Keep everything clean
Lay out all supplies
new cath still in package
new extension hose
lubricating jelly, e.g. KY
Iodine base antiseptic
rubber gloves ready to put on [I need to powder the hands just before
putting on the gloves.]
scissors & a binder clamp
10 cc syringe [without a needle] full of clean, warm water
Note that the cath has a fitting that fits on the syringe
Try injecting a tiny bit of water, then suck it back out of the
balloon
[handy but not needed] a giant syringe to squirt 5 cc of jelly into a
tube
tissues & wipes for the clean up
[handy but not needed] a helper to cut & discard excess plastic as
you cath and to fill the balloon
Procedure
1 Connect the hose to a bag
2 Open the distal end of the cath package and connect cath & hose,
exposing a minimum of cath
3 Clamp the connection to the cath package to prevent pulling the
inner packaging tube from the outer package
4 Cut the proximal end of the package about two centimeters beyond the
cath
5 Squirt 5 cc of jelly into the proximal end of the inner tube [by the
cath]
6 Pinch the end of the package and flow the jelly almost the length of
the cath; flow excess back to the proximal end
7 Set the assembly on a clean surface and the tools within reach and
prepare YOURSELF
8 Clean your groin area and then put on the gloves
9 Drench the left fingers and the external urethra area with the
iodine - dowse, don't dribble
10 Have your helper release the clamp and allow you to pull the inner
tube from the cath package
11 Have the helper support the hose, etc. so the weight doesn't pull
the cath out of its clean environment
12 Work the tube back to expose an inch of cath [proximal end]
13 Shove it in and hold it there with your left thumb & forefinger
14 Alternate shoving and pinching until you feel some resistance
15 For a male, this will be the prostate - push past it
16 Then the resistance of the sphincter - go about 5 cm past it and
stop
17 Slowly fill the balloon - if it hurts or spasms, it is not in far
enough; push the cath in another 2 cm
18 Disconnect the syringe and release the cath - it should exit a
small amount and stop.
19 You are done - clean up
The secrets?
1 Don't over-penetrate - the bladder lining is SENSITIVE
2 When you meet a resistance, penetrate! And don't retreat to
penetrate again and again
3 Lubricate, lubricate, lubricate, lubricate
4 Be quick and competent
Possible problem - inflating the balloon within the urethra is a
certain way to invite violent detrusor spasms. The fix - push it back
in until a release yields an obvious rebound. This is the same fix
for a yanked hose/cath.
Alton, take his hose like a leash and he'll follow you anywhere
