Question for those who self-cath

[~*~Christine~*~]

Do you find that it hurts, immensely, to self-cath while sitting up? I do it, at least once a day, and so long I'm lying down there isn't a lot of discomfort but when I attempt to sit up or insert it while on the toilet it's unbearable.

Anyone else have this problem?

[ICNDonna]

I have better luck if I'm standing up, but that would be pretty much the same posture as laying down.

Donna

[K-lee]

what is this??? im kinda confused. :biglaugh: what is it supposed to do?

[Sarojini]

I lie down with my head propped up for doing instills, but if I'm doing the cathing for retention I stand up in front of the toilet and "pee like a boy" as my husband calls it. I have noticed that, if I try to sit up during an instill for some reason it hurts worse than when lying down or standing up.

K-lee -- some of us have been taught to catheterize ourselves in order to give ourselves bladder instillation medication at home, or to relieve urinary retention.

[~*~Christine~*~]

thank you for the replies, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one ; )

[emilyrose197377]

I sit down to self cath I find it uncomfortable but not unbearable but I use xylocaine to numb the urethra before I self cath.

[Dianne]

Sitting up kills me. I cath on my knees, then roll back to lie down for instills with my hips elevated and legs up on an ottoman since I can't stand an instill running into my urethra. Then I prop the computer between my knees. LOL Everyday scene in my house.

[Bobbie]

Hi,
I am new at the message board so excuse any errors.
I am in the process of treatment 3 per week, of heparin,lidocanine,sodium bicarbonate. First treatment work great no pain for couple of hours. 2nd and 3rd have me about to scream. Not sure if I can handle this. Anyone had this experience with this treatment.
Thank,Bobbie

[kadi]

Hi Christine,
Thanks for your question, will now try instills lying down or standing (they are uncomfortable the way I've been doing them)! Thanks for bringing this up!

Hi Bobbie,
I had a lot of pain with the heparin/sodium bicarb/lidocaine instills, til my doctor & I adjusted a few things. A few things to consider:
1. Size & type of catheter: I was surprised that a larger catheter hurt less than a smaller one. I think b/c I was less clumsy with it & was able to cath quicker & keep it in less time. Also, non-latex was much better for me than latex.
2. Concentration of solution: The instills hurt a lot less with sterile water added to them. Diluting the solution gave me less "burn" and the greater volume made it easier to void.
3. My doctor & I changed the Lidocaine to Marcaine & that burned much much less for me & the relief lasted longer.
4. I do take Pyridium before an instill & that helps also.
5. Hold time: Anything more than 20min burns like crazy & hurts well into the next day. Every time I go see the doctor he tells me all his other patients hold it for an hour with no problem, but I tell him it just doesn't work that way for me. I get great relief if I hold it 20 min, and great pain if I hold it longer, so that's just the way it is for me.
Hope you find something that helps!
These instillations have given me my life back, (but they did feel really crummy til we figured these variations out for me).
Good Luck!

[Bobbie]

Kadi,
Thank you so much for the info. Will be sure to ck if water is sterile.
Am using non-laytex, but forgot about the pyridium.
I was at an all time low today, you gave me hope.
Bobbie

[Daffie]

I find that I can sit while giving myself a cath without much troubl but I use lubricated caths and then insert an ice cube in (like a tampon to prevent spasms from beginning.) Be sure to put ice cubes in a cup of water first.

[bellaluna05]

I can cath o.k. sitting on the toilet, but just cathing in general is very painful. Does anyone else get spasms in your urethra when you cath. It feels like my urethra is having contractions.
Lara