I wish I had someone to talk to about having to catheterize myself

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I need advice. It’s a very frustrating process. I feel so alone in it

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I suppose it takes a while to get used to it and getting it done smoothly. My mother has removed her big intestine because of cancer and has a bag on her stomach. I think it took her a while to get comfortable with it.

I hope it gets better for you too.

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I never have had to do it, but as someone that worked in health care, use more lube than you think you’ll need.

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Thanks @Mr_Hope 15

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@anon4362788 , what’s happening is the lining of my bladder is so diseased it’s sloughing off and coming out in the catheter and plugging it up. I can’t afford to keep opening up new catheters to get all the urine out. I’m super frustrated

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oh no…so sorry…can’t you just clean the catheters?

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I think so but that has a possibility of causing infection. It’s better to use a sterile one each time

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You can sterilize them. A bath in boiling water should do it. Let me look it up.

Seems that reusable ones are a thing. They’re basically the same as disposable. You wash well with soap and water, flush with a squeeze bottle or faucet, then put in alcohol.

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Ok. Thanks @anon4362788

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Im sorry, i’m a man and i you could use a new, sterile catheter every time i needed too, so i can’t give you any advice… but i can give you a virtual hug.

Catheter is no fun, but i hope you get the ability to pass you water back. I did.

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I’m sorry you have to endure this. I have another kind of health problem that’s a downer, I have trouble swallowing and simply cannot eat some foods, especially bread, and I miss pizza.

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Thanks @bluebutterfly. I’m sorry you went through that too. My bladder is neurogenic and 100% of the tissue is precancerous so we’ve got to do whatever we can to keep me from losing my bladder. In fact all the tissue has turned black too

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Can you get a care worker to do it for you?

Sorry your dealing with this.

Wish I could help .

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I’m so sorry to hear that @Jinx .

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No care workers. They say I need to become independent at doing it. Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can’t. On the times I can’t, my dear husband does it for me. He’s so good to me.

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That’s rough.

I’m glad your husband is a good support to you.

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Thanks @SacredNeigh7

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Does your insurance cover the catheters? If so, let them know the issues youre having due to your medical condition and that you need more catheters.

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I have to pay 20% of the cost @Moonbeam. My insurance pays 80%. I can’t afford to get more than I’m getting now

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Sometimes I can find my urethra. Many times I can’t. Any medical workers here with tips? I even try a mirror and only find my vagina because abnormal skin covers my urethra. It is so hard to find even RNs struggle.

I HATE doing it. I fail all the time!!!