Re: Kelli - Sharing with You

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Have you checked into self-cathing so you could empty

before you have to do something like speak in public

(or interpret sign language)? What a shame you have

to miss so much! I self-cath and it has made such a

huge impact on my self-esteem!! If I empty my

bladder, it's usually a few hours before it fills

enough for me to get the urge to go again.

How about those incontinence aids that look like

underwear? The pull-up things? I would wear those

in a minute.

Hugs,

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[Guest guest]

Before I began to self-cath, I had a UTI every day of

every week, of every month, for years and years. I

started cathing and it all went away. It was

explained to me that cathing does introduce bacteria

into the bladder which can cause infection, but

emptying the bladder once will essentially sterilize

it.

So if you cath once, bacteria is introduced which sit

in the bladder waiting for the next time you pee.

Problem with us is when we pee, we don't empty the

bladder, so the bacteria sits in the bladder waiting

for the NEXT chance. And while it's waiting, it is

also growing, and multiplying. And since we never

empty the bladder, never sterilize it, there is always

an infection. So if you are cathed once, you will

grow bacteria because your body doesn't have a chance

to expel it. You should talk to a urologist about

giving the self-cath thing a shot. It won't hurt

anything to try it for a couple of weeks. And if the

infection doesn't go away, then you know for sure.

And in the meantime, you stay dry. And I know people

who have taken keflex for years as a prophylactic

antibiotic. Ever try Vitamin C? You should ask your

doctor about it. It acidifies the urine, making it

very unfriendly to bacteria.

But you know what, I tend to try anything I can try

just to say " been there, done that " . I have the

attitude that we put up with so, so much.

Embarrassment doesn't have to be part of it, or at

least it shouldn't be part of it. I know not everyone

is so gung ho to do something that is unnatural as

cathing seems to be.

--- Pam wrote:

> yes, it has been considered and discussed, and ruled

> out as an option.

> for some reason, i have zero tolerance for

> catherters.

> everytime i go to the urologist and they cath me, i

> get a UTI.

> its very predictible. they always give me extra

> antibodics now.

> i dont know why this is. dr said something like my

> bladder was sensitive to

> the " invasive preocedure " .

> and i havent gotten off the keflex for any length of

> time

> and stabalized yet. and i use those other

> incontinence aids.

> its not perfect but they help alot.

> but thanks for the suggestion.

>

> pam

>

>

> > Have you checked into self-cathing so you could

> empty

> > before you have to do something like speak in

> public

> > (or interpret sign language)? What a shame you

> have

> > to miss so much! I self-cath and it has made

> such a

> > huge impact on my self-esteem!! If I empty my

> > bladder, it's usually a few hours before it fills

> > enough for me to get the urge to go again.

> >

> > How about those incontinence aids that look like

> > underwear? The pull-up things? I would wear

> those

> > in a minute.

> >

> > Hugs,

> >

>

>

>

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