New member - just saying hello!

Does anyone have pain putting the catheter in? Had my bladder out July 18th 2007 and has always leaked since I had a fistula 2 months after surgery.I have a nerve at the opening of my stoma and it feels like I'm putting a steal tube in when I cath,its fine inside just hurts putting it in,is that normal?
I have a Indiana pouch but need to use a Convatec bag system to keep dry,still need to use catheter and saline.Will it ever stop hurting and leaking?

See...i told you you could tame that pouch!!! Congrats!!! Pat

Hello again - I can't believe the difference! I cut out coffee and dairy products - the crazy leaking situation has stopped and my discomfort is 75% improved. Thanks for your help everyone - BJ

BJ.......just a thought. Has your doctor thought about Hydronephrosis? Sometimes the symptoms can be fullness and cramping.....flank or renal pain....but with the number of infections you've had i have a feeling that all is not well with the kidneys or ureter. Have you had a recent CT or ultrasound? I'd explore it....and really i'm grasping at straws here....but you need an answer...so ask that question. Pat

Hello Pat - My catheter is a Lofric Primo CH12 - 20cm and it goes in 6.5inches. I don't think it is the pouch that is causing the swollen look as when I get up in the morning I can have a pouch with 500 in and a lovely flat tummy!

I will keep trying to work it out but it is quite confusing.

Thanks BJ

Hi BJ....well i'm mystified...i never get lopsided. What kind of cath do you use..how far does it go in? I use a l4" Mentor and it goes in about 6 to 7 inches which tells you my pouch is well situated deeper into the abdomen.
And you're right....they tell us here in the states not to stretch ideally beyond 400 to 500 cc's. I have but not by choice..i just couldn't get my cath in one night ...sometimes the muscles just clench it and won't let it in...hence my having more than one catheter on hand now...learned that lesson the hard way.
Maybe some of our UK friends can pipe in here to tell their experiences with the pouch. I hope so.
I'm not sure how the health care system works in the UK...or even if you can get another opinion at this juncture?
Glad some of the strategies have worked tho..re: dairy and caffeine and irrigation.............Pat