Stopped using catheters
Sun Oct 01, 2017 7:56 am
Only infrequently in this group do we get to post good news, so here we go.
This is something I never thought I would say, but I have stopped using intermittent catheters. My post-urinary retention has never been severe, but my urologist predicted that it slowly would get worse, given my pelvic nerve trauma and age.
An incontinence technique routinely recommended, but one with which I never have had success, is double voiding to more completely empty the bladder. However, I have been judiciously practicing my Kegel exercises and timed voiding in order to keep what control I have. Over a period of many months I have been surprised that I slowly have been regaining some ability to double-void. When I have been able to do that I have noted that my measured PVRs slowly have been decreased. Gradually I have reached a point where my PVRs after double voiding are so low that my urologist has said that I can stop self-intermittent catheterizing.
This is, of course, dependent on my continued success with keeping my PVRs down, so I periodically will cath to check on that.
My thanks to all gave me excellent advice about intermittent catheterizing and external catheters. You all are appreciated.
--John
This is something I never thought I would say, but I have stopped using intermittent catheters. My post-urinary retention has never been severe, but my urologist predicted that it slowly would get worse, given my pelvic nerve trauma and age.
An incontinence technique routinely recommended, but one with which I never have had success, is double voiding to more completely empty the bladder. However, I have been judiciously practicing my Kegel exercises and timed voiding in order to keep what control I have. Over a period of many months I have been surprised that I slowly have been regaining some ability to double-void. When I have been able to do that I have noted that my measured PVRs slowly have been decreased. Gradually I have reached a point where my PVRs after double voiding are so low that my urologist has said that I can stop self-intermittent catheterizing.
This is, of course, dependent on my continued success with keeping my PVRs down, so I periodically will cath to check on that.My thanks to all gave me excellent advice about intermittent catheterizing and external catheters. You all are appreciated.
--John
Re: Stopped using catheters
Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:30 am
Great news.... I couldn't imagine having to shove a tube up there even if it was intermittent.
Re: Stopped using catheters
Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:05 pm
After trying several different "solutions" for my incontinence (caused by the removal of my prostate) I've found that for me, Men's Liberty is the best answer to this problem. And as a vet, the VA pays for these! Medicaid and your insurance will also pay for these! But Medicaid and your insurance will not pay for diapers or pads for some reason. (However, the VA pays for everything!) Men's Liberty costs about $10 each, and you receive about 30 of them each month in a plain brown box. They also offer a few other products that will help those with incontinence.
I've had good relations with the company and have no issues with either the product or the company, which is based in Florida. If you have any questions before, or when using Men's Liberty, you can call their free "nurse hotline" for quick help. It does take a few days to get used to applying Men's Liberty, and you must follow directions exactly for them to be effective. They are normally worn for 24 hours (however, I've had them last up to three days. After using them for nearly a year now, I've never had any pain, irritation, etc by using these. And one size fits all. Really! They take only a few minutes to attach, and they come off easily in the shower or with a special adhesive remover you get with the kit.
TIP: I use them alone mostly during the day since they can be emptied easily every few hours. But at night, or when I may have a nap, or fall asleep watching TV, I switch to a normal bed bag at night which will hold everything I output all night. It's easy to "switch the plumbing" from the small Men's Liberty default bag to a larger standard leg bag and regular bed bag like they use in the hospital. And in my case, the VA supplies everything I need at no cost.
The Bioderm/Men's Liberty company have many videos on Youtube that fully explains and shows you how to use these. You can also check out their website at MensLiberty.com.
I know what you are going through with incontinence, and wish you all the best!
I've had good relations with the company and have no issues with either the product or the company, which is based in Florida. If you have any questions before, or when using Men's Liberty, you can call their free "nurse hotline" for quick help. It does take a few days to get used to applying Men's Liberty, and you must follow directions exactly for them to be effective. They are normally worn for 24 hours (however, I've had them last up to three days. After using them for nearly a year now, I've never had any pain, irritation, etc by using these. And one size fits all. Really! They take only a few minutes to attach, and they come off easily in the shower or with a special adhesive remover you get with the kit.
TIP: I use them alone mostly during the day since they can be emptied easily every few hours. But at night, or when I may have a nap, or fall asleep watching TV, I switch to a normal bed bag at night which will hold everything I output all night. It's easy to "switch the plumbing" from the small Men's Liberty default bag to a larger standard leg bag and regular bed bag like they use in the hospital. And in my case, the VA supplies everything I need at no cost.
The Bioderm/Men's Liberty company have many videos on Youtube that fully explains and shows you how to use these. You can also check out their website at MensLiberty.com.
I know what you are going through with incontinence, and wish you all the best!
Re: Stopped using catheters
Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:46 am
MrG2,
Sounds like an advertisement instead of an experience. You only mentioned them 7 times.
Sounds like an advertisement instead of an experience. You only mentioned them 7 times.
Last edited by BellyBag58 on Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Stopped using catheters
Sun Feb 04, 2018 11:06 am
Hi John
Thats great news
Thats great news
Re: Stopped using catheters
Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:10 am
So, after all these months, how are your post residual void numbers holding up? And, either way, congratulations.
Re: Stopped using catheters
Sat May 05, 2018 7:51 am
Guys,
It always is a pleasure to report good news and I am pleased to report that my post-void residuals remain low (most of the time). Now I only need to cath every week to 10 days for diagnostics, just to be sure that all remains well.
My Kegel exercises have helped my pelvic floor and seem somehow to have helped my ability to double-void. As long as I can double-void I have low residuals. However, if I have difficulty double-voiding twice in a row I then cath. I just met with my urologist and he has approved my continuing with this practice. Should my PVRs increase, he has provided me with guidelines for when I should make an appointment with him.
--John
It always is a pleasure to report good news and I am pleased to report that my post-void residuals remain low (most of the time).
Now I only need to cath every week to 10 days for diagnostics, just to be sure that all remains well. My Kegel exercises have helped my pelvic floor and seem somehow to have helped my ability to double-void. As long as I can double-void I have low residuals. However, if I have difficulty double-voiding twice in a row I then cath. I just met with my urologist and he has approved my continuing with this practice. Should my PVRs increase, he has provided me with guidelines for when I should make an appointment with him.
--John
Re: Stopped using catheters
Sat May 05, 2018 2:22 pm
That’s awesome news!