9 replies to this topic

[MTB John]

Since getting out of the hospital I have been self cathing. I have feeling so I do not cath on the clock but when I feel full.

Sometimes I find cathing difficult, there are not a lot of accessible toilets around here and I'm always stressed about how many caths I'll need getting stuck in traffic etc..

Before I started self cathing I had an SPC with a valve instead of a leg bag, to test if I would leak or have any other problems. It was so easy, just roll up next to a toilet pull out the pipe and turn on the tap. No fuss no bother.

Lately I've been thinking more and more about going back to this method. Not an SPC but a urethral.

But wait, I hear you say.. What about sex??

Well of late my wife has lost all interest in sex (GB knows what I mean apparently) and I'm tired of waiting and hoping for her mojo to return..

So with sex a moot point, the only downside I can think of is the need to wear underwear..

Am I missing anything?? Can anybody give me a reason not to take this path??

Thanks,
J

[Zack]

I had a Foley Cath for a year post my sci. Taking it out for sex can be done in a minute at a split second decision should the Mojo appear. Why you shouldn't? I was told my UTI's every 2 months could be from the Foley as well as the bladder stones I was getting. After I leaked around it too often for me I insisted its coming out for good whether I urinated or not. Luckily I was pissing like a race horse by use of the crede method of baring down. Almost never getting a UTI, stones no where near as often as with the Foley. Still using a condom Cath today.

Good luck!

[Stand]

A Foley is not the most sanitary way of doing things, which you already know. The only time I will ever go back to using one of these, unless medically necessary somewhere down the road, is when I am in the hospital. A little inconvenience is probably worth being more sanitary. At least I would think so. Also, I wish I could cath myself but I rely on others to do so intermittently. If I were able to I would never give that up. Just my thoughts.

Edited by Stand, 01 May 2012 - 10:58 PM.

[The Black Sheep]

I have mixed thoughts on this because I don't think I cath like anyone else. I have a straight cath attached to a leg bag and I use it when I feel the need to go. I often fold the catheter and bag when I'm done and stuff it in a bag. I have the capacity of an infant, so I often cath 3-5 times before I empty the bag. Some people might think this is unsanitary, but I take excellent care of the bag and tubes every morning and night and I haven't had a UTI in at least 3 years. When I'm driving, however, I have about 4 seconds from the time that I feel the urge to the time that the water breaks. In NY traffic, you can't exactly stop or pull over in 4 seconds. I often put the straight cath in and then have the bag sit on my lap. It's kind of like a foley cath, but without the balloon. Straight tubes aren't as flexible as the rubber or latex foleys, and if you have any sensation for discomfort, this might be uncomfortable.

On the convenient side, you don't have to keep it in and you can go whenever you want. Even at work, I'll pull in under my desk, whip my bath out and shove it down my pants. People might think it's weird, but they have no idea what's really going on.

[Tetracyclone]

MTB,
You cannot use a condom cath?

I am more concerned with your wife's health and libido than with your cathing worries. I hope you find ways to keep her talking about this. Besides which it wrecks our fantasy of you in Paradise.

[edlee]

You seem a bit young to be giving up on sex just yet,, but that's none of my buisness, anyway. As for the foley,, I use one all the time now. No problem with UTIs or stones or bypass,, as long as you flush regularly. I flush (irrigate) daily.

The down side,,, your bladder will shrink. After a time, you won't be able to hold apprecable amounts of urine while it's out,,, like for swimming or,, god forbid,, sex,, It may be possible to stretch the bladder back out, I haven't tried,, because for me,, the leakage was the reason I went to the foley. Before anyone asks,, I went the condom route,, but skin breakdown issues due to the adhesives, shelved that.

You WILL find it very convenient,, perhaps you will be able to use a valve with the foley,, as you did with the spc,, without bypass.

Good luck, which ever way you go.
ed

[AdrienneDeYoung]

I am a young female with a Suprapubic catheter. I have a foley catheter in my bladder, but it is a small opening above the pubic bone. My urethra is not used by a catheter. This is an option for sex. I don't know what it's like with a catheter.

[MTB John]

MTB,
You cannot use a condom cath?

I am more concerned with your wife's health and libido than with your cathing worries. I hope you find ways to keep her talking about this. Besides which it wrecks our fantasy of you in Paradise.

The fuller my bladder the tighter my sphincter muscle seems to squeeze shut. That's part of what makes cathing difficult for me. So a condom cath is out. It did occur to me last night switching to a smaller size catheter might make life a little easier.

As for the better half, she is going through a lot and I feel that it's important for me to give her time and not put pressure on her, the compassion is still there and we actually had a really good talk lastnight where she opened up.

@Ed, my bladder would not shrink if I was using a tap on the end instead of a leg bag.

I don't know, I'll think about it for a while..

Thanks for the responses..

[Tetracyclone]

Good on ya re the continuing conversations. Intimacy is just plain necessary to good health.

[MTB John]

I absolutely agree...