Living Wtih a Leg Catheter

Sometimes, a person’s bladder and/or kidneys may not function as well as they used to, and this may be a result of a traumatic accident, a disease, or simply old age, and a person who has trouble with elimination can visit their doctor and get a catheter to take care of their needs in a private and effective manner. Catheters are nothing new; the concept of the catheter dates back at least 3,500 years, and they have always served their purpose for customers: help them drain their bladder when it cannot empty itself on its own. A catheter today is a more advanced model, and safer, than the ones that have been used in the past, and a catheter today can be easily set up and start doing its work right away. Free catheters may be acquired sometimes, and in any case, a hospital or doctor’s office should have enough urological supplies on hand for patients who need a catheter. Urology supplies can be purchased by any hospital or other facility from a reliable supplier so that their patients can get the care that they need. What re some basics of using a catheter correctly, and how often will patients need them?

Why a Catheter?

A number of issues may impair a person’s ability to urinate. It has been noted that urinary incontinence will increase with age, from 14% for individuals aged 65-69, all the way to 45% for those aged 85 and over. The causes and effects of incontinence may vary; some patients may suffer involuntary dribbling of urine since their bladder does not fully empty after urination, or they may urinate to some extent when they cough or sneeze. In other cases, incontinence is functional, meaning that a person will urinate at a time they did not intend because a condition like arthritis makes it too difficult to unbutton or unzip the pants for urination, according to Mayo Clinic. IN other cases, it may be common for men aged 60 or over to suffer a degre4e of BPH, or Benign prostatic hyperplasia, but not all of these cases will actually result in blockage. Those that do may necessitate a catheter or other urology supplies to be used to correct the problem.

Using a Catheter

When a patient will need a catheter, this patient will have already seen a doctor who has diagnosed the exact problem and recommended that a catheter be used, and a urologist or other doctor will find the correct model and help the patient with instrumentation, or inserting it. And while a patient is using a catheter, there are some basic steps that the patient may take to keep everything clean and working well. For example, a patient is urged to clean their leg bag every day and replace it whenever their doctor tells them to, which may be twice a month or even once a week. Patients who are using a catheter are also urged to empty their leg bag when it is half full, or at least twice a day. Those who use catheters should also be aware of the risk of developing a UTI, or a urinary tract infection due to the use of a catheter. Among all health care-associated infections, urinary tract infections cause by a catheter are the most common, and they make up just over 30% of all health care-associated infections reported by acute care hospitals today. Nearly all health care-associated UTIs are caused by the instrumentation, or the insertion, of a catheter. Therefore, anyone who starts using a catheter should be aware of this risk, and ready to face it if an infection spreads.

Those who need a catheter may not relish the idea of discussing their urinary health to their doctor, but it is critical to see one’s doctor if such problems present themselves. If incontinence is negatively impacting someone’s quality of life, they are urged to see their doctor as soon as they can. After all, untreated incontinence can lead to more serious health complications such as restricted activities and social opportunities, or the risk of falling when older adults are rushing to the toilet over and over. Incontinence is something to be faced directly, and a doctor’s office is ready to help out with this.