If you are new to the catheter journey, don’t worry. It might look difficult, but once you know what you are dealing with and how to deal with it with the right supplies, it all smooths out.
To brief you down, we will start by briefing you about what exactly a catheter is.
What is a Catheter?
A catheter is a medical supply that is inserted into your bladder. It is a tube that allows your urine to drain freely when you are unable to do so.
Some of the common reasons for using a catheter are:
- Give a rest to the bladder after surgery (surgery is most commonly bladder, urinary tract, or bowel surgery).
- Give rest to the bladder after urinary retention.
- While dealing with conditions like stroke or multiple sclerosis
- While dealing with diabetes problems.
- While dealing with a spinal injury
- While dealing with conditions that affect the nerves that supply the bladder
What are the Different Types of Catheters?
Some of the different types of catheters that one can come across while searching for the right supplies are:
- Foley Catheter:
A foley catheter aids in the drainage of urine from the bladder.
If you suffer from a disease that makes urinating difficult or impossible, your healthcare professional may use a foley catheter.
A foley catheter can also be required as your body recovers from surgery. One can learn how to put in and take care of a Foley catheter from a professional.
- External Catheter:
One option for those with incontinence is to use a condom catheter. When pee leaks out of your bladder when you don’t want it to, it’s referred to as urinary incontinence.
An External catheter, or a Condom catheter, is a device for collecting urine or pee that slips over your penis like a condom and has a tube that connects to a bag that is tied to your leg.
Penile sheath catheters and external urinary catheters are other names for this device.
- Intermittent Catheter:
Self-catheterization, also known as intermittent self-catheterization (ISC), is passing a thin, hollow catheter through the urethra (the tube that leaves your body to evacuate pee) and into the bladder.
The catheter empties urine into a container or toilet. The catheter is slipped out (removed) after your bladder is empty.
One may go through these processes numerous times a day, at regular intervals (intermittently).
- Nelaton Catheter:
One of the most popular kinds of catheters is the nelaton catheter. The PVC used to make this product is soft, kink-resistant, and DEHP-free.
The catheter has two lateral holes for effective drainage and an atraumatic, rounded tip. To make each size distinct, all of the various sizes are color-coded.
How Do You Care for a Catheter?
Some catheters can be used once, while others are designed to be reused.
Reusable or not, it is very important to know how to take care of your catheter.
Whether it’s a catheter for men or a catheter for women, the choice of a urinary catheter varies from person to person, and it’s crucial to choose the right catheter that fits the needs of anyone’s catheterization journey.
Here are some tips that we thought would help you take care of a catheter:
- Rinse the catheter under running water right away after usage. Take it home to clean if it is challenging at the moment.
- Thoroughly clean the catheter with boiling, cooled water and a little liquid soap.
- Thoroughly rinse with boiling, cooled water to get rid of any soap residue.
- Wipe the catheter clean. Steer clear of touching the part that enters your urethra.
Selecting the Right Catheter for Patients: Factors to Consider
Even though your health professional will help you choose the right catheter and equipment for you, it is necessary to examine and search for the catheter that will remain in place for a longer period of time and will suit you and your lifestyle best.
A few factors that are involved in selecting the right catheter for patients are:
- External circumference of the catheter
- Internal space of the catheter
- Material to choose among silicone, latex, or a combination of these
- Shape, length, design, and structural features
- Secure or anchor your catheter.
- Lifestyle needs
Just as these features vary from type to type, they also vary from person to person. There are different catheter types that offer comfort in their healthcare journey.
Different brands offer different catheters, including male catheters, female catheters, suprapubic catheters, flip flow catheters, balloon catheters, male urinary catheters, female urinary catheters, and much more.
Conclusion
It is important to talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health professional about your problems and your needs so that they can help you find the right catheter that suits you best.
Once your doctor’s, nurse’s, or health professional’s job is done, we come in to ensure that the right supplies are delivered to you.
Therefore, don’t be afraid, ease your healthcare journey with Joya Medical Supplies, and shop anywhere in Australia.
You can order a variety of Catheters from our website, or you can get in touch with us through info@joyamedicalsupplies.com.au or 1300 005 032.
