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Do you have questions and concerns about catheterization, such as what to do while taking a trip? Explore some common issues, along with tips for solving them.
If you manage your symptoms of neurogenic bladder dysfunction with an intermittent catheter, you probably have a few concerns about potential challenges. The good news is that most of these challenges have simple solutions. Explore some common concerns and what do about them.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
It’s important that you monitor for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and see your healthcare professional immediately if they occur. These include:
Amount of fluids you should drink
With catheterization, you’re likely concerned about how much fluid you should drink. It is generally recommended that adults drink eight to ten glasses of fluid each day. Your needs may be different. Avoid drinks with caffeine since they can irritate the bladder. Alcohol may make the bladder fill more often.
Problems passing the catheter into your bladder
Usually if you cannot pass the catheter it is due to a spasm at the sphincter. Here are some tips that may help:
If you cannot pass the catheter after three or four tries, call your healthcare provider or go to the accident or emergency room. The healthcare provider will have special catheters available to catheterize you. If this problem occurs often you may need to use a catheter with a bent, Tiemann or Coudé tip.
Large amounts of urine when you catheterize at night
During the day when you are sitting, fluid collects in your legs. You may notice that your feet and ankles become swollen. When you lie down at night all this fluid enters your blood stream, is filtered through your kidneys, and fills up your bladder. To reduce large amounts of fluid, try these options:
Catheterizing during travel
Unfortunately, many planes, buses, and trains do not have wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Here are a few tips that may make travelling with a catheter easier:
Catheterizing during pregnancy
If you’re expecting or planning to become pregnant, you may wonder if you can still catheterize during your pregnancy. Your healthcare professional will advise you as your pregnancy progresses, but intermittent catheterization can be safe during pregnancy.
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