Indiana Pouch irrigating questions

[Ant]

Sometimes i wonder if i maybe i am never getting all my pee out, Like its sitting on the bottom of my pouch.
I am not good at irrigating Most always it seams like a waste of time, that i am not getting out what i should.
What kind & size cath do you use to irrigate?
Some time i try till i end up with blood then i stop.
Please help me.
Thanks

[squid56]

Hi Darolyn,you should be irrigating with the same catheter you use to cath yourself. How much are you using when you irrigate? Is it all coming back out? Do you get much mucus out? Are you measuring what you put in and what comes back out? It may give you a better idea if you measure.

[Ant]

I do get what i put in back or close to it, I have so much mucus even i just cath..
Thanks

[spunkylady]

I also have an Indiana pouch. I do not think you should be irrigating until you see blood.
As said previously you should use the same catheter . I usually have a fair amount of mucus when I empty my pouch, and when irrigating
I do not see as much. But you should still irrigate. I am not sure if you ever completely empty you pouch, howver when you are finishing you can move the cathe around to make sure you get the urine higher up.

I am not sure how to answer your flat tummy question. I have not had a flat tummy for years. Are you saying the surgery made your tummy not flat?
I do see a diffence in size on by belly where the pouch & stoma are, however it can not be signifigant because my daughters say I am full of it???

[squid56]

As long as you are getting out pretty much what you put in then don't worry. As far as mucus it does get better with time, though it will always be there. Certain foods like dairy products increase the body's mucus production so if you eat/drink lots of dairy try cutting back on it.

[Ant]

Thanks Do you french 14 male to cath?

[squid56]

Yes that is my size, though I use a coude one made by Coloplast. In the beginning I used a smaller one- a 12F but as time went on I found I needed the 14.

[Ant]

Thanks so much for all your answers