Ready for part 4 of my ‘Self-Cath 101’ series? I thought so.

It takes all sorts

There are different sorts of cath. In-dwelling stays in; intermittent means you’re using it, well, intermittently. Some have liquid inside the plastic wrapping, ready to pop and coat the cath in all it needs for a smooth journey. With others you need to add separate lubricant. Some are long and unwieldy, some are compact and discrete.

When I was a twentysomething, discretion mattered more than anything, Subtlety was all. Now I’m pushing forty, have had kids, and had both those kids be publically sick on me in a garden centre and a supermarket respectively, so I now have little shame. Discretion and compactness are now nice, but honestly I wouldn’t care if I was featured on the news waving a catheter around behind a live reporter. In fact I think I’d quite like it.

The opinions expressed here are of a personal and anecdotal nature, and are in no way a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult your doctor or nurse if you have any questions.