Posted by Mark L on 25/11/2010, 5:13 pm, in reply to "Educate medical professionals"

Hi Phil, I completly aggree with you and can relate to the above. I went to see a urologist last year for the same reason. On arrival, I had a sample pot waved in my face and was showen the toilet. I said I dont think I can, and the nurse patronisingly said 'try'! I did manage to go luckily lol. My GP had never heard of it (despite me telling him this about 6 years ago, where he said self catherisation had too higher a risk of infection) but this time round he said that it would be a good idea to use catheters for 'emergencies'. The urologist and the trainee he had in with him had never heard of this condition either. But after explaining how it affects people and about the UKPT, he aggreed that self catheterisation was a good idea and refered me to a nurse who later showed me how to use them and gave me some to take away with me. Iv only used self caths about 10 times (some without washing my hands - no facilities available) and iv had no problems atall. Is there a way of contacting the urogloist you saw and say 'if got a long flight coming up that im anxious about, so what do you expect me to do WHEN Im unable to go? Leave the tap running?!' It would mean that you would not have to see a clinical psychologist, which Im not too sure would be of any help. Im under the impression that it is your right to use catheters and that you are able to insist, but may be wrong. Sorry it didnt go as planned for you, I hope you can find a way round it. All the best, Mark

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