Catheters

If your husband is suffering from an enlarged prostate gland, you might have him eat a small handful of raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds every day—with the shells removed, of course.

There's lots of info on the web. Basically you need to empty the leg bag during the day and attach a night bag at night. The leg bag only needs changing weekly so you won't have to do that, but the night bag needs changing daily. I was given the 5 min demo and left to get in with it too. Just Google catheter care.

I am sorry you do not feel supported over this. I needed the nurse at the surgery to remove the dressing after a pacemaker op as I am on my own, on anticoagulant and a bit squeamish. They refused. I could not believe it ... they did it when I burst into tears. Help is hard to come by just now.

He also takes D-Mannose which we have on repeat from Amazon - also no UTIs now.

My husband has to self catheterise - single use catheters, delivered every 4 weeks or so. Not had a UTI since starting with them. Talk to the nurse and your GP about getting something set up maybe.

I am not sure what they are asking you to do. If it is just emptying the bag then you open the tap and let the urine drain into a jug.
Anything more and they should be offering you help.

Grannynanny's advice is really good and if you follow that for emptying the leg bag and attaching the night bag you will be ok.
A bucket might be the best to empty the bag into.
If you've got some disposable gloves its a good idea to wear them and dispose of them and wash your hands.
I hope you find it easier once you've done it a couple of times.

You haven't specified as to which type of catheter .
Leaving you to maintain a catheter and being unsure if the district nurse is appalling .
Have a look at YouTube for some help .
I used to care for my father's catheter by simply opening the spigot and allowing it to drain into a large jug .
He was incontinent of faeces and if he moved around as he did there was a risk of faecal matter contaminating the tubing so I always very careful when washing him .
It's not easy .
I'm wishing you luck with it and hopefully the catheter will be removed soon .

I self catheterise as it’s a portable one that I use. The op won’t be expected to change the internal tube, DN will do that, unless it’s a conveen (penile sheaf that fits over the penis) partner can change that which is like rolling on a condom, not easy at all.

Nurse didn’t arrive so I spent an hour or so trying to find a telephone number for her.

I was told nurses aren’t required for ‘just’ catheter bags being put on.

I said we are struggling and a nurse did arrive a few hours later. She gave us a quick lesson but said she wouldn’t be back.,

We still haven’t got the hang of it (pardon the pun) but we’re struggling through. Hopefully it will be removed on Thursday.,

Thanks for all your tips.🙏

YouTube for me learning to self catheterise. It’s b hard initially. Xxxxxxx

Bullen's (https://www.bullens.com/)are wonderful and will always help and give advice as well as reliably sending orders in 24 hours.

Do swap legs every day to prevent penile errosion which is very painful and a source of infection.

If DH is admitted to hospital always check the catheter leg change as I have found few nurses actually know how to manage catherters!! Use your district nurses - much more reliable in my experience.

I doubt you are expected to change a male catheter. Empty/drain yes which is relatively simply. Phone your health service, important but not urgent number for advice if your husband is uncomfortable or if you can see the "bag" is full. Also, would suggest trying to rotate the tube as crystals can form internally and make ut very uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to remove needing a Dr. to move it.

Internal catheters only need bags changed every few days- if you are applying a night bag that should be changed every night (usually day bag drains into night bag, make sure tap is opened so that the urine can flow into daybag.
Hopefully temporary

Just to say when I had a catheter after being discharged from hospital, we were given information about a section of the hospital that was available 24/7 in case we needed catheter- help. Obviously a car was required to get to this service.
I don't know if this would be available for you. It was some time ago and things may have changed.
GNs excellent advice and your District Nurse sound as if they've got it covered between them.
Incidentally , I was de-cathetered then got an infection and had to be urgently re-cathetered and I used the emergency service. It worked.
Best of luck to you and the OH.
Like everyone else I'm glad he's safely home.

I had a catheter twice for about 3 months each time. It does take a bit of getting used to, but it has been an important part of my recovery. Changing the bag is a two person job in my opinion, emptying it is simple and will become second nature. The key to changing the bag in my opinion is for you to hold on tightly to the catheter whilst your husband changes the bag. Because believe me you don’t want him to pull on the catheter!
In my experience the community nurses are great and very helpful, hopefully they will come out and get you sorted. The most important thing is to drink plenty of fluids, keeping it flushed through is the best way of avoiding problems. Wishing you the best of luck in your recovery 💐

I’m surprised you have to change the actual catheter itself they can normally stay in for a while whilst you just change the bag, ask the nurse to show you again slowly, and keep him drinking as much as you can , keeping them well flushed makes life easier

Is it a leg bag, or a night bag? A leg bag ought to come with 2 velcro straps to slip through the slits either side top and bottom of the bag, with the spigot at the side of his leg which you fasten as is comfortable. To empty it, hold the bag over a receptacle and turn the spigot. Make sure you turn it back to prevent leaks.
If he has a night bag with a long tube, you should have been provided with a stand to hang it from.
Make sure he has plenty of fluids to drink to keep his bladder flushed.

Thankyou so much everyone.
I think we panicked a bit as Dh was tired and just wanted to get into bed. He was trying to do it himself with me getting in the way.
Hopefully district nurse will show us how to secure it 🙏.

Thanks again. X

Sorry to read you’re in a predicament Gingster. It seems daunting when it’s unfamiliar but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

Good hand hygiene is important for the avoidance of infection so wash your hands before starting.

There are different varieties of taps for leg bags depending on the brand. It may be a little tap that swivels open or possibly a little horizontal plastic bar which slides sideways to open.

Take a good look before you start so you know how it should appear in the closed position. It may even help to take a photo on your phone.

Have a clean jug/container ready and some tissues. Hold the container under the tap and open it to let the urine flow out.

Close the tap back to the fully closed position. Wipe the end of it with the tissue as there always an annoying drip at the end.

You may have been instructed to attach the leg bag to a larger night bag to avoid the need for emptying leg bag during the night.

To attach the night bag remove the plastic cap from the end of the tubing and push the now uncovered end into the bottom of the leg bag. Push it in till it fits snugly. Then open the tap on the leg bag and the urine will flow into the bigger bag overnight.

Good luck 💐

Sorry I’m no help re the catheter but just want to say I’m glad your Dh is home.

Glad your DH is home. Gingster.

Are you sure he needs the catheter changing as well as emptying?

DH catheterised himself around 4 times a day but when he had an in-dwelling catheter, he only had to empty it not change it.

Obviously, I'm not an expert.

Gingster have you tried YouTube?
PS I'm glad he’s home