Do you feel handicapped having to adjust to life with a catheter? Does it make you not want to step out of the house? Catheterization is a result of a serious ailment and fighting it is reason enough to not let it bother you. Rest assured that you can go on holiday, socialize, visit friends & family i.e. lead a normal life. If anything, catheter sizes for adults are determined to tackle the problem of incontinence as well. All you need to do is consult your physician and carry drainage bags in case you need to change. Read on for a few measures you may take to get used to the catheter in daily life.
Diet
There 3 types of catheters and they require certain dietary adaptions; the indwelling urinary catheter, for example, warrants you to maintain your bowel movements i.e. not be constipated. Since the bladder is close to the bowel, the pressure might interrupt the flow of urine leading to leakage through the urethra. The drainage might happen through the catheter valves and or the drainage bags as well. Solution – the simplest thing to do is to include enough fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. in your diet to avoid constipation. If they don’t help, you may even ask your doctor for medication apart from avoiding constipation inducing foods.
Drink enough fluids
Drinking at least 2 liters of fluids per day is indispensable unless advised otherwise by your doctor. It is essential that the urine is clear. Drinking enough fluids averts constipation and the buildup of infections. Institute drinking fluids every hour of the waking day in your routine; avoid strong drinks like coffee, tea, sodas, and alcohol. If you like juice, then cranberry juice is your best bet since it reduces the risk of infections. However, you must consult your doctor as to what you can drink since you might be on strong medication. The easiest way to know that you’re not taking enough fluids is when the urine turns a darker color. However, it may happen due to the intake of multivitamins or veggies like beetroot as well.
Maintenance and hygiene
For obvious reasons, the catheter site must be carefully washed at least twice a day with water and soap. Apart from the dietary changes, you must keep the catheter bag placed below the site. In case you’re worried about leakage, use gauze to cover the site, which must be replaced every time the catheter is replaced. Finally, it is essential that the catheter is never subject to pressure as that will surely complicate things.
Handling drainage bags
You must wash your hands before and after draining urine without fail. Wearing gloves is no excuse; washing is indispensable to avoid infections. Avoid touching the site as much as you can. Also, clean the spill as soon as it occurs. Finally, make sure that you do walk on slippery surfaces where there is the danger of falling and hurting yourself. Just like you’ll look for the best glucometer in India if you suffer from diabetes, you should always go for the best catheters and drainage bags for optimum results. At some point in life, everyone faces health problems. The idea is to net let it bother you any more than it does!
