Need a help!!! Self-cath.

[Sunflower2]

I just started to do sel-cath last night. I am having a trouble putting catheter in. I cannot locate the hole. I kept poking myself in a wrong hole. I felt so pain from doing that. I was able to do it when I was in the doctor's office, and I tried to do it on my own in the bathroom. I just couldn't see it.
I am using regular 14' plastic cath, and it hurts really bad. I use the stuff to numb my area,but I still cannot take it!!!! How do you do it???
I am so scared.:help:

[blackcat25]

Hi!:smile tee
I know exactly how you feel - when I first started self cathing I really struggled, but trust me, it does get easier. Have you tried taking a hot bath for a while first - that can be good for relaxing the muscles? Also, have you been prescribed any medication to make it easier, such as alpha blockers?
What type of catheter are you using? I have experiemented with a few before finding one that worked for me.I find the Lofric primo are good, although they can be difficult to insert at times as they are quite bendy. Also the speedicath compact by coloplast are a bit stiffer so they are easier to insert, but not quite so well lubricated. (I presume these are available in America)However, everyone is different, so don't be afraid to experiment. Also, 14fr seems quite large - I found that size really uncomfortable to use but I find a 12fr is a lot easier.
Also, are you still in contact with the person who taught you how to self cath? It may help to ring them to see if you are doing anything wrong.
I hope some of these suggestions are helpful to you. Please feel free to private message me if you are sturggling - I remember how freaked out I was when I started self cathing, and the people on here really looked out for me and it made such a difference.
Good luck, and let me know if I can help in any way.
Blackcat:cat:

[Briza]

Blackcat has given excellent advice. I'll only add that yes, a smaller diameter catheter would be easier to insert, mine was flexible and a little bigger than a coffee stir straw, a pediatric size catheter. Also a mirror strategically placed with some good lighting, maybe a desk lamp that has an arm that bends so you can direct the light and locate the hole more easily. Hope this helps. :)

[Linaria]

I just started to do sel-cath last night. I am having a trouble putting catheter in. I cannot locate the hole. I kept poking myself in a wrong hole. I felt so pain from doing that. I was able to do it when I was in the doctor's office, and I tried to do it on my own in the bathroom. I just couldn't see it.
I am using regular 14' plastic cath, and it hurts really bad. I use the stuff to numb my area,but I still cannot take it!!!! How do you do it???
I am so scared.:help: Hi from linaria. I have been using the atheter for some time it helps to find the hole if you open your legs and bend then a little then using one hand open the labia swab and then slowly lower the catheter beginning right at the top the urethra is the first hole you come to and it should slip in easily. Use a pediatric catheter it is less fexible and so it should be easier to insert indoesnt bend so easily. Hope you have some success. God Bless Wendy.

[ICNDonna]

When I self cath, I place a mirror on one side of the toilet seat and put a large flashlight on the floor, aimed up. Then I put one foot on the side of the toilet seat and move around until the light and mirror allow me to see where I'm putting the catheter. By having the mirror on the seat and the light on the floor, I have both hands free to do the catheterization. It's easy to see the opening of the urethra that way --- plus the catheter can drain into the toilet.

Donna

[Dixiefireball]

it may be easier for you if you can lay in your tub until you get the hang of this. use one of those stand up mirrors to see where to put the numbing cream let it set for five or ten Min's. (if your Dr didn't tell you another amount of time to let it settle in.) if you have some help at home let that person hold a flash light for you while you move the mirror around until you get it to the right place. Once you can see the hole insert the cath to drain your bladder. if you are using an installment after your bladder is drained make sure its already mixed so you can pour it straight into the bladder.

Its best to try to have everything ready before you get started.

If you where repeatably reusing the same cath last night you may have set yourself up for an infection. If you start noticing any signs of a uti please call your Dr. at once so you can start on an anti. before things get to bad.

always make sure everything your using is sterile before each use.

it may also be helpful if you ask to be put on a low dose of anti while your cathing at home to cut down the risk of those nasty UTI. since I've done so treatments at home for so many years i know those nasty risk of infections they are no fun and hurt like heck! so what ever you can do to cut back on those its wroth it.

If i can help you in any other way or if i didn't explain things well please pm me and I will try to help you more.

