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Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Megan on 2/2/2008, 9:07 pm
Message modified by board administrator 28/4/2008, 9:20 am

Hi I'm new on here (I'm a girl)! Suffered with this problem for at least 30 years, had hypnosis and councelling. Still struggling especially on aircraft, at work at friends houses if I know they can hear me. My husband and best friend know but only for the last few years. My Dr has now referred me to hospital and suggested using a catherter so I can get my life back. This sounds horrible to me, any other ladies on here using one? Is it easy to use, is it painful, how do you manage to get it in! Any other treatment I can try before opting for this one?

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Andrew on 2/2/2008, 11:57 pm, in reply to "Any ladies using a catherter?"

Hi Megan

First I'm no lady :-)

There is a ladies' email support group that use catheters that may be worth contacting. They are in the States, so the catheters may differ. Go to

http://www.paruresis.org/women_FAQ.htm

They are easy to use; but female biology means is is slightly more tricky to find the opening to the urethra. The site above will help here. If you email me, I can send you a full description of how to do it written by a woman.

"If it is painful, you are not doing it right". It is much easier for women, the urethra being only about two inches long, and straight; unlike men where the urethra is more like 9 - 10 inches long and has bends in it!

The GP practice nurse would train you in using it.

Because female caths ar much shorter than men's, you can even get one with a container that looks like a lipstick; discreet and handbag size.

The optional treatment is Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) via a clinical psychologist (see your GP) or attending our workshops. But I suggest you get the caths as well; just having them in your bag as a fall-back will reduce your anxiety, so you may find that you can do without it; paradoxical but true.

cheers

Andrew

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Mary on 6/2/2008, 9:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

Hi

I'm a 27 year old female I & have been using catheters for about a year and they're great. I was horrified when it was first suggested to me but I got a referral from my GP to see a Continence Nurse at the hospital and she was really lovely and very understanding. She showed me how to do it using a diagram and then sent me off to the loo with a few catheters and after a couple of goes I managed it, no problem!

It doesn't hurt me at all, occasionally it stings slightly & it's not comfortable but really it doesn't hurt. Most toilets have sanitary bins in the cubicles so you can get rid of the catheter afterwards straightaway without anyone knowing. It's the shape of an applicator tampon & they're small enough to go into a pocket if need be. They actually go in just like a tampon but the only tricky bit is learning exactly which hole to insert it into (not nice for anyone to read I know, but it is rather crucial)! It took me a while because I kept pressuring myself to do it quickly & kept putting it into the wrong place(!) but you soon learn where it goes & now I find that it's very easy & quick.

For me it literally does mean that I can do everything that I want to and I can travel anywhere - I can even go to the toilets with my friends which I used to shy away from before. Also, because I know I have the catheters as a back-up, nine times out of ten I don't even use them because they give me the confidence to relax and try, and it doesn't matter if I can't because the catheters will do it for me.

Let me know if you have any other queries. Good luck if you do decide to go ahead. I think its a worth a go!!

Mary

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by michelle on 25/4/2008, 3:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

hi megan, i two have been using catherters for about a year i was really scared about using them but they have changed my life i can do what ever i wont now without worry ive just been on a plane to france been ski ing and like mary said 9 times out of 10 i dont need them, but if i do they are there.
good luck with them i hope the work for you. michelle

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by lori le on 26/12/2008, 9:31 am, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

my Mom is 79, had a hysterectomy in her 40's , now she is beginning to have difficulty emptying her bladder, doc suggests inserting a catheter but she isn't sure about wanting to have that done, now her spincter muscles are tighter then usual - but now after this last doctor visit she suddenly has a little leakage when coughing, any ideas suggestions would be appreciated - I think I need to call the doctor as she went in alone - and is pretty sharp for 79 - but this would be a big medical procedure for her.

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Andrew on 26/12/2008, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

Hello Lori Le

I do not think we have the experience to answer your question; there seems to be issues about permanent catheters, which we do not use, and about stress incontinence. I strongly suggest you contact the Bladder and Bowel Foundation charity (it it the merger of the two charities InContact, and the Continence Foundation).

They can be found at www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org

best wishes

Andrew

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Megan on 4/3/2009, 8:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

Hi it's Megan who posted this question; I never did use a catheter, I went to see my GP who sent me for counselling. It was CBT therapy, I'd recommend CBT therapy 100%. Since I started this therapy I've not had a problem CBT re-trains your brain. I'd suffered with this problem all my life. I'm now in my 50's and I'm finally waving goodbye to it and I've been able to 'pee' in company for the last 6 months and counting........

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Mark on 4/3/2009, 11:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

Great news, after reading your first post in this topic, I bet you didnt think a year on you would have come this far! Horray for CBT!

Mark

Re: Any ladies using a catheter?

Posted by Jane on 9/3/2009, 8:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Any ladies using a catheter?"

Hi Megan

So glad to hear of your progress through CBT. It seems to depend where you live if you can get this treatment. I waited about 2 years for an NHS appointment, and was then told that there were no therapists available, and that there was not even anyone in this region I could see privately.

I found the UKPT workshops helpful, but would so much like to be able to get CBT to make further progress. Maybe things will improve and this therapy will become more widely available, I keep hoping!

Congratulations on overcoming the problem in the way you have. Jane

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