yes, I dealt with this for years. Last year I had 6-8 UTIs. My dr sent me to a urologist. He agreed that one of my problems was bladder retention. At first I fought using a Cather, but finally gave in after more boots with UTIs. At first it was hard and inconvenient, but once I got he hang of it (and settled in on a preferred type catheter) I wondered why I had not been using a catheter for years. It is good to feel totally emptied.

It also freed me for several hours for not having to worry about going to the bathroom. Before I was always worried about needing to go to the bathroom. Even today I get those feelings, but know I do need to go since just completely drained using a catheter.

I wish I had started using one 10 years earlier.

Thanks STEVP, I'm afraid of having to use a catheter, its so uncomfortable, but your right, no being able to go is much worse. Its so frustrating, not getting much sleep, in the bathroom all the time trying to go. ugh, its horrible. ((hugs))

I am so thankful for catheters. They relieve all the problems with retention and the need to go often.

If you are shown correctly, it should be very easy. It is a must to use a good lubricant. They are delivered to my home now and the company (180 Medical) pays all the deductibles so it is great for me.

It does take a good urologist to give you a prescription and show you correctly. But I do not get UTI that often. Sometimes it feels like a UTI but I have found that coffee really will irritate my bladder and tract and now tea does the same thing. So I have to learn to go without. I got used to going without coffee but I still drink tea once or twice a week. But it does irritate the bladder and feel sometimes like a UTI. But after a day or two with mostly just water and club soda or juice, I am good.

I strongly recommend catheters. They can be painless. I use them about 7-8 times a day and have used them for over 15 years now. That is the only way I can empty my bladder. I have no choice because I cannot voluntarily release.

Yes, coffee is my favorite thing in the whole world lol. I saw something called the Indiana pouch or something like that, they make a fake bladder and a hole in your stomach and you drain the fake bladder with a catheter from there, then you don't have to do it as much and you feel nothing, kinda crazy, but some people like it.

Bon67, it took me years before I got the problem with coffee so don't worry about it yet. You may not have the problem.

And the operation where you have the catheter inserted in your abdomen is not pleasant. I know two people who have had this done. But they are both immobile and in a wheelchair. They cannot put a regular catheter in themselves. You have to get the catheter changed once a month and you can still get infections at the site of entry. It is not a real solution unless you are incontinent and it will solve that problem. My problem is the opposite of being incontinent. I would much rather not be confined with a bag and catheter coming out of my abdomen. It is better if you are in a wheelchair. Are you in a wheelchair?

No, not in a wheelchair. :)

my DR. tells me I need 2 start cathing all the time...u need 2 empty the bladder every time. or u will get UTI s...being a man I use a disposable urinal.. while I lay on my left side I tap my bladder with my right hand. this allows me 2 completely empty after a few minutes..i heard there are disposable urinals 4 women now... good luck......I only had one uti in 18years

Oh, good to know. Thanks Gbugg