A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS
Authors: T. McKnight (District Continence Advisor, South Downs Health) and
D. Rigby (Continence Advisor, St. Martins Hospital, Bath)
At home with your catheter
Patient's name:
Address:
Nurse's name:
Contact number:
Emergency number:
Catheter code:
Leg bag code:
Bed bag code:
What is a catheter?
A catheter is a hollow, flexible tube which drains urine (water) from your
bladder. To prevent the catheter falling out, a small balloon at the catheter
tip is inflated inside the bladder. As urine fills your bladder, it drains down
the catheter and is collected in a urine drainage bag. You do not need to pass
water while you have a catheter in place. A catheter will be changed by your
nurse or doctor as necessary. No catheter will be left in for more than 3
months.
What kind of drainage bag do I need?
You need two kinds of bag: a leg bag and a bed bag. A leg bag is worn under
your normal clothing during the day. A bed bag (much larger) is connected to
your leg bag to hold all the urine that drains from your bladder overnight. The
catheter and drainage bag make what is called a closed drainage system. This
prevents bacteria getting into the system and helps reduce the risk of
infection.
You should only disconnect the drainage bag from the catheter when you
change it. Maintaining a secure closed system is the key to living successfully
with your catheter.
Some patients may be suited to the use of a catheter valve. Ask your nurse
for further information.
How do I wear a leg bag?
The leg bag is usually attached either to your thigh or to your calf with a
pair of straps. Alternatively, the bag may be worn inside a holster against
your leg, supported by a waist belt. How you wear it depends on what feels
comfortable.
Leg bags come in three different sizes, holding 350 ml (12 fl oz), 500 ml
(3/4 pint) or 750 ml (5/4 pint). There are also four different tube lengths,
direct (leading straight to the bag), 10 cm (4 inches), 30 cm (12 inches) and
38 cm (15 inches). Your nurse will help you choose the one that suits you best.
What happens when the bag fills up?
As the leg bag fills, it gradually gets heavier and you will feel a strain
on the straps. It is best not to let your bag get too full. To empty a leg bag,
open the tap at the bottom and let it drain into the toilet, if possible. If
you find this difficult, you can use a container, but you must keep it for this
purpose only. Do not forget to close the tap again after you have emptied the
bag, and always wash your hands.
What happens at night?
When you go to bed your leg bag should be connected to a bed bag. This can
hold more urine, so that you do not have to get up at night to empty the bag.
Loosen your leg straps when you get into bed. The bed bag must not be allowed
to lie on the floor. Support it on a special hanger or floor stand.
Remember, urine cannot drain uphill, so always keep the bag lower than your
bladder.
How often should I change the bag?
The Department of Health recommends that a leg bag should be changed once a
week. If it gets damaged, is difficult to empty or becomes uncomfortable to
wear you can change it sooner.
If your bed bag has a drainage tap, it can be re-used for up to a week. Wash
it through with water and allow it to dry. (You can use a small funnel to pour
water into the bag to help wash it through).
If your bed bag does not have a tap, you must use a new one each night.
How do I dispose of the bag?
Before throwing away your drainage bag, empty it and wash it out. Bags
should be wrapped in newspaper or a plastic bag and placed in the dustbin. Do
not burn the bags on an open fire.
How do I store the catheters and bags?
It is important to store spare catheters and bags in their original
packaging in a dry, safe place away from direct heat and sunlight.
Is personal hygiene important?
If you keep infection at bay, your catheter should not cause any problems.
So remember these simple rules:
- Wash the skin in the area where the catheter enters your body with mild
soap and warm water at least twice a day.
- Dry the area thoroughly. Never use talcum powder or creams.
- Wash your hands before and after connecting or changing a drainage bag, and
after every bowel motion.
- Try to have a bath or shower every day. (You can do this with your leg bag
attached.)
- Men should wash carefully under their foreskin.
- Women should ensure they wash around their anus (back passage) to keep
bacteria away from the catheter.
What should I drink?
To ensure your catheter drains well you need to drink at least 2-3 pints (or
6-9 cups) of liquid every day, for example water and fruit juice, especially
cranberry juice.
What should I eat?
Your normal diet is fine, but try and have plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables to provide sufficient fibre to avoid constipation. A full bowel can
press on the catheter and prevent urine flowing freely.
Can I still have sex?
The answer is yes, if you take the following steps:
- Men can tape the catheter along their penis and apply a condom, although it
may be more comfortable to remove the catheter prior to intercourse and replace
it afterwards.
Important: You must not remove your catheter unless specifically taught to
do so by your doctor or nurse.
- The woman should tape her catheter out of the way along her abdomen.
- Before intercourse, both partners should wash their genitals thoroughly.
- It helps to use plenty of water-soluble lubrication, such as K-Y Jelly*,
but not Vaseline**.
- After intercourse both partners should wash their genitals thoroughly
again.
If your catheter is causing you problems during sexual intercourse, do not
hesitate to discuss it with your nurse or family doctor.
Answers to possible problems
When you start to use a catheter you may find you have:
- The feeling that you need to pass urine (a little bladder irritation).
- A bladder spasm or cramp from time to time. This usually stops within a few
days and is nothing to worry about.
- Urine leaking around the outside of the catheter as a result of spasm. This
is not an emergency provided the catheter is draining, but you should notify
your nurse at the Clinic between 9 AM and 5 PM.
If no urine is draining, here are some things you can do yourself:
- Ensure there are no kinks in the catheter to restrict drainage.
- Check the bag is below bladder level.
- Check the bag is connected the right way up.
- Make sure you are drinking enough liquid.
- You may be constipated, in which case you need to eat more high-fibre
foods.
Important
Contact your Clinic during the day or ring the emergency phone number at
night:
- If you have prolonged pain.
- If urine still has not drained after 2-3 hours.
- If there is blood in your urine and it does not clear after drinking extra
fluids.
- If your urine is cloudy, smelly or feels as if it is burning, and does not
improve after drinking extra fluids.
- If urine keeps leaking around the catheter.
Your catheters and bags may be obtained on prescription from your family
doctor.
For supplies of this leaflet and information on the wide range of Bard*
Biocath* Catheters, Uriplan* Leg Bags and Uriplan Bed Bags, please contact us
at:
Bard Limited
Forest House
Brighton Road
Crawley
West Sussex
RH11 9BP
 01293 527888
For further information and advice, contact:
The Bard InfoLine Nurse Advisor
0800 591783
12:30 to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday
The Continence Foundation
The Basement
2 Doughty Street
London
WC1N 2PH
0191-213 0050
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday to Friday
* Trademark P. No. 9604/010
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