Hi everyone,
Have heard mention of the use of catheters. Hadn’t really got that in my thoughts yet along with the PEG question.
At what point is the catheter deemed necessary? Mum has no urinary continence overnight but we normally manage that with pads. Day is reasonably okay at moment as long as she gets there in time and has pads on.
Just wondering at what point in the future we will end up going there so I am prepared mentally! When is it deemed necessary?
Thank you.
it’s a good question as I think my mum is slightly incontinent but not a 100% sure at the moment.
I don’t know when pads need to be started or nappies even over catheter?
Mum has Tena pads all the time now. She definitely needs them at night as they are sodden by morning and if she doesn’t get to the toilet in time they then leak. We are now on double Tena at night 🥲Daytime is not so bad but she can have accidents if she struggles to get clothing down in time, she is still pretty capable.
before you think of a catheter you may want to look at a pure wick. Relatively affordable on Amazon. Be on the lookout, though for any irritation, which a cream can take care of.
We had to move mum to a nursing home when she couldn't safely get herself to the toilet fast enough, especially at night. After a while she moved on to pads at night but they needed to be changed during the night which disrupted her sleep especially if the leaked. At that stage she was persuaded that a catheter would improve her sleep and not generate so much anxiety. However she does expel the catheter every few weeks - I think due to abdominal spasms.
Mom needed a catheter when she stopped peeing altogether when she had a full bladder. That was an indicator of renal failure. We got her catheterized in the hospital, she managed to come back from the brink and does not need a catheter now. We use a "pee vacuum" overnight, diapers during the day. The pee vacuum allows her a complete night of rest without needing to wake up to be changed. Total game changer. Good luck!
I would not think of an indwelling catheter (as opposed to an external catheter which a lot of men use) as inevitable. It should only be used in very specific cases, such as when a person has urinary retention and cannot empty the bladder or has major skin breakdown and moisture is preventing healing, or if quality of life somehow dictates it. They are a medical device/intervention not intended to be used for convenience. There is a significant risk of serious and recurrent infection, and if the person has a habit of pulling it out, injury. It’s not the most comfortable thing, and I would think that the vast majority of people manage without one.
If pads are leaking, one can use ‘booster pads’ inside the incontinence underwear / diapers / nappies to add absorbancy, and use higher absorbancy ‘overnight’ incontinence products (including during the day), as well as underpads to protect bedding/seating/wheelchair.
thank you. Those are my thoughts too. I just wish mum would let us know when she needs help- sometimes she gets up at 3am and tries to change things herself - she then tells me it took an hour. She has emergency buttons but doesn’t like to bother.
Yes, it’s a dangerous phase of illness because of the fall danger. A bed alarm or room camera (such as Ring) with motion detector alerts can help notify family members of someone getting out of bed—but providing night care can be exhausting.
Care issues
Speaking
Night Owl Dad and Falls 
Update on Sudden Decline
