Catheters (and re-using them at work)

March 30, 2006

Hello everyone,

My name is Jesus. I don't usually say much. Actually I havent' said

anything on this listserv. I have learned a lot though, thanks to everyone

here :^)

I have Spina Bifida, am ambulatory with below the knee braces...... and I

cath. Recently there was a discussion here about re-using catheters. I found

it very helpful but I guess I didn't save the e-mails :^(

My sitation is this: I use those Mentor 14Fr catheters. Clear and flexible,

and with a coude tip (and non latex of course ;^)

I use the same one over and over, for a week or two. Wash it with soap and

water after every use.....every use, at home, that is. When I am out, I use

it one time and throw it away. Well, that was never really a problem since

what I have been doing for employment was mostly freelance stuff. It's been

many years since I had somewhere to be every day from 9-5.

Well, I'm going to start a new job this Monday. 8-5 every day.

And now I'm not sure what to do about catheters. I'm not going to cath, and

then wash it there in the bathroom, where people can just come on in, and

see me washing a catheter. ;^) And I assume that I do have to wash it or do

something, before the next use, since it gets all sticky and and stuff, from

the KY.

I know that there are other ways to keep them clean and to re-use them when

I can't immediately wash them. I read a lot of them here. :^) I remember

alcohol and plastic bags being talked about.

But I can't remember details. Wash them later, when I get home? Store them

someplace in the meantime? How do I go about using catheters more than

once, when I am at work?

And I guess my question is directed at those that use the same type of

catheter that I use. Only because I assume (but could be totally wrong! ;^)

that

many women, for example, who cath tend to use those shorter (because of the

shorter path to the bladder?) easier to conceal and wash later, steel

catheters.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

~Jesus

Oh and PS...I already did decide that I am going to buy one of those nifty

leather laptop bags (often called a " man-bag ;^) to put stuff in. Ya know, a

pad or two, stuff like that.....Still, don't know what to do about cathing

and then having a sticky, used catheter. ;^)

Recommended Posts