Table 3.

Balance Fluids with Activity: Promote Your Best Intermittent Catheterization (IC) Intervals

IC should be done on the average every four to six hours, and the amount of urine should be less than 500 mL (cc). Cathing too often is irritating to the urethra, but not cathing often enough contributes to a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Quote: “I’ve met a lot of people who say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to drink a lot because I’m always worried.’ I do the same thing, but I try to find certain times of the day where I can hydrate my body.”

Paying Attention	Things You Can Do
Become aware of your own cathing pattern. Pay careful attention to urine color and how you feel.	Pay attention to cathing intervals (times of day and number of hours in between) and amounts for three days to see what your usual pattern is. If you think you might not be adhering to your best intervals, keep track of it for a few days to be sure you are on track.
Become aware of reasons for urine “accidents” so you can prevent them in the future. (See page on leakage.)	Consider whether you waited too long and your bladder was too full, you drank too much in a short time, or the bathroom was inaccessible. Sometimes more urine is produced during the night related to your position, the legs being up, and that the kidneys function better when lying down. For women, monthly hormone changes can also affect this.
Notice when and what you drink in the evening.	Withhold fluids in the evening to prevent a need to cath at night. However, some people need to wake at night to stay dry. If you avoid caffeine, you are less likely to need to void. (See page on caffeine.)