

[animadversor]

I use 14 fr coude tip speedicath. usually connect it to a leg bag or collect it in a 1L -4 cup measuring cup.

I'd LOVE to try VaPro. they aren't available in Canada. Anyone up to sending me a box? email me

Edited by animadversor, 24 October 2010 - 01:24 AM.

[rosafin]

I like Speedi Cath and Speedi Cath Compact (Plus). I get fine with both on them. Anyway, Speedi Cath Compact might be tricky, if you don't have good motor functions.

Edited by rosafin, 24 October 2010 - 05:03 PM.

[jass1]

I use Hollister advance plus intermittent catheter kit

[Edinburgh Colin]

Thanks everyone, keep them coming please.

[guido]

I use Speedicath and find them good. I tried one of the compact ones with bag attached and it was too fiddly. Interesting to read others comments.


Yes they are long - had just got used to carrying a day bag on the back of my chair with everything and spares in!
Occasionally I have had a problem getting through the sphincter, but I take it out relax and twist it round so it goes in slightly differently - if that makes sense.


I attach a pipe which I cut from a night drainage bag. This allows me to sit easily in my chair and pop the end of the loo bowl and pee easily & hygienically.

[Edinburgh Colin]

guido, on 25 October 2010 - 11:20 AM, said:

I use Speedicath and find them good. I tried one of the compact ones with bag attached and it was too fiddly. Interesting to read others comments.


Yes they are long - had just got used to carrying a day bag on the back of my chair with everything and spares in!
Occasionally I have had a problem getting through the sphincter, but I take it out relax and twist it round so it goes in slightly differently - if that makes sense.


I attach a pipe which I cut from a night drainage bag. This allows me to sit easily in my chair and pop the end of the loo bowl and pee easily & hygienically.

The night bag pipe idea occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, glad to see someone else with the same idea in practice.

[mellowgator]

Edinburgh Colin, on 23 October 2010 - 07:47 PM, said:

mellowgator, on 23 October 2010 - 05:25 PM, said:

conveen intermittent catheter 14m

Hey mellow I hope you don't mean 14 meters long?
You mean CH14?

sorry it's 14cm and yes ch14. that does make a difference doesn't it?

[mcferguson]

Bard Touchless Plus Unisex, Pre-Lubricated Urethral Catheter Kit

[Edinburgh Colin]

mellowgator, on 25 October 2010 - 01:05 PM, said:

Edinburgh Colin, on 23 October 2010 - 07:47 PM, said:

mellowgator, on 23 October 2010 - 05:25 PM, said:

conveen intermittent catheter 14m

Hey mellow I hope you don't mean 14 meters long?
You mean CH14?

sorry it's 14cm and yes ch14. that does make a difference doesn't it?

I don't think "bringing tears to your eyes would even come close"!

[guido]

Edinburgh Colin, on 25 October 2010 - 12:59 PM, said:

guido, on 25 October 2010 - 11:20 AM, said:

I attach a pipe which I cut from a night drainage bag. This allows me to sit easily in my chair and pop the end of the loo bowl and pee easily & hygienically.

The night bag pipe idea occurred to me a couple of weeks ago, glad to see someone else with the same idea in practice.

Actually this is incredibly neat when binning, as the catheter, pipe and tissue fold into the separated bag, and the catheter casing wraps around the whole caboodle and then anyone else using the bathroom doesn't have to look at lots of pipes and stuff in the bin. And yes, environmentalists out there, I'm aware that I'm killing the planet. I'll worry about it when they switch off lights in 1,000,000s sq ft empty office blocks and some of the pointless street ilghting....

[Edinburgh Colin]

All right so far you have offered up -

Coloplast -

Spedicath
Speedicath Compact
Speedicath Compact (Plus)

Astra -

Low Fric SIC
Loa Fric Primo
Low Fric Hydro kit

Hollister -

Advance
Advance Kit

Bard -

Touch less Plus Unisex
Pre Lubricated Catheter Kit

Manfred Sauer -

IQCath
IQCath +

I will give it a couple of days to see if anyone is going to add any additional types then I'll put them in a vote survey just for us to see what's popular or to show us and others what's out there to try if you have not done so before. Maybe there is something easier to use or more comfortable just waiting for you to try it.

Remember it's for using in the home and when you are out so it you use different products as it's easier to pack or prepare and use something when you don't have the comfort of being in your home environment then please add it (for me this is an important one).

