When intermittent catheterization is part of your daily routine, questions are common and expected.
Maybe you've wondered whether you're catheterizing too often or too little. Perhaps you experience a time when catheterization felt uncomfortable, or you've noticed something different and wondered whether it's normal. Even people who have been self-catheterizing for years can have questions as their routines, health, or lifestyles change.
And chances are, if you've wondered about something, other catheter users have wondered about it too.
Here are some common questions urologists and other healthcare providers hear from people who use intermittent catheters. [While the information below can provide helpful general guidance, it is not intended to replace the advice or recommendations of your healthcare provider.]
Am I Catheterizing Too Often—or Not Often Enough?
There isn't one catheterization schedule that's right for everyone.
How often you need to catheterize depends on several factors, including why you catheterize, how well your bladder empties on its own, how much urine your bladder holds, how much fluid you drink, and your individual health needs.
Some people may need to catheterize several times throughout the day, while others may catheterize less frequently. The important thing isn't how your schedule compares with someone else's—it's following the schedule recommended for you by your healthcare provider.
If your routine no longer seems to be working as well as it once did, or you're consistently draining significantly more or less urine than usual, mention it at your next appointment. Your healthcare provider can determine whether your schedule should be adjusted.
[Additional Reading: Cathing on a Schedule: Tips for Users of Intermittent Catheters]
Why Does Catheterization Sometimes Hurt or Feel Uncomfortable?
Intermittent catheterization shouldn't normally be painful, but occasional mild discomfort or stinging can happen, particularly when you're first learning.
Sometimes the simplest things can help. Slowing down, relaxing your muscles, and making sure you're following the technique you were taught may make insertion easier. The type of catheter you use can also affect comfort. Pre-lubricated and hydrophilic catheters, for example, are designed to reduce friction during insertion and removal.
One important rule: don't force it. If you encounter resistance, pause and relax before trying again using the technique your healthcare provider taught you.
If catheterization becomes consistently painful or you begin experiencing resistance when you didn't before, talk with your healthcare provider. It may also be worth asking whether a different catheter style, size, or coating might better meet your needs.
[Additional Reading: Uncoated vs. Hydrophilic Catheters: What's the Difference?]
How Much Water Should I Drink?
Staying hydrated is an important part of supporting bladder and urinary health, but there isn't one amount of water that's right for everyone.
Your fluid needs can vary depending on your health, activity level, medications, diet, climate, and other factors. Some health conditions may also require people to limit their fluid intake.
Rather than focusing on a universal number, talk with your healthcare provider about what's appropriate for you. Once you know your recommended amount, drinking fluids regularly throughout the day can make it easier to stay on track.
And remember that changes in how much you drink can affect how much urine your body produces—and potentially how often you need to empty your bladder.
[Additional Reading: The Hidden Role of Hydration in Preventing Catheter Complications]
Can I Skip a Catheterization?
It can be tempting. You're running errands. You're at a family event. You're traveling. Or maybe it's simply an unusually busy day.
But your catheterization schedule has a purpose. Regularly emptying your bladder helps prevent it from becoming overly full, which is why it's important to follow the schedule recommended by your healthcare provider.
A little preparation can make sticking with your routine much easier when life gets busy. Consider keeping extra catheters in a bag you regularly carry, setting reminders on your phone, and thinking ahead about restroom access when you'll be away from home for an extended period.
The goal isn't to organize your life around catheterization. It's to develop a routine that allows catheterization to fit more easily into the life you're already living.
Should I Be Worried If I See a Little Blood?
Seeing blood can understandably get your attention.
A small amount of spotting can sometimes occur with intermittent catheterization, particularly when you're first learning. The urethra is delicate, and minor irritation can occasionally occur as the catheter passes through it.
A small amount of blood doesn't automatically mean something is seriously wrong. However, heavier bleeding, blood clots, bleeding that continues, or a new pattern of bleeding after you've been catheterizing without difficulty should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
A good rule of thumb: If you're ever unsure, asking your healthcare provider is always appropriate.
Why Is My Catheter Sometimes Harder to Insert?
Even when you've catheterized hundreds of times, you may occasionally encounter more resistance than usual.
Tension can be one reason. When you're anxious or rushing, the muscles around the urinary sphincter can tighten, making insertion more difficult. Taking a moment to relax rather than pushing harder may help.
For men, the catheter also needs to pass through the curved portion of the urethra and past the prostate before reaching the bladder. Some men are prescribed a coudé-tip catheter specifically to help navigate areas that may be more difficult to pass.
[Additional Reading: 3 Ways Coudé Catheters Help with Urinary Retention from an Enlarged Prostate]
The key is not to force the catheter. If difficulty inserting your catheter becomes a recurring issue or represents a change from what's normal for you, talk with your healthcare provider.
How Do I Know If I'm Using the Right Catheter?
There are many different intermittent catheters available, and there's a reason for that: different people have different needs. In addition, catheter manufacturers are constantly seeking to improve intermittent catheters to provide better cathing experiences for individuals who self-catheterize.
Catheters vary in length, diameter, tip design, coating, lubrication, packaging, and portability. Some are designed to be particularly discreet for use away from home. Others may be easier for people with limited hand dexterity to handle.
And your needs can change over time.
Ask yourself:
- Is my catheter comfortable to use?
- Is the packaging easy for me to open and handle?
- Does it work well when I'm away from home?
- Has catheterization become more difficult than it used to be?
- Would another catheter design make my routine easier?
If you're not sure, you don't necessarily have to figure it out on your own. Your healthcare provider can help determine what's medically appropriate, and the ABC Home Medical Supply team can help you understand the catheter options available to you.
Is It Normal to Still Have Questions After I've Been Catheterizing for Years?
Absolutely.
Becoming experienced at self-catheterization doesn't mean your questions disappear.
Your body can change. Your medications can change. Your mobility or dexterity can change. New catheter products become available. And sometimes something you've done the same way for years simply starts to feel different.
One of the advantages of having an established routine is that you get to know what's normal for you. That can make it easier to recognize when something has changed and is worth asking about.
You don't need to diagnose the issue yourself. Sometimes the most useful thing you can tell your healthcare provider is simply, "This is different from what I normally experience."
Questions Are Part of Taking Good Care of Yourself
For many people, intermittent catheterization eventually becomes another part of everyday life. But "routine" doesn't mean you'll never have questions.
Asking questions can help you understand your body, become more confident in your routine, and identify products or techniques that may make catheterization easier.
Your urologist or healthcare provider is your best resource for questions about your health and catheterization schedule. And when you have questions about your catheter products, supplies, or finding an option that better fits your lifestyle, ABC Medical is here to help.
ABC Medical customers also have access to our 24/7 nurse support team for catheter-related questions and support. Call 866-897-8588 to learn more.
Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice, please speak with your healthcare provider.
Sources:
- MedlinePlus, Self-Catheterization – Male
- MedlinePlus, Self-Catheterization – Female
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Intermittent Self-Catheterisation (ISC) for Adults
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterisation for Adults