Sending you hugs and prayers.
Rhonda

[Sunflower2]

Thank you all for the comments. I already got my anti-med from doctor. She alreday suspected possibility of infection, so she game me the med before I do self-cath. I am getting smaller catheter soon, and hoping this will be much easier than the one I got from the office.

[Dixiefireball]

if you already not doing this something else that may help is using latex free caths (i use child size ten french) the latex free ones go in more gentle and doesn't cause that burning feeling that the latex one cause many people. Even if you don't have a latex allergy for some reason this is causing people problems that must self cath a lot at home.
with the latex free caths I don't have to use any type of lube either for them to go in. (some people still may have too)
but that was another plus. they are easier to clean and they dry quicker inside. They also last longer if you must reuse them.)

hope this helps.
Rhonda

[Kara29]

Sunflower2 ,

I sent you a private message that contains a link in it on the basics of self cathing and I added a few tricks of the trade that I used to use. Check out your private message box.

This will get easier. As time went by with me, I was able to to it with my eyes closed in the dark, serioulsy!

Many Hugs to you! I know this is difficult at the moment.

Sincerely,

Kara

[MakinIT]

yeah..I was gonna suggest latex free (I'm deathly allergic) lo fric and lubed well and try a size 10. Dixie's idea is good. Over the toidy, I sorta follow the indentation behind my clitoris (make sure my other hand is right next to the opening in the ureter) and it almost always slides in. I don't know for sure until pee comes out so make sure it's pointed down and not at your face. (LoL) Wash, wash, and wash some more.

funny story on that...I had to go so bad after one of my treatments one day but I could not pee for the life of me so the phone rings, I'm on the phone dealing with my youngest childest's teacher as I'm hoping around the bathroom getting all the stuff and sterilizing (inccluding the phone). Rested my ear on the phone, did my thing with the cath and was yapping with the teach the whole time ( although my eyes were crossing because it felt so good) I forgot to lock the BR door and my husband walks in and casually strolls over and shares the toidy with me. HUH? Then he gave me a wierd HUH?look, shook his head, walking out laughing. I got off the phone, finished my duties, went out there and said, "what the hell". He was roaring..said he was on Auto pilot and recognised I was there but it wasn't until he was nearly done that the wierdness of the whole thing set in.

humor. where would life be without it.

[icsonja]

I have been self cathing for 3 years now, but wow I do remember that first time!!! I could not find the right 'hole' either, so dont feel bad, my mom and my then 12 yo daughter were helping, we laugh about it now but then it was upsetting. I use a real small cath 8fr and I do get everything set up prior.At firs I also used the tub, it was easier, I could prop my legs up and still have space for the mirror and a light (both are needed when you are learning).
My best peice of advice for nor being able to find the right hole is this one from my DR.. Set up your light and mirror ( a maginfying one is great) and while in the tub laying on a pad or a clean towel let yourself pee until you SEE where it is coming out, make sure you have cleaned well prior and open your internal labia and poof you will see when urine comes out.
Most times we dont open up enough to get to where the urethra is, no I can do it in the dark like Lara, but it is a learning process.
Relax, you WILL be able to do this and you will most likely be giving advice on how to cath later on!!
Here to a speedy cath,
Sonja

[MakinIT]

Sunflower: I have never used the bath technique but I'm sure it's a great one, I think my doc gave me this idea along with a mirror. My mirror was never obtained (never got around to it) I am pretty good with memory so I saw where it was in the mirror and now I know where it is. I would say, big advice...don't wait until you are frantic. do some sessionss before you are going to burst. That way you are calm, you go through the proper steps for hygiene (sanitation)...and maybe avoid the UTI's . They suck. I don't know how you ladies managed this with a numbing agent, I rely so heavily on my touch. My doc uses a 12 fr cath, no latex, lubed, but at home I use a 10fr cath. (lubed)

good luck.

[Freckles]

This is definitely a post I need to follow up on. I just learned this the other day and have to start doing it daily. My goal is to get off of the morphine I am on. I wish I could help you but I haven't done it on my own yet. I can't seem to find a pharmacy that has all the things I need. Walgreens is ordering all the liquid ingrediants, now I have to find a medical supply company for the catheters and needles, etc. Why does everything that has to do with this disease be so difficult. Truly I am just so tired. Tired of being in pain, tired of dealing with horrible doctors. You guys on this site are truly the only thing that keeps me going.