Hello friends,
I had to start self-catheterization (aka clean intermittent catheterization or CIC) last week after I saw a Urologist for incontinence and she discovered hydronephrosis (urine backing up into a kidney) on ultrasound.
I've been coping with mixed incontinence for a few years but was scared to see a Urologist...so I took a med my Neuro prescribed and spent a fortune on Poise. I was upset by the idea of CIC at first, but after sleeping through the night for the first time in years I was all on board. For the first couple of days things were great. I hadn't realized how uncomfortable I was until I wasn't anymore.
Unfortunately within the first 3-4 days of starting, I developed a UTI. I cannot remember ever having a UTI before this and I didn't know what it would be like. Plus, I didn't know what to expect from the CIC having just started, so I chalked up dysuria and frequency to urerthal irritation from the catheters. Ultimately the smell that tipped me off (yikes!).
After than I started having such bad pain in my abdomen that I was worried I had somehow poked a hole in my bladder with the catheter and developed peritonitis. The urine culture confirmed UTI and I got started on antibiotics, so I'm hoping to start feeling better soon.
In terms of technique, I was taught to urinate normally first then wash my hands and prep supplies. Mostly I've been using single use simple catheters along with sterile lubricant single packs and wipes--either BZK or baby wipes. For cleansing the area around the urethral meatus, the training RN said I could do it with a washcloth (!) so I figured it that's true then baby wipes would probably be okay, too.
When cathing, I try to handle only the far portion of the catheter so that the area my fingers have been on stays outside the urethra, but that limits my control of the catheter so it doesn't seem like it is always possible. I'm wondering if this might be part of the problem... or maybe the wipes?
Many thanks for any ideas, strategies, or tips you can share. I'm very new to CIC, so no tip is too basic. I'd like to hear anything you could think of which might help prevent this from happening again because it has been miserable
It's been a while since I've been active on MSWorld, but it has always been good to know that you are here if needed. Much love and thanks again,
Jennie
I had to start self-catheterization (aka clean intermittent catheterization or CIC) last week after I saw a Urologist for incontinence and she discovered hydronephrosis (urine backing up into a kidney) on ultrasound.
I've been coping with mixed incontinence for a few years but was scared to see a Urologist...so I took a med my Neuro prescribed and spent a fortune on Poise. I was upset by the idea of CIC at first, but after sleeping through the night for the first time in years I was all on board. For the first couple of days things were great. I hadn't realized how uncomfortable I was until I wasn't anymore.
Unfortunately within the first 3-4 days of starting, I developed a UTI. I cannot remember ever having a UTI before this and I didn't know what it would be like. Plus, I didn't know what to expect from the CIC having just started, so I chalked up dysuria and frequency to urerthal irritation from the catheters. Ultimately the smell that tipped me off (yikes!).
After than I started having such bad pain in my abdomen that I was worried I had somehow poked a hole in my bladder with the catheter and developed peritonitis. The urine culture confirmed UTI and I got started on antibiotics, so I'm hoping to start feeling better soon.
In terms of technique, I was taught to urinate normally first then wash my hands and prep supplies. Mostly I've been using single use simple catheters along with sterile lubricant single packs and wipes--either BZK or baby wipes. For cleansing the area around the urethral meatus, the training RN said I could do it with a washcloth (!) so I figured it that's true then baby wipes would probably be okay, too.
When cathing, I try to handle only the far portion of the catheter so that the area my fingers have been on stays outside the urethra, but that limits my control of the catheter so it doesn't seem like it is always possible. I'm wondering if this might be part of the problem... or maybe the wipes?
Many thanks for any ideas, strategies, or tips you can share. I'm very new to CIC, so no tip is too basic. I'd like to hear anything you could think of which might help prevent this from happening again because it has been miserable
It's been a while since I've been active on MSWorld, but it has always been good to know that you are here if needed. Much love and thanks again,
Jennie
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