Guest guest Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 I wish I could help you out/..but have not had the catheter inserted..or ever have I done a self. One of the main reasons that I opted for the radiation..was to NOT have to do the catheter! Subject: self catheterizationTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 1:00 AM I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering?I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again.What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this.Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help.(I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months).Dave Halvorsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Dave, I had prostate radical in 03. I already had trouble peeing. It was worse after the surgery and I have been self catherizing every since. Once you get used to it, it is just a nuisance to have to do. On my best days I only have to catherize1-2 times. On worst maybe 20 times. I have a spastic bladder neck and urethral stricture,the latter partially due to scar tissue from cystoscopes etc. That is why I have to catherize. Plus I have a couple of hernia areas which make straining ill advised. I use my hands to push my belly and bladder area to help force it out. sorry to be so graphic, I thought I could help. Anyway the catherization is a piece of cake and if you get into it I can suggest cleaning routines that are good and you will need to get a Bard French catheter for it to work well. I hated techs to catherize me and doing it myself at first was not easy but with a little time, it is just a nuisance. Doug R. Subject: self catheterization To: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Monday, July 5, 2010, 9:00 PM Â I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). Dave Halvorsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Dave -- Since I had a urinary stricture, I've been self-catheterizing for the past two years. I can urinate normally; the catheter just keeps my urethra from closing up. I started with once-a-day insertion, and now do 3x per week. I hope I can quit, eventually, but that day hasn't come yet. As a previous post says, it's just a nuisance. It's not painful. Most of the time, I wouldn't even use " discomfort " to describe it. It _is_ " weird " , until you get used to it. If you can arrange for a clean work area, and use chlorhexadine soap, your chances for an infection are very low. I've catheterized in a sailboat's bathroom -- you don't need much. I think your doctor is on the right track. > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > Dave Halvorsen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 , I am like you, even if I don't have to catherize, I need to do it at least once a day to keep my urethra from shrinking in diameter. Would you elaborate on that soap please. I have been using Dr. Bonner's natural antibiotic soap with tea tree, followed by alcohol spray before using( but allowing to dry). DougSubject: Re: self catheterizationTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 12:03 PM Dave -- Since I had a urinary stricture, I've been self-catheterizing for the past two years. I can urinate normally; the catheter just keeps my urethra from closing up. I started with once-a-day insertion, and now do 3x per week. I hope I can quit, eventually, but that day hasn't come yet. As a previous post says, it's just a nuisance. It's not painful. Most of the time, I wouldn't even use "discomfort" to describe it. It _is_ "weird", until you get used to it. If you can arrange for a clean work area, and use chlorhexadine soap, your chances for an infection are very low. I've catheterized in a sailboat's bathroom -- you don't need much. I think your doctor is on the right track. > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > Dave Halvorsen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 I did self catheterization as my only way to urinate for about 18 years, 1989 to 2007 (ages 39 to 56). I lost bladder control due to spinal damage, and had no reason to expect I'd urinate on my own again. It was tough the first time; it doesn't hurt, and I wouldn't even say " discomfort " but it's strange and unnatural. I had previously had doctors catheterize me, and " discomfort " was there, so I had a history of feeling this was awful. But doing it myself, slowly, was an entirely different experience, and after a few days it was routine. Nothing like the constant irritation and wrongness of an indwelling catheter. It took a few days to get used to doing it, but after that it was routine. I did it at home, at work, in restaurant bathrooms, airplanes, anyplace where I could be sure to clean my hands beforehand. I kept the necessary supplies in my desk at work (well cleaned catheter in clean container, cotton balls and bottle of betadine, tube of Surgilube), and it was no big deal. I did it four times a day, and took about ten minutes. Over the long haul, doing it was the easy part. Keeping the catheters clean was the hard part; I had many bladder infections until I learned to keep care of them properly. I used them only once, then cleaned them in Clorox solution, rinsed them in water that had been sterilized by pressure cooking (this was the part I had to get right; cleaning them and then rinsing in water that had only been boiled usually left me an infection). One of the great silver linings of my prostate cancer was that, once the prostate was gone, and the urinary sphincter was gone with it, I no longer needed to catheterize. But while I had to, it was routine, as long as I did it. King >Dave " > wrote: >> >> I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it >> is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self >> cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still >> aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self >> cathetering? >> I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I >> will never be able to urinate on my own again. >> What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put >> in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize >> that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info >> you can impart about this. >> Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month >> about that. Your input on this will be a big help. >> >> (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on >> Zoladex treatments every 3 months). >> >> Dave Halvorsen >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Doug -- Chlorhexidine [i checked the spelling] is an anti-bacterial " skin cleanser " (low-sudsing soap), widely used in hospitals. " PhisoHex " is one US brand I know. The active ingredient is chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%. It's pretty cheap -- I think 16 oz cost me about $15, and it's lasted for months. I don't know if it's better than Dr. Bonner's. But I know it's good. One warning -- if you use bleach on a chlorhexidine stain, it will set _permanently_, medium brown. PS -- It also dilutes (30:1) into a 0.15% chlorhexidine mouthwash -- doesn't taste good, but it's great for gum infections and gum disease. It'll stain your teeth brown, but the stain comes off during dental cleaning. > > > > > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > > > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > > > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > > > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > > > > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > > > > > Dave