[Lucydog]

This is fairly gross IMHO but how do you manage ISC when you are having your period? I find it really disgusting as I tend to bleed fairly heavily and find that I cant find my bladder to start with and once I do, its practically blood and guts everywhere!! Anyway without going into real detail Im sure you get the gist of what Im saying, I find it very messy and difficult. I wonder how you ladies all manage otherwise and would this be an arguement for having a suprapubic catheter instead?
thanks for looking
L

[Jilly]

Hi Luce....
Delicate subject but things do get messy at that time of the month, even without caths. So I can imagine what you are going through!
Why dont you go the injection? Cant remember what the contraceptive is called..Depro provera or something. I was on this for a while after I had my second daughter, and you dont have periods at all. I know some women dont like going without their monthly but it might be a solution.....Talk to your Doctor next time you are there. They may have a suggestion. Or you can take the contraceptive pill continuously without problems to have no periods.

[lune14]

I believe depro can also cause clotting (as does the pill) and is not recommended for SCI's. Unless I remembered incorrectly. Worth checking into though.

I understand your mortification over the "mess" of it though. I self cath as well but never flow heavily during menstruation. Could you maybe try flushing the area with water just before cathing? Do you cath with tampons inserted (if that's your choice of feminine hygeine product as I know some people use napkins)? I carry a packet of anti-bac wipes in my purse I wonder if that would be good for you to use while in public restrooms where washing up is not as easy? The only thing with the wipes is you don't want any fragranced products in the vaginal area. Which (a little off topic here) brings to mind Avon just came out with a feminine hygeine wash and a deodorant spray, both safe for vaginal use. I believe there are wipes on the market these days however designed for such purposes. Sorry this is a mish-mash of ideas but just trying to throw out all possible scenarios/suggestions.

Will let you know if I can think of something else.

[Dancingdolphin]

Lucydog, on Jul 27 2006, 11:34 PM, said:

This is fairly gross IMHO but how do you manage ISC when you are having your period? I find it really disgusting as I tend to bleed fairly heavily and find that I cant find my bladder to start with and once I do, its practically blood and guts everywhere!! Anyway without going into real detail Im sure you get the gist of what Im saying, I find it very messy and difficult. I wonder how you ladies all manage otherwise and would this be an arguement for having a suprapubic catheter instead?
thanks for looking
L

Dunno if you're on the pill or not....They can be taken to back to back so for 3 months then at least you only have the hassle 4 times a year! if not on the pill ..sorry no ideas yet....(I had premature menopause so haven't that particular hassle!)

[KimAndSophie]

I've been using Depo-Provera for quite awhile now. It's great! You get a shot in the arm, or hip once every three months and most of the people I know who use it never had a period once they started it. The first shot should be given the last 2 or 3 days of your period, but after that you really shouldn't have a period if you keep getting the shots on time. It is more effective than the pill, and you don't have to worry about missing it! You do have to worry about getting enough calcium though. If you get enough with your diet this shouldn't be a problem. It's one of the best things I've ever done. I also talked to my Dr. about staying on it for more than 2 yrs and was told that as long as I never had any problems with it and as long as I was getting enough calcium then it was fine. If it worked for me there really was no reason to stop it. Hope this helps!

[Lucydog]

We have been trying for another baby for some time now, so I dont want to use any kind of contraception obviously, hence the fact of sking this messy question!

[Jilly]

Hmmm...yes that does put a different light on the situation!!

[pamela]

This feels strange writing this out loud... but I cath and use no birth control. Initially when my cycle starts it is heavy so I change the tampon often and use baby wipes to clean-up the vaginal area between tampon changes. Also I always wear a disposable glove on the hand that is in direct contact with the vaginal area. This keeps my hands free from germs but also protects the vaginal area from the billions of germs that our hands come in contact with from pushing on our wheels. Hope this helps.

[LadyPilot]

I get quite heavy periods and I self cath too.
I use internal protection and change before I self cath, that way there is no "debris" to be introduced into the bladder.
Also make sure you clean from top to bottom(or front to back so that the urethra does not get any vaginal contamination). To clean I use loo roll first than unscented baby wipes. I have not yet given myself a UTI doing this, so it must work

[htwhlz97]

Well what I do is first insert the tampon then I wipe the area clean with a wipe. If I do have to cath again between tampon changes of course I wipe first then cath. If I need to change tampon then cath, I remove the old one clean up area then insert new one then cath. I initially started out with a pad but that was a complete and utter MESS. Things are so much easier now. Hope this helps

[aussie_rachel]

I used depo-provera as a contraceptive before my spinal cord injury, and I wouldn't recommend using it because it took me nearly 2 years before I started ovulating again. I actually use a contraceptive called implanon which is like a matchstick in your arm and it stops you from getting your period. The good thing about it is the moment you take it out of your arm you are fertile again. So if you're planning on getting pregnant again this could be the one to use

http://www.rwh.org.a...cfm?doc_id=4844