Cleaning Your Catheter Supplies

By: JohnnySimmona Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 Time: 6:09 PM

There are some potential complications with the use of a catheter that those using a Catheter Product should be aware of. These include blood infections, urinary tract or kidney infections, kidney damage, bladder stones and allergy or sensitivity to latex. Some of these complications can be reduced by learning how to properly care for a catheter and others are just a risk you are faced with. This doesn't mean that you will suffer from anyone of these potential complications but it is important that you know what they are.

Almost all types of catheters have a high risk of urinary tract infections, whether it's short term or long term use. This is the most common complication. Fortunately, however, there are methods of reducing this risk. You can do this through proper cleansing and disinfection of not only the catheter, but also the drainage bag and the personal area after all bowel movements. You'll want to talk with your health care provider for exact instructions on how to properly care for your catheter and reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.

Learning what signs and symptoms you need to look for will help to recognize any of the complication and prevent them from getting worse. Some of them will be easy to recognize while others are not as visibly noticeable.

Some additional symptoms or complications from Condom Catheters use include redness, tenderness or soreness around the puncture site, swelling around the catheter, and large amount of leakage around the catheter. Bladder spasms that increase or do not go away and little to no urine, even with large amounts of fluids, are also signs of an impending problem.

There will be specific things you will need to know depending on which type of urinary catheter type you are using. You can do some research online, but discussing it with your medial provider is necessary, especially if you do find something online that raises questions. It should be noted that you should never attempt to clean or care for your catheter on your own from something you find online. It would be in your best interest to talk with your nurse or doctor beforehand.

Be sure you follow the steps exactly as your nurse or doctor tells you to. Ask any questions you may have when they are taking you through the steps. This will ensure you are doing everything correctly and you will avoid infection.

Never be afraid to ask your doctor any question, no matter how silly you think the question may be. One thing many people neglect to do is drink enough water daily. You should drink eight to ten glasses of water each day to not only reduce infection, but to also reduce the chances of being constipated. Constipation can lead to leaks.

There is no problem with using information you find on the Internet, but you should never use this information about Urine Catheter until you speak with your doctor. You don't have any way of knowing if the person giving the advice is a doctor or just a person relaying his or her own experiences. You should consult a Medicaid Medical Supply provider for properly caring for your catheter.