New to self-cathiterization

[Mainemom]

Hello all,
I was diagnosed with IC in August after having pain for 17 years. I have been taking my meds as prescribed and have recently started a new job. The stress of the new job has caused me to flare. The pain was excrusiating and i called my doctor, i saw him and he said that he was going to put heprin and latacaine in my bladder. He also said that I need to strat doing the instillations my self. So my husband and I went in and they gave us a class, he learned how and he has had to do it because I really didn't see well and can't do it. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestion on how to do his to myself I can't for the life of me do it, but thankfully i am married to a great guy tat will do it for me.
ANy suggestions would be appreciated.
Kirsten

[ICNJess]

Hi Mainemom,

I just wanted to welcome you to the boards. hi I don't self cath but there are plenty of us that do around here, and hopefully someone can help you out.

Hugs and love,
Jess

[Iris]

Hi, I would just like to welcome you to the boards, and as Jess said, in her post, there are gals who do self cath and I sure, they will help you out in that area. Once again welcome and a hug Iris. hi

[Jen_Cole]

I have a friend who does have to self-cath, and she told me she would place a mirror below so she could see.

[ICNDonna]

The way I cath myself is to place a mirror on the side of the toilet seat and a large flashlight on the floor, aimed to put the light so I can see what I'm doing. I use a flexible catheter and the syringe with the medication fits into the end of the catheter so after my bladder has emptied via the catheter, I can fit the syringe into the end of the catheter and recline to insert the medication. And I remove the catheter before removing the syringe from it so the medication doesn't leak out through the catheter.

Donna

[Dixiefireball]

i do the heparin and marcaine at home my i taught my husband how to do it he done it great the first time when i was having problems the way i do it is i stand over the tolit after i have everything ready and beside me on the sink so i can get it i stand up over the tolit take my hands with my cath which has ky jelly on it. feel for the pee hole. then put the cath in i find it less messy that way.
another way to do this is have everything mixed up go lay down on your bed with a mirror between your legs so you can see have a towel under you. put in the cath have an old jar with you to drain the urine out after that is done but the surgin(sp?) in to the bottom of the cath pour your medicine in. the take out the cath and clean up. this is some of the ways i have tried i like over the tolit better less mess, but you have to find out what is the best way for you and the way you will relax you have to relax for the medicine to go in.
the way i clean my caths is this way i wash them out very well with hot water after use then let them soak for 20 mins in a mixer of one tsp of vinger to a small jar of cold water then i lay them out to dry in the org. package it came in.
i wipe my needles down with achol you may not need to use one but i have to use one for the heparin my doctor gives me all my caths and needles. they give me everything i need put the steral water and the medicine of course LOL lmao some times if you are having a hard time after taking the treatment if you will asked your doctor they will give you some numbing cream i hear others use this and it helps them numb your self before using the cath.
the marcaine i use with the heparin its a mixer that goes into the heparin its a nerve block so it helps numb everything up. please ask your doctor for something to help numb you up until at least you learn how to do this so you want be in pain. I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me. if you need anything please pm me I will try to help you as much as i can.
Hugs sent and prayers sent to you.. grouphug

[Dixiefireball]

Oh i'm sorry i almost forgot how silly of me :o welcome to the icn family.
Rhonda

[rachelm]

I recently finally learned how to self cath. I tried for months last year but I couldn't do it. I asked the nurse to show me once again and she gave me their new kits with a stand up mirror. She sat me up in a sitting position on the table and I watched as she showed me where my urethra is. One thing that I found that helped me was using badidine to clean the area. It makes the urethra pop out. Then I put lidcaine jelly on the tip of the catheter. The first time i did it at home I recreated what we had done at the dr. office. I put a pillow against the bathroom door and leaned against it with the mirror standing in front of me and the towel under me. Once I did it I knew how to feel for it in the future. Later I started standing over the toilett with the seat down and the mirror laying of it. I still used the mirror when I was at home because there was less chance of touching the wrong spot and moving bacteria into the urethra. When I was out however, I just felt for it. I always keep lidicaine on hand in a little tube in my purse becasuse it helps with the exterior burning when I start to get an infection. I use it after sex when I'm able to as well. It's great to have around to numb sore or burning areas around the vagina, urethra. I hope this was helpful. The next time your at your dr. office ask them to guide you while you do it. Even though they had shown me several times it took walking me through it in the office before I could be successfull. I think I also got desperate because I went into total retention and had to self-cath every hour or two to empty my bladder. Unfortunately my dr. won't let me take the heparin/marcaine instill home to do it so I still have to go to their office for treatments.

Good luck self-cathing. Remember to take a deep breath and relax before trying.

Rachel

[Dixiefireball]

very good advice Rachel and Donna. hugs to you both.
everyone has to learn diff ways where they are relaxed enough to do i suject you try all the diff ways until you find one that is best for you in the mean time let your husband help out. if you still having trouble please tell your doctor maybe they have something on paper to give you or even a kit like rachel said. good luck hon and please keep us posted on how you are. grouphug i'm still praying for you.