How To Make Intermittent Catheterization Less Painful

Why is intermittent catheterization painful? And what about how to make intermittent catheterization less painful? In this article, we’re going to talk about how catheters work, what they are, and what they’re used for. Overall catheters are used by people who are unable to empty what’s inside their bladder on their own. They tend to be tubes that enter through the urethra, or through an opening in the abdomen. They can be used for anything from surgery prep to a urinary tract infection. They’ve been used throughout history by people of all ages. In this article, we’re going to talk about why it can be painful to use one.

Generally, intermittent catheters cause pain when people use them on their own. The pain is typically caused during insertion, but can also happen due to inaccurate usage. Besides user error, one of the most common ways in which pain occurs is tension in the body. If your body is rigid and unforgiving, chances are it’s going to hurt. We definitely recommend you do something to calm yourself down. For some people, it’s a nap, whereas for others it’s yoga. All in all, if you relax and remove the tension from your body, it’s unlikely you are going to feel pain.

One of the more painful consequences of catheterization is a urinary tract infection. Generally, these are caused when some sort of bacteria gets in your urethra during insertion. To avoid this we recommend that you do a great job washing your hands along with avoiding direct contact with anything other than the catheter. This means you shouldn’t touch your body, your clothes, or anything else in your direct environment. You should also always make sure that the packaging in which the catheter arrives is clean and not punctured. If the packaging is damaged in any way, do not use it. If the product seems damaged or dirty, do not use it.

As we mentioned, one of the most common ways in which a catheter becomes painful to use is when someone uses it wrong. User error can cause a lot of problems, so before you move on to direct usage, contact your doctor or another medical professional. They’ll teach how to go about self-catheterization properly. We also recommend you check out some of the online medical forums for advice. A lot of people find it helpful when other patients like yourself post advice. Maybe after all of this is said and done you’ll be able to post advice for other people.

Speaking of tips and advice, we would like to share some with you! The first is for women. A lot of people find it very easy when they are standing with one leg upwards on their toilet. You’ll want your calf to be at a ninety-degree angle with your thigh. A good tip for actually using a catheter is, if you feel something stopping you, don’t push through. Resistance means you’re either at the wrong angle or at the wrong place.

The next bit of advice we have is for men. In order to smoothly insert the catheter, we recommend you either sit or lie down. Hold your penis straight up so that it’s parallel with your stomach. Similarly to our last bit of advice, we don’t recommend you push through anything because you may be at the wrong angle. Generally, once you’ve inserted about six inches of the catheter, you’re going to feel a bit of resistance and pain. This is the one time it’s okay. This is usually where your sphincter muscles are for the urethra. When you feel this, put a little more force into it. Now that you’ve inserted the catheter, lay your penis down to where it would naturally lie until your bladder has been completely emptied.

Overall a good piece of advice is to never push or force the device inside of yourself when you feel resistance or pain. A lot of people simply think they are clenching the muscles inside their bodies, but that’s not necessarily true. You’re most likely pushing at the wrong angle, or are in the wrong place. If you feel resistance or some sort of blockage, we recommend you stop immediately. Take the catheter out, and try again. We suggest you take a lot of deep breaths and attempt to calm yourself as we discussed earlier. Generally taking a catheter out because you did something wrong can be somewhat stressful, which in turn only makes the next round of insertion that much more difficult.

The way in which a urinary catheter works is through drainage eyelets. These are found on the end of catheters and are what allow urine to flow through the device. Sometimes these eyelets can maintain a factory flaw in which they’re unpolished. Unpolished eyelets are rough and can be quite painful upon insertion. Before you use a catheter, you need to make sure they’re smooth and polished. Even the smallest rough edge can cause pain, and all pain is bad. Some doctors will tell you that pain means damage and is never a good thing.

To make the entire ordeal less painful, a lot of people will use natural latex catheters because they can be more comfortable to use. We’re talking about better shapes, better sizes, and even better lengths. They’re way more resilient and flexible, and they’re overall just better. Before you use them though, be sure you’re not allergic. Having an allergic reaction to a latex catheter could result in serious consequences. You can check with your doctor to see if you’re allergic to latex through a simple allergy test. When using a latex catheter, keep track of any symptoms you may be feeling. If you believe your urethra starts to swell at all, or any part of your body for that matter, call your doctor. Do the same if you experience hives, wheezing, tightness anywhere in the body, and hives. If you have any serious symptoms that need immediate medical attention, you should call 911 immediately.

Now let’s talk about lubrication, shall we? The best way to get a smooth and painless insertion is through lubrication. A lot of catheters will come with lubricant already on them, but sometimes that isn’t enough. You can actually buy extra lube from most pharmacies or get it right from your doctor. This lubric will allow for a smooth insertion with no pain whatsoever. Even in the tighter parts of your body, the lubricant will help.

For more information about catheters and why they can be painful, you’ll need to contact your doctor. They know everything there is to know about your personal medical situation. We don’t recommend you look for complex advice online. There is a lot of incorrect information out there that can’t be trusted unless you know it’s a reputable source. Using a catheter is a very serious event, and you should do it right.

We hope this article got you started, but do remember, the more complex issues and advice need to come from your doctor.