Indwelling (Foley) Catheters

[incon1982]

An indwelling catheter is a thin tube inserted into the urethra for long-term use. The catheter drains urine into a bag that is either attached with a strap around a leg underneath pants or a skirt so that you can be active during the day, or it is hung from the side of a bed (generally used at night, or for those who remain in a bed for long periods of time).

Indwelling catheters are often used during many medical procedures, including most surgeries, regardless of whether or not the individual has incontinence. Also, in some cases of constant urine leakage an indwelling catheter is used.

If left in place for long periods of time, infection will most likely occur, even with catheters that have an antimicrobial coating.

It is best to try and avoid long-term use of this type of catheter whenever possible. You should feel free to ask your healthcare team to not use this type of catheter when possible or to question its use, and/or to remove it as quickly as possible to reduce risk of infection. Monitoring for infection when in use is absolutely necessary!

[BarrySimpson]

Are suprapubic indwelling catheters going to be a separate post? These look similar to those above but enter directly into the bladder about half way between the clitoris/penis and the navel.

[incon1982 in reply to BarrySimpson]

A suprapubic catheter is a urinary catheter that is surgically implanted through a small cut made in the abdomen (above the pubic bone).

A doctor or nurse replaces the catheter regularly – about once a month.

As with the indwelling catheter, the catheter drains urine from the bladder into a urine collection bag/pouch.

A suprapubic catheter is used in individuals requiring long-term catheterization, especially in cases where using an intermittent catheterization or an indwelling urinary catheter is very difficult, usually due from an obstruction that will not allow a regular flow of urine to leave the bladder.

[BarrySimpson in reply to incon1982]

A suprapubic catheter has worked reasonably well for me. An accident in 2013 left me with spinal injury and double incontinence. I spent 7 months in a spinal injuries hospital before returning home. My incontinence is managed with a suprapubic catheter and bowel evacuation on alternate days by district nurses.

The catheter was replaced every 5 weeks in hospital, every 12 weeks at home, by district nurses. It takes only a few minutes. A weekly bladder wash-out, also by district nurses, helps to reduce any sediment or films clinging to the catheter.

Like an indwelling urethral catheter, my catheter is connected to a leg bag (500ml. or more usually, 750ml.) which is changed weekly, and overnight, to a night bag of 2 litres, also changed weekly.

I used intermittent urethral catheters for four months after my accident when they were replaced with a suprapubic catheter. This was a minor operation of less than an hour using local anaesthetic. Intermittent catheterisation was replaced because of the need to drain frequently, especially overnight and because I have very limited use of my hands:

healthunlocked.com/simonfou...

My suprapubic catheter probably contributed to the urinary tract infections I used to get, which caused catheter blockages between January and July 2016 but these problems have been solved (so far!). healthunlocked.com/simonfou...

I have no reason to think that an indwelling urethral catheter would have been a lesser problem.

I get a small amount of leakage where the catheter enters into me so I wear a paper towel there.

I have never used an indwelling urethral catheter, so I can only imagine the problems that one might have caused me. Recovery of some sexual activity has been important to me in regaining a little of a life ruined by spinal injury. I would rather be without the catheter, but this is only a very small distraction.

[Hidden]

Hi one thing you omitted was try to go with the smallest size possible so less chance of bypassing over spasm ing.

I've used indwelling before and for me was good as got control of things as ive nerve root compression in lower spine&in neck along with Fibro and Raynauds so pains and cold is an issue!!!

But another thing to add into equation is Asperger's! (Autism) as with Fibro hot very often as we can't control thermostat! But with Asperger's you don't feel the cold as i can be changing colour(Very cold) so cold has got right into me yet not feeling it as a processing thing! but with the Raynauds get a draft from anywhere and it don't have to be much at all and fffffrrrozen solid gets straight into my back/lungs which then makes water works hell!.

So tried a Foley (bought my own)with Flip flo valve was great could get about without constant nagging/worry about not holding it as one thing find/found is keep holding it will upset bowels even emptied whole stomach out over an afternoon(Garden peas i'd had earlier that day)!.

One thing i found excellent and far far better than a leg bag! is the Rusch Belly Bag sits round waist and lets bladder work more normally as bladder pushes urine out instead of like leg bag which causes syphoning which pulls bladder walls into catheter(Try hand over plug hole with bath to see effect)which leads to bladder damage/tip digging in/spasms.

I always used a Valve on catheter so end of sealed system(Even though had some know it all medicals trying to tell me different!)and end of day removed bag rinsed out in hot water &hung to dry for next day and only ever had one UTI which in first week as many do never had any after that.

My thoughts to it was not to worry about draining fully but to drink plenty to keep flow going to so rinsed out.

Catheter i liked most of was the Bard bio cath as nice and soft. have in 16fr

[incon1982 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for all your thoughts! I have heard others mention the Belly Bag over the years as a very helpful product. Always a good reminder about it, because many do not know about this product. Thank you for sharing with everyone!

[Hidden in reply to incon1982]

Hi thank you wearing the Belly bag&valve gives you more control so can treat bladder more as "Normal" so can be out and about then open valve when need to so empty then close so using belly bag as a convienent bladder extension! then empty bag when suitable as can use a few times before it's full.

When emptying just flip drain pipe out undo empty close fold drain back up and away.

They do an extender for drain tube as well.

Your bladder will thank you for using them as less trauma

[incon1982 in reply to Hidden]

I thought I'd put a link to the Belly Bag here, so people can see what this is. I don't think a lot of people are familiar with it.

hdis.com/rusch-belly-bag

A Doctor's prescription is required for this product, by the way - at least in the US anyway. So if this looks interesting to you as a possible management product for your incontinence, please discuss this with your physician.

[Hidden]

One thing what ever type of Catheter you use or even with many other bladder issues the most important thing is to Drink Drink drink and Drink! and then Drink some more.

The worst thing is to let urine get very concentrated as for one if leak it smells/stinks as many don't drink enough as think drinking more will cause more issues when it's less is far worse as not only smelly but irritates and far worse can be kidney issues!

Plus need fluids to flush other things out that can be a big part of the issue like with diabetes.

[incon1982 in reply to Hidden]

Especially when the weather is hot, we are perspiring and using a lot more fluid than we think. And yes, concentrated urine irritates the bladder, makes OAB symptoms worse, and yes, it's tough on your kidneys, too! For those that have nighttime issues, you may want to cut off your fluid intake after 6 pm so you aren't up and down several times at night ... but BEFORE 6 pm, make sure you are drinking throughout the day. And remember, if you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Your pee should be clear and a very light color of yellow.