Page 11 - Urological Health

• Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding of certain foods, can make the symptoms more
tolerable.
• Oral and intravesical (inside the bladder) treatments can be helpful.

Your urologist will work with you to find the best combination for you, but the disease can be hard to
control. You may need many types of therapy to manage the disease. It usually takes a long time to
arrive at a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis and to determine the best treatment but you can expect
some degree of relief.

7. I have a catheter in my bladder. How can I manage it at home?
It is common to have a bladder catheter to treat many urological disorders and issues. The function
of the catheter is to keep the bladder empty, to monitor the urine and to protect the bladder or urethra
in cases of surgery or injury.
If you need a bladder catheter at home, it’s often because you can’t urinate on your own, you need to
keep the bladder empty or to protect a part of a surgical reconstruction. The catheter may be
temporary or there may be no plan or possibility of removing it. This will depend on the reason for the
catheter.

In any case, there are some things you can do to make your life with a catheter easier.
UNDER REVIEW
a. Know how to change the bags that come with the catheter. The larger bag is best
used when you are sleeping or not very mobile. It can fill up with a lot of urine
and can be emptied less frequently. The smaller leg bag straps to the leg to allow
you to be mobile with the catheter. You may be surprised by how many people
are out and about with catheters and leg bags – no one could tell they have one!
b. Avoid applying tension to the catheter or it will become uncomfortable. Often it
can be secured to the thigh by a special locking device.
c. Practice good hygiene: wash your hands before touching the catheter or the bags,
and keep the end of the catheter clean where it exits the body. There can often be
a discharge that accumulates there, which is normal. Some small amount of
leakage around the catheter is not uncommon, and can be caused by the
bladder’s reaction to the catheter, which is sometimes to spasm to try to expel it
from the bladder. If this is an issue, you can take oral medications or
suppositories to calm the bladder wall.
d. Drink enough fluids. If there is bleeding or debris within the tubing, the catheter
can become obstructed. This can result in a painful filling of the bladder. This
may require flushing of the catheter, and is best prevented by adequate fluid
intake while you have a catheter. Discomfort where the catheter exits the body is
common, and can be managed with lubricants such as petroleum jelly.
e. Get some training from a qualified health professional. You may be able to access
home care programs. Most people experience minor inconveniences with a
catheter; don’t be shy to ask for help if you need it.

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