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CBT and catheters

Posted by Rob on 31/5/2011, 5:12 pm

I am currently starting to use catheters. This is going well and I've had three practice runs with two different types of catheter. I'm being mega cautious about hygiene. It still seems to sting a little, but I am hoping that this will be useful in a) an emergency b) when flying c) as a means of reducing anxiety in other situations, so I know there's always a way out.

I'm also having CBT. My counsellor is being very helpful in challenging some of my irrational thinking and asking me to think about the consequences of, for example, not being able to pee when out with friends. My fear is of terrible embarrassment, pain, awkward announcements, all of which I have experienced. However she did ask me a question today which I could not answer. This is a biological question. I have a wholly irrational fear of my bladder splitting if I am unable to go for a very long period of time. I suspect that this is probably not what does happen. However, I don't know the answer to the question. If I really cannot pee, what are the consequences?

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Andrew on 31/5/2011, 6:31 pm, in reply to "CBT and catheters"

Hi Rob

First well done for sorting yourself out with a catheter for emergencies.

As for splitting the bladder. I believe there is no chance of that happening. The pain of an overful bladder would result in you taking some desperate action to empty it. I believe the muscle wall of the bladder may get stretched and lose some of its tone i.e. it subsequently generates less pressure when peeing. In your case, now you have catheters to hand, your illogical fear now becomes irrelevant.

In terms of time we have heard of cases of international flights where the door to door time was as much as 14 hours. Painful, very: but survivable.

While we are on this, for the benefit of those without a catheter, there is a medical term "urinary retention". Usually this would occur for a physical reason, due to some obstruction. The medical profession take urinary retention very seriously and would treat it as an emergency. When you get caught out, rather than face the embarrassment of having to mention shy bladder, you could just describe the symptom, rather than the cause, i.e. urinary retention, and ask for time and space to deal with it.

Andrew

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Mark L on 31/5/2011, 6:45 pm, in reply to "Re: CBT and catheters"

Hi Rob,

Im glad you are having success with the catheters. I also have a supply which I used on a stag night several times. This ment I was actually able to go out and drink as much as I wanted! They also reduced my anxiety on a long haul flight, enabling me to go normally. Just having them in my bag with me was enough of a reassurance.

Keep it up!

Mark

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Rob on 2/6/2011, 3:55 pm, in reply to "Re: CBT and catheters"

Thanks, Andrew and Mark.

I am finding the catheters do sting and leave me with a bit of pain afterwards. I'm still experimenting with different types that the continence nurse has given me. Getting it in seems ok, if a little tight as it goes through the sphincter [i guess?]. I do find that as it comes out it hurts a bit more. I know a previous post has talked about this, so maybe I just need to slow down a be a bit more gentle.

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Andrew on 2/6/2011, 5:20 pm, in reply to "Re: CBT and catheters"

Hi Rob

Note I am not a catheter user. However some time back I asked for personal experiences from users and collated them. If you email me I can send you the document.

Note that caths come from different suppliers, in a range of diameters, and that there are two types of tip. So a lot of permutations there.

If the stinging is bothersome, ask the nurse if there is some anaesthetic gel you can use. When I went to a urologist for a different issue, he smeared some gel into the opening of the urethra (the meatus), and I had no stinging at all.

cheers

Andrew

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Mark L on 2/6/2011, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Re: CBT and catheters"

With regards to the stinging - everytime I used them I would get stinging, especially when pulling out. Was not a big deal and I just put up with it. Id rather have been empty with a bit of stinging than not being able to go!

Mark

Re: CBT and catheters

Posted by Fran on 1/9/2011, 9:58 pm, in reply to "Re: CBT and catheters"

There are very helpful videos on how to insert catheters on the Coloplast website under the Urology and Continence Care tab. (www.coloplast.co.uk.) There are also different types of catheter some of which have an integral collection bag. You can also connect a night drainage bag to most catheters if it is not possible to self catheterise near a toilet. Also a compact one which would fit in a pocket.

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