Looking For Advice on Self-cathing

Men's health
1

For a long time I have been making assumptions and, according to what I was taught, I have a 50/50% chance of being right or wrong; I really do need to be close to100% right!
What I had originally interpreted as good support from my medical team has all but ceased, and I don’t know why.

I suffer from urinary retention and I need to know if my prostate is “normal”, “moderately enlarged”, or “enlarged”. All I have to go on is that the easiest and most comfortable catheter for me to use is a Cure, straight, Fr-16, hydrophilic, but I can pass an Fr-18 without causing hematuria.

I have undergone a comprehensive urodynamic evaluation and their diagnosis was TURP. My urologist, on the other hand, was fully supportive of me and reasoned that, since I was performing CIC successfully, continuation of this procedure would be the most appropriate course of action.

Over the past six months I have been hospitalized and my regular catheterizations were relegated to hospital staff. Most times they followed the correct specifications, but on a few occasions tried a Coude-tipped catheter and the procedure became more difficult, particularly when negotiating the prostate.

Then came the bladder irrigation event which called for a 3-way F-22 Foley. This was not painful, per se, but I was aware of a sensation of pressure throughout the procedure. Unfortunately this completely obliterated my normal catheterization feedback and I was therefore unable to offer any catheterization guidance to the attending nursing staff. I have two possible remedies in mind; obtain some suitably sized urethral sounds and stretch my urethra, or obtain permission to induce a partial erection.

Now, JimJames , I do remember you chastising me for using such large catheters, but the F-16 really does slide in, almost under its own weight, so I think it is quite safe. The second alternative, inducing a partial erection, could be offensive to some. Based on my strict rules, “the medical setting where this might take place is your place of work and you have every right to call the shots there. I myself, on the other hand, am a mere occasional visitor and I am obliged to make quite sure that my behavior falls totally in line with your expectations.” You have my permission to incorporate this in any rule book you may be working on.

So, in closing, is my self-assessment 50% accurate, or maybe 75%, or even85%, or for ego inflation purposes, 90% accurate? I thank you all for your help and support, now extending several years back! Best regards, alan86734.

2

Can’t tell your prostate size but if you can fit 16fr then your obstruction is not too bad.

3

Dear Hank,

Thank you for your response; much appreciated. It always seemed to me that I was some how cheating when I was the only one making that judgment. A sign of my insecurity, perhaps, but I eventually came to envy you guys who were given relevant weights, dimensions, and capacities. I quite agree that it is very much a matter of: “How long is a piece of string.” the answer so often given to impatient Users by us programmers and software engineers. When will my job be ready? “Tomorrow” was another stock, always-correct answer!

So, I found your answer reassuring, to say the least. Warm regards and thank you once again!

alan86734.

4

Hi, All,

Second to last paragraph I omitted another important supporter who deserves much credit, and that is Cartoonman. He helped me deal with the “Wet Noodle Syndrome” which often occurs when inserting soft and flexible catheters such as the pure 100% silicone ones. Thanks to you my good friend, I can remove the flexible insertion sleeve and insert my Cure freehand while holding it by the funnel only, i.e. still absolutely “no touch” all the way to the funnel.

In the same paragraph I failed to mention a third alternative which is to ensure that I be given a complete and unobstructed view of the entire procedure. This is based on two studies aimed at determining pain perception of patients undergoing cystoscopies. They were divided into two groups. The first comprised patients who were placed in a semi-supine position who therefore had a direct and unobstructed view of the entire procedure, from initial prep to cystoscope withdrawal. The second group had the patients in a fully supine position and drapes were arranged to shield the urologist performing the procedure and the monitor. If my memory is correct, I believe the patients were also required to wear ear muffs to render the isolation as complete as possible. When results were compared the “Visual” group reported significantly less pain.

Despite the foregoing, I fear that my pleas, “I’m not a masochist”, and “No, I do not enjoy pain.” will probably have to continue for a while!

Warn regards, alan86734.