All of this talk kind of got my curiousity juices flowing. I received a shipment to sterile lube and 12fr 16” Coloplast silicon intermittent catheters today. Here’s how my first self-cath session went... The past few days I watched a heap of videos on how to do this. I’m not stupid, I used to be an ER Tech and have catheterized lots of male patients. But, it’s been a while since then. That’s why I did the videos as a refresher. So....
First attempt: I assembled all of the goods and dropped my drawers - I figured that this would be easier sitting on the toilet. I lubed up the catheter and started to insert it - my hands were trembling. There was a burning sensation the entire length of my penis (or should I say the entire length of the urethra where the catheter was). I got part way through my prostate and then boom - it was like I hit a brick wall. I stretched my penis out a little, but there were spasms so I stopped. I ended up pulling it out and thought I’ll try again later.
Second attempt: Got the stuff together again..... I am thinking that there are tons of people out there that do this everyday, what’s the big deal. I am thinking I’ll try this standing up. The last time I got the burn, it was probably due to the lack of lube on the catheter. I lubed it up really good this time. I almost need a 10cc syringe full of lube to inject down into my urethra. I grabbed my penis and started feeding the catheter in - not as bad this time - and then I hit the prostate, stretched my penis out a little further and down while I fed more of the catheter. That must have done the trick, because I got urine flowing out of the catheter. There was a weird sensation, it almost seemed like there was urine flowing out around the catheter as well, but I looked down and there wasn’t. The urine flow stopped. Then, I thought, here comes the bad part - pulling out. I started to slowly withdraw the catheter and it kind of felt as if the tip was scraping the inside of the urethra on its way out. Like the end was dragging behind or something. Finally, I got it all pulled out. I thought - success!!
Lessons learned: I probably need a bigger diameter - like a 14fr. For me, it doesn’t need to be 16” either. I would feel more comfortable doing this if I were seated or lying down. I can’t lie down and do this yet, because I don’t have a container for catching the urine yet. I’m going to rectify that - I am going to the drug store and buying a urinal and a bedpan. Because you just never know when you’ll need them.
All in all, the sensation I felt was incredible and over time, I will get the right equipment. I know it’s just a matter of time. I have a couple of 14fr straight cath kits on the way, as well as a couple of 14fr foley indwellers. I am planning on teaching my wife how to cath me with one of the indwelling ones over a long weekend - may try and leave it in for two days or so.
Sorry about the ramble.....