Life of a cathetar

jpotts · Post by **jpotts** » 2007-06-04 13:49:55

Ok ladies and gents, question for you! Just as a little background...I have an Indiana Pouch (new bladder created by part of my bowels) and cath through my stoma in my navel. I use the Robinson red 18FR cathaters. I use them one time and then clean them with soap and water for reuse. I am trying to determine how long (duration of time or number ) a catheter can be used or how many time you should use before pitching. Is there something that tells me it should be pitched????? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!

squid56 · Post by **squid56** » 2007-06-05 21:37:56

I use a different type of catheter for my Indiana pouch- it is a Mentor 14F coude catheter. They are a stiff clear plastic so it makes it easier for me to negotiate the tract that goes into my pouch. I can tell when it is time to pitch them as the plastic gets soft. When this happens the catheter tends to fold over itself and I have trouble getting it to go through the tract as well as the valves. Judith

jpotts · Post by **jpotts** » 2007-06-05 21:45:30

Thank You Squid, I use the ones my doc recommended. Since they are soft rubber, I guess I can not use the same tip you recommend. Interesting thought, can other folks share what types of caths you use????? Might be a good topic??

Imustpee · Post by **Imustpee** » 2007-06-16 14:19:30

I use Bard 16 french coude' caths...I use them for about a month or so...when they bend at the tip when going into the stoma, I throw them away..

sb · Post by sb » 2007-07-01 09:11:44

I use the cheapest catheter I can find and then discard it after use.

When I started, in 1991, I kept and cleaned my catheters, but I never felt that I got them as clean as I wanted. I also found it rather unpleasant to have to carry used catheters on me as well as the clean ones. I had many infections and I was generally unhappy about being tied-down.

Since I've started using catheters once only, around 1999, I average about 1 infection per year. Also, I am not taking any prophylactic anti-biodics. I'm very active and when I'm busy I have a new catheter in my left pocket and in my right a mini-tube of lube and hand-sanitizer.

There is a cost for this, but I only use 5-7 catheters a day. As I said, I use the cheapest catheters I can find, and insurance covers most, but not all, of this cost. Also you have to consider the cost of the time, inconvenience, and uncertainly associated with reuse. Compared to "normal" cost that many people have for things such as cable TV this is a small price. Frankly I'm willing to trade cable TV for not being tied-down.