[butterfly]

I'm sure I'm not the only one here with this problem.
I am C5/6 female quad and in order to catheterise, I need to lay on a bed or at the very least, sit quite far forward on the edge of my seat cushion.
I find it extremely difficult to keep my balance to sit on a disabled toilet, plus its difficult getting my jeans off without lying down.

My question is, when you're out shopping or wherever you are, does anyone have any handy tips of going to the toilet without actually sitting on a toilet???

[Califanna]

butterfly, on May 23 2008, 10:07 AM, said:

I'm sure I'm not the only one here with this problem.
I am C5/6 female quad and in order to catheterise, I need to lay on a bed or at the very least, sit quite far forward on the edge of my seat cushion.
I find it extremely difficult to keep my balance to sit on a disabled toilet, plus its difficult getting my jeans off without lying down.

My question is, when you're out shopping or wherever you are, does anyone have any handy tips of going to the toilet without actually sitting on a toilet???

I don't do this, but my friend does. She wears underwear that has a flap underneath and can be undone with just a pull (velcro). She sews, so she just buys the underwear and puts in the velcro. In the beginning when she was learning, she wore skirts instead of pants. Then you just pull up your skirt, snap off the underwear flap and cath. with your legs resting on the toilet. Before you snap off the flap of the underwear, you sink down in your chair, so your bottom is pretty far down. It takes a little bit of practice finding the right position for you. Here is where a little bit of balance helps. She swears that this keeps her from getting UTI's. In pants, you just can't get a good vantage point, so you have to just listen to the urine depositing into the toilet to know that you are done. Don't forget to order the longer caths., so you make it to the toilet.

Good luck.

[knowthill]

I use Ziploc baggies (the kind with the slide closer) to hold my intermittent caths and clean towel. I have emptied into the bag locked it and carried it to a sink. I ran water while emptying it. I am not sure if this is gross or not. So let me know.

I do know if I have to go I will in my pants or in the sink what is more embarrassing?

[butterfly]

Califanna, on May 24 2008, 04:51 AM, said:

butterfly, on May 23 2008, 10:07 AM, said:

I'm sure I'm not the only one here with this problem.
I am C5/6 female quad and in order to catheterise, I need to lay on a bed or at the very least, sit quite far forward on the edge of my seat cushion.
I find it extremely difficult to keep my balance to sit on a disabled toilet, plus its difficult getting my jeans off without lying down.

My question is, when you're out shopping or wherever you are, does anyone have any handy tips of going to the toilet without actually sitting on a toilet???

I don't do this, but my friend does. She wears underwear that has a flap underneath and can be undone with just a pull (velcro). She sews, so she just buys the underwear and puts in the velcro. In the beginning when she was learning, she wore skirts instead of pants. Then you just pull up your skirt, snap off the underwear flap and cath. with your legs resting on the toilet. Before you snap off the flap of the underwear, you sink down in your chair, so your bottom is pretty far down. It takes a little bit of practice finding the right position for you. Here is where a little bit of balance helps. She swears that this keeps her from getting UTI's. In pants, you just can't get a good vantage point, so you have to just listen to the urine depositing into the toilet to know that you are done. Don't forget to order the longer caths., so you make it to the toilet.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice but I don't wear skirts.

knowthill, on May 24 2008, 05:00 AM, said:

I use Ziploc baggies (the kind with the slide closer) to hold my intermittent caths and clean towel. I have emptied into the bag locked it and carried it to a sink. I ran water while emptying it. I am not sure if this is gross or not. So let me know.

I do know if I have to go I will in my pants or in the sink what is more embarrassing?

Yeah I have done it on the edge of my seat into a bottle with some help and poured it down the toilet and thrown out the bottle.
I'm not incontinent which is good but I'd like to be able to empty my bladder and get back to my shopping in comfort.
I guess what I really need is a bed or a sick bay somewhere to lay down on. In the past I've used beds at hospitals and hotels for a few minutes but they are not always accommodating or understanding and there isn't always one around.

[Lucydog]

If the whole process of peeing is so difficult, and ISC doesnt really seem to be adding to the quality of your life, have you thought about an indwelling or suprapubic catheter perhaps? Its all about weighing up the benefits of each and I dont see you having alot of benefit from ISC at the moment.

cheers
L

[Ches]

hey girl, i know ur balance is off but u did say u were able to sit at the edge of ur chair right? i pee from my chair constantly, blue jeans were difficult for me as well. i started by wearing lounge pants and just pulling up a pant leg and using the long caths. works just fine. evdntually you will find a method, just be practical!

[butterfly]

Lucydog, on May 24 2008, 06:36 PM, said:

If the whole process of peeing is so difficult, and ISC doesnt really seem to be adding to the quality of your life, have you thought about an indwelling or suprapubic catheter perhaps? Its all about weighing up the benefits of each and I dont see you having alot of benefit from ISC at the moment.

cheers
L

No I would never get a super pubic catheter and I only put in an indwelling if absolutely necessary (if on long plane trip or something).
I don't want to introduce unnecessary infection and irritate my bladder as it functions quite well.
Thanks anyway

Ches, on May 28 2008, 12:56 PM, said:

hey girl, i know ur balance is off but u did say u were able to sit at the edge of ur chair right? i pee from my chair constantly, blue jeans were difficult for me as well. i started by wearing lounge pants and just pulling up a pant leg and using the long caths. works just fine. evdntually you will find a method, just be practical!

I can only balance on the chair with help. Also it's the undressing in the chair that is difficult.
My problem is I am so into fashion that there is no way I will wear tracksuit pants or pants that I don't feel are trendy no matter how practical they are. Besides it's still difficult.
I just think there should be a room with a bed available somewhere in shopping centers, movies etc.
Not every disabled person can use a disabled toilet.

[simplepeachyme]

butterfly, on May 23 2008, 09:07 AM, said:

I'm sure I'm not the only one here with this problem.
I am C5/6 female quad and in order to catheterise, I need to lay on a bed or at the very least, sit quite far forward on the edge of my seat cushion.
I find it extremely difficult to keep my balance to sit on a disabled toilet, plus its difficult getting my jeans off without lying down.

My question is, when you're out shopping or wherever you are, does anyone have any handy tips of going to the toilet without actually sitting on a toilet???

I do my caths in my chair. FIRST thing I do is...use MALE caths (16") and again do everything from my chair. I face the toilet and get as close to the toilet without having my pants touch it. Then, I use the cath wrapper as an extender. So I open both ends of the cath package. Put one end of cath into the wrapper at least 2 inches and the other end of the wrapper into the toilet. And just make sure you hold on to where the cath and wrapper is or else you'll have a spill....

But in the beginning this could be tricky but it became really easy over time. And I never have to worry about dirty toilet seats and transferring. PLUS, if you go to a friends house bathroom that doesn't have grab bars, this is especially handy.

[Slowlegs]

knowthill, on May 23 2008, 09:00 PM, said:

I use Ziploc baggies (the kind with the slide closer) to hold my intermittent caths and clean towel. I have emptied into the bag locked it and carried it to a sink. I ran water while emptying it. I am not sure if this is gross or not. So let me know.

I do know if I have to go I will in my pants or in the sink what is more embarrassing?

Not gross as long as you clean out the sink for the next person. Some people may look at it different but things change with an SCI so as long as it works - who cares?