Prostate - Self Cath

Author

Self Cath

Nelson

2004-10-05, 7:10 pm

In the "Probably more than you wanted to know" department, I have
started self catheterization. The nature of my BPH is that
occasionally I have a period where I can't start, usually at night.
Although my flow is usually poor anyway, during these intervals it is
even worse. I decided to learn how to do this as a precaution to avoid
a trip to the emergency room one night :-(

I am using Mentor 16", #10 caths and they are about a dollar each.
That could get expensive fast, but I have been reusing the same one for
a week or two with no problems. After each use, I wash the cath in
disinfectant soap and store it submerged in a jar filled with a bleach
solution. To use, make sure to rinse the bleach off. I use a rubber
syringe to force bleach and rinse water through the cath. For
Lubrication I use Surgi-Glide. A $2 tube lasts for months.

I didn't see a doctor to show me how to do it... no reason making
another boat payment for him. The LowFric site has a very nice set of
instructions and guide. I haven't tried their product because of the
expense. I'll probably get some, however for "on the road" use.

The catheterization itself is not comfortable but is bearable once you
get over the "yuck" factor. I just keep picturing Benjamin Franklin
using a reed and am thankful for modern technology :-)

The time is fast approaching when I am going to have to do something
about this and my Urologist won't discuss anything but TURP. The caths
should buy me time to shop around for a PVP doc in my area.

I would recommend that anyone with severe BPH learn out how to do this
even if you don't plan to do it regularly. That way if you ever need
to, you will be prepared. Not being able to pee at all is scary and
going to the emergency room in the middle of the night just to get
catherized is expensive and inconvenient.

--
Nelson

Ken Knecht

2004-10-05, 7:10 pm

Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> wrote in
news:0001HW.BD88424F0027FCCEF04075B0@news-60.giganews.com:

> In the "Probably more than you wanted to know" department, I
> have started self catheterization. The nature of my BPH is
> that occasionally I have a period where I can't start,
> usually at night. Although my flow is usually poor anyway,
> during these intervals it is even worse. I decided to learn
> how to do this as a precaution to avoid a trip to the
> emergency room one night :-(
>
> I am using Mentor 16", #10 caths and they are about a dollar
> each. That could get expensive fast, but I have been
> reusing the same one for a week or two with no problems.
> After each use, I wash the cath in disinfectant soap and
> store it submerged in a jar filled with a bleach solution.
> To use, make sure to rinse the bleach off. I use a rubber
> syringe to force bleach and rinse water through the cath.
> For Lubrication I use Surgi-Glide. A $2 tube lasts for
> months.
>
> I didn't see a doctor to show me how to do it... no reason
> making another boat payment for him. The LowFric site has a
> very nice set of instructions and guide. I haven't tried
> their product because of the expense. I'll probably get
> some, however for "on the road" use.
>
> The catheterization itself is not comfortable but is
> bearable once you get over the "yuck" factor. I just keep
> picturing Benjamin Franklin using a reed and am thankful for
> modern technology :-)
>
> The time is fast approaching when I am going to have to do
> something about this and my Urologist won't discuss anything
> but TURP. The caths should buy me time to shop around for a
> PVP doc in my area.
>
> I would recommend that anyone with severe BPH learn out how
> to do this even if you don't plan to do it regularly. That
> way if you ever need to, you will be prepared. Not being
> able to pee at all is scary and going to the emergency room
> in the middle of the night just to get catherized is
> expensive and inconvenient.
>

Can you give more info about the 'LowFric' site? URL? It doesn't
turn up on Google.

Also, where do you buy the catheters? Can you get them in drug
stores like Walgreens?

TIA

Ken

--
Untie the two knots to email me

"Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty, but of certainty."
Nietzche

Nelson

2004-10-05, 7:10 pm

On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 12:36:11 -0400, Ken Knecht wrote
(in article <Xns957960E4FC105kenkderucom@140.99.23.22> ):

> Can you give more info about the 'LowFric' site? URL? It doesn't
> turn up on Google.

Oops... sorry it's "LoFric"

http://www.astratechusa.com/Main.as...2/navl/57048/na
va/57049

> Also, where do you buy the catheters? Can you get them in drug
> stores like Walgreens?

Local Kerr Drug carries them but I understand you can get them pretty
much anywhere including the Web. You don't need a prescription unless
you expect insurance to pay for them.

--
Nelson

XS11E

2004-10-07, 2:18 am

Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> wrote in
news:0001HW.BD88424F0027FCCEF04075B0@news-60.giganews.com:

> In the "Probably more than you wanted to know" department

Yup, it sure is! But it's information I need to know and probably
others here do also.

Thanks for posting it, it's much appreciated.