Streaming Health

Most of us will go our entire lives without the need for a catheter. But for folks who have problems with urine flow or are recovering from a surgical procedure, the need to manipulate the bladder by way of a catheter is required. A catheter is a tiny plastic tube that is inserted into the urethra and threaded up to the bladder. Once it makes contact with the bladder, the urine will flow. A patient can be prescribed an intermittent catheter which means they will have complete control over the management of the system. In other words, when your bladder is full it will be up to you to insert the catheter. The question then becomes are you up for the challenge?

When properly trained by a medical professional, the average person becomes quite adept at intermittent catheter use. It’s always that first time that is the hardest. As with any type of medical procedure, you should make sure your hands are clean. The genital area should also be washed as well to avoid the chance of picking up any type of bacteria during the procedure. For total cleanliness, you can opt to go with surgical gloves during the procedure. Read more…