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Hi all been having propblems with paruresis and a general inability to wee when im stressed.A few weeks ago a got acute retention and couldnt even use my home toilet .Ended up in casualty and because 5 different people couldnt pass a catheter for me i ended up with a suprapubic catheter .Ive since had a cystography and apart from slightly enlarged bladder mouth ?? everything seems normal .I do have a small false passage which is why the difficulty with catheterization . Anyway last appointment my specialist was going to take the supra pubic catheter out as i can use the loo most of the time again .I realised how worried about this i was and asked if he would teach me to self cath first .He agreed and we tried fo about 20 mins but were unable to pass catheter as i was too tense he said .So ive still got the spc for now .My question is does anyone know if i can get over this maybe be getting a supply of catheters and practicing at home when im more relaxed .thanks for your advice Andy
Sorry to hear of your problems. You'd hope that a self cath is a 100% garunteed way of going. The more you practice using them, the less anxiety you'll experience. Iv used them say 10 times, and now I hardly need to think about it.
Iv got a box which I got on perscription (about 50 in the there) so Id say yes its a good idea to get hold of one, and practice when you're comfortable and ralaxed. You can get different sizes so see whats available.
People on here have said in the past that anyone can buy them from some online places, ie they dont check if you need them/have been prescribed them in the past etc.. But dont know where exactly.
If you saw your GP then yes you would be referred to urology to have a short chat to make sure nothing is physically wrong and they then refer you to a practice nurse show you how to use them. This is based on my experience, so may differ.
There is really nothing to it to be honest so if you do obtain some outside the NHS, just make sure you follow the correct procedures etc.
Yes it can be done, I have finally managed to do it, and the feeling of relief and satisfaction is great!
I too have paruresis and other anxieties. These other anxieties initially made it impossible for me to insert a catheter myself. But just last month I tried again under the supervision of an exceptionally sympathetic nurse who was prepared to insert the catheter for me a couple of times, just so as I could get used to the feeling of having it enter my bladder. This helped me overcome my anxieties of inserting the catheter and I was then able to take a supply home with me. I have been practicing (with success) inserting the catheters every day since, first sitting down and now standing up. I am now very used to carrying out the process of self-catheterisation, and feel that I am confident enough to be able to use it in a social situation should the need arise, or in a plane toilet or similar situation.
I don't (to my knowledge) have a false passage so I couldn't comment on whether or not that would present a problem. But I would certainly say give it a go. I wish you all the very best of luck.
