It was a not so good procedure. He hasn't had a stone in 22 years now we use filtration for our well water too.
Thank you, Mary. I am grateful (and somewhat ashamed to be whining) because I have no other health issues going on. That aspect makes me think I just need to find a way to suck it up (or stick it up, as the case may be.) It's not like I have a mountain of health stuff in front of me. If it were a One & Done, it would be in my rear-view mirror already. But I really question the stuff I read where "so many people" get their arms around self-catheterizing, and "find it easy" after a while. Sure they do.
So we now understand why he was flying a kite with a metal key attached to the string in a lightening storm.
Wow John, I didn't know you had all these problems. Health problems always suck; we take our youth for granted in so many ways -- this being one. I hope things get better for you. FWIW: When I had prostate surgery 10 years ago, I came out with a catheter of course. I had only been awake a short time and I had the same sensation as you, I felt like I had to pee all the time. I asked the nurse, and she knew right away what to do -- she pushed the catheter in a ways and the sensation went away and stayed away for the 8 days I had it. Having it yanked out then was not fun, although the intense pain only lasted a few seconds. A local guy I knew quite well (he died about 6 years ago at around 77) had tons of health problems. The last few years he had to self-catheterize, and I asked him about it. Mine was put in while I was under, so I knew nothing about that part. Surprisingly, he said it wasn't a big deal. So take that for what it's worth.
The first catheter I had in the 90 did not give me these issues, but I did not have an infection...just a blockage. I was not thrilled with the tech who put the thing in yesterday. Half of what I was retaining went into the container and the other half went all over the table I was sitting on. I had to clean myself off. She knew how much should have been measured by the ultrasound she had just taken. She even showed me the container partway through and I asked how much was in there. (Hint Hint) I offered to hold the container for her because of how she was navigating, but she declined. Regarding your friend...I hear stories like that. All of the "How To Cath" videos are people like that. But since those things are produced by people trying to escort you through the process (and I'm certain there are those who are of a physiology that easily tolerate the procedure), you're not gonna see reenactments of the Spanish Inquisition. My synopsis of the urodynamics procedure can be found here.
I catharized my hubby three times a day the last few years he lived. He said it was never painful. We used some kind of gel on the catheter. I think it was K-gel. The catheter was tiny, not much bigger than a broom straw. I wonder if the size of the catheter makes a difference? I know the technician who taught me to do it recommended the size we used. I think they measured his pee pipe somehow. He also said to be very careful that everything was entirely clean to prevent infections.
Yeh, you likely used a #12 or a #14. The guy who did the urodynamics said he "sized me" at one of those. The problem with the smaller sizes is it takes forever to drain. I hear stories all over the place regarding ease/aversion. When I got my first one in the 90s they used an external cream to numb things. Now they have numbing gel that is in a plunger, they put it at the tip, and force it into you. It's almost as uncomfortable as the catheter itself, and it does not numb as well as that external cream did (to the best of my recollection.) There are a couple of types of catheters: ones you put the gel on, and ones that come pre-lubed (and are very difficult to manage because they're so slippery.) I may have mentioned I went into one urologist's office determined to walk out having consummated the deal at least once so I would know how to do it and I would have a quantified frame of reference. I had to bail on it about 2/3 of the way through.
Thanks, hon. This is a great place to be, in no small measure because of you and those like you, Teresa.