At Home Installation

[LISA41]

I am seriously thinking of doing my instill's at home . The Nurse who currently does it says " if you can use a tampon you can do this " she walked me throught it yesterday but I really cannot see anythign and the whoel idea scares me .

Anyone at all please respond and give me some advice on home instills - is it difficult to learn . Also I am traveling for 2 weeks in June , canthe preparation be made in advance and stay properly ?

[ICNDonna]

Whether the solution could be prepared in advance would depend on what's in the solution. When I was self instilling, I took the things with me in a small Coleman cooler so it would stay the right temperature in the car.

It's not difficult to learn how to do it. There are many ways to insert a catheter. The one that worked best for me was to put a large flashlight on the floor in front of the toilet, with the light shining up. I then put a hand mirror on the seat so I could see and find my urethra. I then put one foot on the toilet seat and adjusted the light and where I was standing so I could easily see what I was doing. Then after the catheter was inserted, I was right there so I could empty my bladder directly into the toilet. I then repositioned so I could instill the liquid. I used soft catheters, about a foot long, and they were shaped so the syringe to instill the liquid fit into the end of the catheter. I then removed the catheter before removing the syringe from the catheter. The first time I did it, I took the syringe out of the catheter tube first and the solution leaked right back out through the catheter.

My first few times were a challenge, but after that, no problem.

I'm sure you'll hear from others with different strategies so you can select the one you feel most comfortable doing.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[LISA41]

thank-you so much for the quick reply . I feel so un co-ordianted at times ( broke my ankle last year on the last stair of a staircase LOL) but I really thin kI can get it . The nurse seems to think yo ucan feel your way throug hit but a mirror and flashlight seem soooo much better . thanks nad lots of hugs

[Sarojini]

Donna's right; it's easy to do once you've done it a few times!

I do mine a little differently. I put a towel down on the bed, mix up the cocktail, and then lie down and put a mirror between my legs, with my back propped up on some pillows. In order to get light, I wear a hiker's headlamp (available at sporting goods stores)... I find that when I bend my head down to look for the right "hole", this lamp provides light in exactly the right spot, and I don't have to worry about holding or tipping over a flashlight. Then, I lube the catheter with sterile KY, insert it and let it drain into a urine "hat" (one of those white measuring devices for urine output). Once that's done, I put the syringe barrel on the end of the catheter, dump the cocktail in, scoot my hips up a bit, and let the stuff drain in via gravity. I used to use the plunger for the syringe, but I found that I ended up with bubbles in my bladder, which were kind of uncomfy to pee out ;)

After that I just hold it for the required time and urinate the solution out.

[kadi]

One more method:
Mirror that stands up by itself at different angles, placed on the floor of the bathtub.
Sit on the edge of the bathtub & use the mirror to guide the catheter in.
Catheter empties into the tub.
Can use the edge of the tub to set the syringe on til the catheter is inserted & I'm ready to put the solution in.

No big deal, just kind of a weird part of getting ready to go to bed...

The instillations have really helped me... Hope they are just as helpful for you!

[curlycue]

Yea I kind of do the same thing.

1. Mix the heparine,sodium barb,lidocaine.

2. Lie down in my bedroom with a 5x mirror

3. I allready have the towel laying there and then insert the cath it drains and i put the syringe with the mix and I do push the medicine in.

The part I dont like is pulling the cath out and I use the self lubrication caths dr parsons in san diego wrote me the the prescription I think they are the Lo Fric caths!

This procedure really changed my life. I think you should try it. Good Luck

[Dixiefireball]

my husband was there with me when i learned to do my installments and he learned with me. the first few times I was scared to do them myself, but after that no problem (i shouldn't had been scare to begin with.
in the beginning if you will take a mirror and a flash light you will be able to see and guide the cath to the right place. KY jelly helps, also non latex caths is best (less burning even for those of us who doesn't have a latex allergy.)
If you can find a drug store to mix your meds a head of time its a bit easier if not you can get it and mix it your self (cheaper that way and easier to find.)
right before you put the cath in make sure everything is very clean exp. Take a deep breath to relax (makes it easier for the cath to go in.) then you just pour the mixer in. When your done make sure you pull the cath out not just the thing the medicine was poured in or you will lose the meds you just put in.

after a little while of you doing this you can do it with no flash light mirror. I now stand over the tolit so everything drains straight into it (less mess) and can do so without any problems you will get to where you don't even need to look.
if you have any more question plz feel free to p.m me i do the rescue treatments up to four times a day as needed. (dr orders was to go back down to only one a day for now.)
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[curlycue]

Rhonda that is great that you can do that. I have not masterd that technique yet.

[Dixiefireball]

Curlycue,
relaxing and trusting your practices, and patients is what i feel is the major part of all of this. It really helps to take a deep breath right before the cath goes in also.
If i may help you in anyway with a few tips please feel free to p.m me anytime. I will do my best to try to help you make this easier for yourself or anyone else here.
Sending hugs and prayers always.
Rhonda