www.incontinentsupport.org

I'm giving up on self cathing for awhile. At least until I see my urologist. People keep telling me to practice and I just cant seem to get it in my urethra and I'm afraid I'll hurt myself. I feel like the nurse practitioner who was teaching me just left me hanging. When I left the office I had not successfully cathed myself. I've been wearing diapers for 4 years now so its routine for me. Lately I've been able to get away with abena pull ups at home and then I wear northshore supremes when I'm out. Cathing may not be for me. I'm not at an immediate risk for kidney damage so for now I'll just do what I have been doing.

Also I got a 22 pound package from Mckesson surgical-medical that arrives on Monday and I have no clue what it is.

I also gave up. When my issues began years ago, I was encouraged to try to self catheterize. I was instructed on how to administer the catheter. I, reluctantly, decided to give it a try. After a couple of semi successful times, I gave myself a huge infection. I think I got "off track" and it was very painful. At that time, I decided never again. The chances of infections are always a possibility. I know others on this forum have success self catheterizing. My incontinence is inconsistent/unpredictable. So far, my kidneys haven't been compromised. I find diapers to work best for me. I can go about my day fairly normally managing this way. If that's giving up, so be it.

Over the years that I've been incontinent, I've had two urinary tract infections, and they were the pits. Each time I was given powerful, state-of-the-art anti-biotics; nevertheless, I felt as though I'd been run over by an Abrams tank. Keeping my urinary tract sterile is a high priority.