Getting into good habits
I'm Sandra and I'm in love with my life.
“I’m a very busy person and a very social person.” On a normal day, Sandra rows for 2–3 hours before going to work, then she says, “I go home to be a mommy. It’s very important that I can fully focus on what I need to do.”
For Sandra, that means not worrying about when and if she needs to self-catheterize.
When she started cathing, she says she often have to guess when to do it. “The longer I delayed, the more I might have a leak. I was getting embarrassed and tired of being self-pitying.” Sandra has since started using GentleCath™ with FeelClean™ Technology and, she says, has implemented a regular routine that gives her the confidence to get on with life.
She catheterizes 3–4 times in the day – before she gets in the boat, before she goes to work or a long meeting or social event, and before she goes home, in case she gets caught in traffic and twice at night. “It has really taken away the stress and has changed a lot for me.”
It’s tips such as these that Sandra shares in her work supporting people who are new to cathing.
“I tell above anything else, to be kind to themselves. With preparation and planning, you can get back to the life you want to live. Catheterizing is not easy at first, but I advise people to keep going, and it gets easier. By taking control of your situation, you’re helping yourself to avoid other
complications.”
Such complications, she says, can range from urinary tract infections (UTIs) to potentially embarrassing social situations.
“At the end of the day, when you prepare well, nobody needs to know you’re using a catheter. It’s only you who knows unless you chose to tell somebody.”
Sandra, however, encourages people to speak up and talk to people close to them about self-catheterization when the moment feels right. “It depends on the environment and the person, but I think it’s important for people to know about it. There's nothing wrong with catheterizing – it is just a different way of passing urine!”
Telling people close to her also helped her feel calmer and more confident.
“For me, I feel it’s good to talk about it. I think the more you talk about it, the more you open up, the more you heal.”
Adjusting to cathing can be tough, with a range of practical, physical and emotional challenges. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Call and talk to a member of the me+ support team today. Call 1-800-422-8811 (M-F, 8:30 AM-7:00 PM ET).