Any more please post or if you wish then just send me a PM.

cheers

[Tinbasher]

Astra -

Low Fric SIC Ideal for home I pee into a jug The hydrokits have a bag that is exactly 1000 cl which is about 20cl too small for my first pee of the day. I don't wake up or wet the bed so can have a very full bladder.

Low Fric Hydro kit is great for work and travel, I carry them in alittle bag provided by ASTRA and even my darling wife has a couple in her bag for those "Oh bugger I left my caths in the car" moments! I have box in my desk at the office they are so small and discret.

Tin

[h0twheelz]

Kendell Dover Rob-nel. I like these bc they arent like your typical red rubber caths- they are stiff enough to not be handling the catheter every one inch, and have a great flow. They are also fairly cheap in comparison to others

[Bazirker]

Speedicath, so far been pretty pleased with them.

BTW, first post in these forums! It'll be 5 years injured for me in two weeks, it's about time I start chatting with others about it...

[1HP]

Still fairly new to this game but I made sure I had a fair crack at a few caths whilst I was in the Spinal Unit. Can't remember all the brands I tried but the standard ones here in the UK (NHS supply? certainly was in Stoke Mandeville) was speedicath. I still have a couple of boxes leftover but by god they're rigid and I often have the same issue trying to smash through the sphincters around the prostate. Wasn't that happy with them at all but they do work in a pinch obviously. I was always surprised at the number of times I got sodding papercuts from the nigh on razor edge those stiff foil-type packages they came in. Extra irritation.

Was then introduced to the Astra Hydrokits and now use them exclusively. Also liking the fact they dropped that paper collar thing - the new format is a step in the right direction for me. I've been told that they have some special coating on them that is the reason they are far less hassle to get past the sphincters and into the bladder. Don't really know about the truth in that but they are far easier than the Speedicath's in that regard. In the last delivery I should have some Primos to try as well but I have become used to using the bag and am happier (oddly..) in seeing that I'm not pumping out anything too cloudy etc. I don't find the 1L limit a problem after I was told fairly strictly to keep volumes to 500 odd, 600ml max. Seems to be to keep any chance of kidney damage and backflow at bay.

I was also recommended some Hollister VaPros by a guy I knew in the unit. He seems very impressed so I'll get some thrown into the next delivery too.

[ContinenceNurse]

Hello everybody. I just joined this forum with the hope to help some of you with incontinence issues. My name is Robin Howe and I'm a Continence Nurse Specialist. I actually treat people who have stress and urge incontinence. But I know that some of you have incontinence that isn't retractable and you have to face the trouble of managing it. Managing incontinence well isn't as easy as people think, as many of you probably realize.

I would love any inquires or questions you may have about how to best manage incontinence, care for your skin, do good peri care... I also have a lot of knowledge about incontinence products (the best ones that aren't in the stores!) and urologicals that will help make your life easier.

I read the posts about what caths people are using. I would love to send samples of different products to those of you who haven't had the chance to try a variety. They are free of course. I can also provide 180 free catheter kits to you every month and you don't have to worry about anything but receiving them at your door. Please give me a call if I can help! 866-708-2730.

Have a nice weekend. I look forward to connecting with the whole group!

Robin Howe, RN
Continence Nurse Specialist

[Ches]

God I would LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE to see the Speedicath Compact make it's way to the states.. def the best girl cath (not)around.

[jcala]

Coloplast-Mentor Self-Cath intermittent catheter 14fr. I've been using these going on 30 years now with no problems.

[mike13]

HOLLISTER ADVANCE INTERMITTEN 14 FR.

[ebeth]

I've been using Coloplast-Mentor Self-Cath intermittent catheters for years without any problems.

[mcjane]

I just switched to BARD from COLOPLAST because the Coloplast had a very strong chemical odor. Recently took a catheter survey advertised thru Apparelyzed (got $25) and saw there were about 18 different brands. I Googled the topic and learned that ancient Egyptians used papyrus, Romans used metal, Neanderthals used a bird bone. Ben Franklin invented the first flexible one but it didn't say what it was made of. In the US the policy changed and you now get 186 catheters per month. I think it used to be 6 a month (not sure) but supposedly not cleaning them properly increased UTI's. It was recommended they be cleaned with dish soap but that stuff cuts grease and kills insects so imagine what it can do to delicate internal tissue?? When I see how much plastic and paper goes into the landfill just so I can pee....makes me wish I had just a few reusable ones that could be easily sterilized. And I have to wonder...why are they available only by prescription?

Edited by mcjane, 03 June 2011 - 11:28 PM.