Table 1.

Basic Intermittent Catheter Self-Management

• Stay aware. Using an intermittent catheter requires that you stay aware of your body and how you feel.

• Drink more water than any other beverage! Limit coffee, and consider substituting tea and decaffeinated beverages.

• Balance fluids with cathing volumes. You may find it helpful to do a two to three-day intake and output diary to know how much you are drinking. While it will vary by individual, drinking more than about 2 liters could cause over-distention of the bladder, but it depends on the type of fluids. Over-distention is a major contributor to urinary tract infection (UTI). You do not need to focus on the amount taken each day as long as your volumes for catheterization do not go over 500 mL. If your volumes are consistently over 500 mL, then you should either drink less or catheterize more frequently.

• Pay attention to the color of your urine. It should be light yellow to yellow all day long. The color of urine can be a quick way to know whether you are drinking enough or too much during the day. If the urine color changes, notice if you are doing something different, such as drinking more caffeinated beverages or taking a diuretic medicine or water pill, such as furosemide (Lasix^®) or chlorothiazide sodium (Diuril^®).

• Notice how often you are catheterizing. Most people need to do this four to five times a day, approximately every four to six hours. If you do not do it often enough, you are more susceptible to UTIs or leakage of urine. You should have less than 500 cc. in each catheterization.

• Pay attention to how fluids affect your activities, the time between intermittent catheterization (IC), and how the amount and what you drank contribute to urine leakage and accidents.

• Consider other catheters. You can try other types of catheters if you wish. Not one catheter will work with all people. Contact your physician after you have considered options.

• Prepare for getting out. You may need to learn different positions for cathing or where the bathrooms are. You might need to assemble your own IC kit.

• Ask for help. If you need assistance with IC or bathroom access, ask for help.