About this topic
Your kidneys make urine. The urine is stored in your bladder until you empty your bladder. Normally, you empty your bladder when you pass urine. Some people have problems emptying the bladder all the way. Other people have a leaky bladder. Some people are not able to pass urine at all. In all of these cases, a special tube may be needed to help empty the bladder all the way. The medical word for using a tube to help pass urine is catheterization or cath for short. The catheter is a thin flexible tube that is put in the bladder to drain urine. ‚
General
- Gather all the supplies you will need.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you start. Some people choose to wear disposable gloves.
- Find the most comfortable position for you. Some people like to sit with the knees bent. Others sit on the toilet. Some choose to lie down or squat. Some stand. You may want to put a waterproof pad or paper towels under your hips.
- Wash your inner labia with soap and water or use baby wipes. You should wash from front to back, down the middle, and on both sides. Repeat 3 times using a new wipe each time.
- Use lubricant that is water soluble such as K-Y jelly or Surgilube to moisten the end of the catheter. Do not use petroleum jelly on the catheter.
- With one hand, spread open your labia. Use your other hand to gently put the tube through the opening where your urine comes out. The opening or hole is called the urethra. You may need to use a mirror to help guide you.
- You can drain the urine either into a clean container or straight into the toilet. Let your bladder empty all the way.
- Slowly remove the catheter when the urine stops flowing. You can pinch the end to avoid getting wet.
- Empty the container you used to collect the urine. Look for any unusual odor or cloudy urine. Tell your doctor if there are any changes in your urine.
- Wash the catheter and container with mild soap and water. Rinse the catheter well. Then, air dry the catheter on a clean towel.
- Wash your hands after the procedure.
- You will need to cath yourself every 4 to 8 hours. Talk to your doctor about how often you should cath yourself.
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What will the results be?
Your bladder will be emptied all the way. You may have fewer other problems with passing urine. Using a catheter to empty your bladder may also help keep you from getting infections in your bladder or kidneys. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help empty your bladder
- Ease bladder spasm
- Treat a urinary tract infection if you get one
Will there be any other care needed?
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day.
- Always close the toilet lid before flushing to avoid spreading germs.
- You can soak your catheter in a mixture made up of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts tap water to help avoid formation of urine crystals.
- Store your catheter in a clean container.
- Throw the catheter out when it starts to lose flexibility or if the catheter cracks or becomes discolored.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain in the lower back or flank area, foul-smelling urine, or cloudy urine.
- Blood in the urine
- Pain, bleeding, or problems when putting in the catheter
- You cannot pull the catheter out
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to insert my catheter.
- I can tell you what I will do if there is pain, bleeding, or problems when putting in or taking out the catheter.
Where can I learn more?
Canadian Urological Association ‚
http://www.uroinfo.ca/brochures_general/selfCatheterWomen.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