Amy Landrum, AGNP-C, CWOCN, is a nurse practitioner, so she doesn’t beat around the bush.
“I’m here to help people and their caregivers who are having difficulty with their catheter and ostomy supplies,” she says.
Patients with conditions that can cause urinary incontinence—such as prostate cancer, spinal cord injuries, or urological trauma—have a lot of choices to make regarding catheter use.
Should I do intermittent cathing? Or get an indwelling catheter? What’s the difference? And what the heck is a French size?
From tried-and-true products to innovative designs for athletic and on-the-go lifestyles, catheter options are seemingly endless. Getting the best fit and style starts with learning the right words to describe the products you need.
If you have health concerns, you know that nurses are the front-line providers who bring an invaluable amount of skill, knowledge, and expertise to patient care. They’re compassionate caregivers who deeply respect patients and listen to their needs.
Amy Landrum, APRN, CWOCN is one of those nurses.
We asked Amy to tell us about how she became a nurse, what her specialty means, and why she cares so much for her patients.
A common catheter question I hear is, “Now that I use intermittent catheters, can I travel?” The answer is yes. Whether it be for business or pleasure, you can travel with catheters. Catheter users can travel via airplanes, busses, trains, or ships to reach their destination. Here are some tips that can make traveling with catheters easier:
Regardless of your method of travel, keep several catheters in an easily accessible location. You may need to empty your bladder suddenly during your trip and having catheters on hand is a must. Consider obtaining a small travel bag for your catheters that can be kept on your lap or shoulder. Don’t forget to pack hand sanitizer, as this can make pre-cathing hand hygiene quick and easy on the go!
There are unique obstacles to exercise after a spinal cord injury, but it's vital to stay active. With a little motivation, staying fit can be easier and more fun than you may think.
There is not just oneway to be active. ABC's website has several articles that might give you a starting point or some ideas. You can do yoga, play tennis, and so much more. Staying active can also be stretching at home. The most important thing is to find what works for you. The article below has some general tips to get started:
If you have a spinal cord injury, you may be at risk for autonomic dysreflexia. This condition is serious and, left unchecked or unresolved, can cause stroke, seizure, or cardiac arrest. In simple terms, autonomic dysreflexia is an overreaction from your body’s autonomic system to something happening below your level of injury, which can elevate your blood pressure to dangerous levels.
If you use intermittent catheters (ICs) for bladder management, you may be concerned about urinary tract infection (UTI). First, the good news – by using intermittent catheters instead of an indwelling urethral catheter (Foley), you are already ahead of the game in terms of prevention: Research suggests that intermittent catheter users experience fewer UTIs when compared to indwelling urethral catheter users. So keep up the good work!