Halvorsen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Doug -- Chlorhexidine [i checked the spelling] is an anti-bacterial " skin cleanser " (low-sudsing soap), widely used in hospitals. " PhisoHex " is one US brand I know. The active ingredient is chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%. It's pretty cheap -- I think 16 oz cost me about $15, and it's lasted for months. I don't know if it's better than Dr. Bonner's. But I know it's good. One warning -- if you use bleach on a chlorhexidine stain, it will set _permanently_, medium brown. PS -- It also dilutes (30:1) into a 0.15% chlorhexidine mouthwash -- doesn't taste good, but it's great for gum infections and gum disease. It'll stain your teeth brown, but the stain comes off during dental cleaning. > > > > > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > > > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > > > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > > > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > > > > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > > > > > Dave Halvorsen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 , thanks for getting back with me. while my system may be ok, I'm open to others. As I had said, only about 3 infections in 7 years. I think it is because I drink and pee so much moving things out of my body. I've been using basically the same 10 bard french catheters for most of that time. I don't think my medicare advantage will pay for them, and I know I'm not going to throw it away after one time. I think there is no problem with very extended use of a catheter. DougSubject: Re: self catheterizationTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 9:36 PM Doug -- Chlorhexidine [i checked the spelling] is an anti-bacterial "skin cleanser" (low-sudsing soap), widely used in hospitals. "PhisoHex" is one US brand I know. The active ingredient is chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%. It's pretty cheap -- I think 16 oz cost me about $15, and it's lasted for months. I don't know if it's better than Dr. Bonner's. But I know it's good. One warning -- if you use bleach on a chlorhexidine stain, it will set _permanently_, medium brown. PS -- It also dilutes (30:1) into a 0.15% chlorhexidine mouthwash -- doesn't taste good, but it's great for gum infections and gum disease. It'll stain your teeth brown, but the stain comes off during dental cleaning. > > > > > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > > > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > > > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > > > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > > > > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > > > > > Dave Halvorsen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 Hi Jim Colin here from australia from what i have read about it its all controled through the very small pump planted in the scrotum beside your testicle, erection and deftating To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Thursday, 8 July 2010 09:12:26Subject: Re: Re: self catheterization Does that penile implant work...when you want it too? How does it take to GET UP! And..then the next question ..GO DOWN! Subject: Re: self catheterizationTo: ProstateCancerSupport Date: Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 10:27 PM I had a penile implant and male sling "installed" in April. After the surgery, I was not able to urinate on my own, so, after trip to the ER and back to the urologist, I was self cathing about 3 times a day. Eventually it got better and I was only getting out about 40 ml each cathing. So, I was able to stop after about 5 weeks.Last week, I had a botox injection in my bladder to calm my over-active bladder incontinence. It seems that, once again, I'm not getting everything out. Weak stream, feeling I need to go again in 1/2 hour. So, the last couple nights, I cathed again before bedtime and was able to sleep the night without having to get up.We'll see if time will heal this one too.> > >> > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering?> > > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again.> > > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this.> > > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help.> > > > > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months).> > > > > > Dave Halvorsen> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2010 Report Share Posted July 8, 2010 There's a whole other group devoted to penile implants. It just takes a minute or 2 to pump up the implant. After you're through, just depress a button, let it deflate on it's own then squeeze it down and you're back to your " new normal " flaccid state. Check out the penile implant Yahoo group! Lots of info there. > > > > > > > > I have had a catheter in me for 10 months since I was diagnosed and it is a royal pain, literally. Some time ago the uro asked me about self cathetering. At the time I was not in favor of it, and probably still aren't. My question is this: has anyone in this group ever used self cathetering? > > > > I mean over a long period of time actually since it is likely that I will never be able to urinate on my own again. > > > > What I would like to know, is did it work okay? How easy was it to put in the catheter, and how much discomfort was involved? (I do realize that everyone is different on the discomfort part). Also any other info you can impart about this. > > > > Please let me know. I will ask the uro when Ii see him again next month about that. Your input on this will be a big help. > > > > > > > > (I am stage T3b with Gleason score of 4+4=8 and PSA around 5.0 and am on Zoladex treatments every 3 months). > > > > > > > > Dave Halvorsen > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2010 Report Share Posted July 9, 2010 What is the name for this group. I am interested in finding out but have been unsuccessful in finding the right group. From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of bill80918 Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 12:09 AM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: self catheterization There's a whole other group devoted to penile implants. It just takes a minute or 2 to pump up the implant. After you're through, just depress a button, let it deflate on it's own then squeeze it down and you're back to your " new normal " flaccid state. Check out the penile implant Yahoo group! Lots of info there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 The name of the group is Penileimplant. He's the URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/penileimplant/ > > What is the name for this group. I am interested in finding out but have > been unsuccessful in finding the right group. > > > > _____ > > From: ProstateCancerSupport > [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of bill80918 > Sent: Friday, July 09, 2010 12:09 AM > To: ProstateCancerSupport > Subject: Re: self catheterization > > > > > > There's a whole other group devoted to penile implants. It just takes a > minute or 2 to pump up the implant. After you're through, just depress a > button, let it deflate on it's own then squeeze it down and you're back to > your " new normal " flaccid state. > > Check out the penile implant Yahoo group! Lots of info there. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.