Getting To Grips With A Catheter

What Is A Catheter

A catheter is a hollow tube that goes into your bladder to drain away urine. Catheters are used when you may have trouble passing urine and emptying your bladder. They can be used in the short term for days or weeks, such as after an operation or traumatic birth, or they can be used in the long term, potentially for the rest of your life. There are two types of catheter, the first being the Clean Intermittent Self Catheterisation- CISC and the latter being Intermittent Self Catheterisation- ISC.

How Does A Catheter Work

A catheter is a tube of plastic that is inserted into your bladder, at the end of the tube is a balloon device that is inflated this prevents the catheter from falling out. A catheter drains urine from the bladder into a drainage bag, you can get drainage bags that attach to your stomach or to your leg, both can be different sizes, so how often they need changing can and will vary. There are catheter tipping machines that you may be able to use or benefit from, so consult your medical professional to find out more. It must be noted that you must never try to empty or drain a bag yourself and you should never pull on your catheter. A catheter must not be removed or attempted to be moved by anyone other than a trained medical professional.

How Will A Catheter Affect My Life

There is no doubt that a catheter will affect your life, but it should not have a major impact or effect on how enjoyable your life will be. You will, of course, have to make changes and allowances in your daily life which may feel like huge obstacles at the start, but as time passes you will become more familiar with your new catheter and it will just integrate into your new way of life. Your nighttime routine might be slightly altered as you will need to attach a larger bag.

To cut the risk of infections single-use night bags are usually used and recommended. A night bag will need to be placed on a stand next to or near your bed to ensure urine is collected during the night. It is highly unlikely you will be able to keep a bag on your stomach or your leg, just in case you knock them during your sleep. Knocking your catheter could cause serious damage so you must take precautions when preparing for bed, or any type of rest.

Do You Have To Change Your Life When You Have A Catheter

You may have to change what you do at times, but once you are used to having a catheter fitted you will soon see that you don’t have to change your life. There are different size bags you can get including larger 750 ml bags that allow you to carry on your normal daily routine without having to keep changing a bag midway through doing something.

Can You Change Your Catheter

You must never attempt to change your catheter unless you have been permitted to do so, as being negligent in removal could cause additional problems. You can however change your bags and it is recommended that bags are changed regularly and when they are around ¾ full. Valves will need to be changed regularly, and how often they are changed can be dependent on several factors, usually, they are changed around every 5-7 days, but your medical professional will be able to clarify this. The actual catheter will need changing and this is usually done every couple of months. This will most likely be done in a hospital or at a healthcare center. Do not attempt to change a catheter yourself unless you have been given adequate training.

Using a catheter comes with the risk of developing infections. To prevent the risk of developing infections it is important to practice good hygiene. Try and gently clean the areas where your catheter is with mild soapy water and always ensure you regularly wash your hands when touching any equipment including bags and valves. It is also important to stay well hydrated, drinking plenty of water will ensure that your urine is nice and pale in color and that it passes through the valves freely. If urine blocks up valves it can lead to infections, so make sure to drink plenty throughout the day.