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Intermittent self catheters
I have made a study of these catheters, meaning I have tried them out. manfred-sauer, gentle-cath, hunter-urology, clini-med, Braun, and MTG pioneer.coloplast, Hollister, wellspect, bard teleflex sensa-cath I just wonder if my results are of interest here. Meaning ease of use etc.
I am new here and am not sure how this forum works. -
26 Replies
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This week has been quite busy in “My Bladder Cancer(BC) Journey” as I have been to three different hospitals but I got the all clear so all worth it with just one more test result to come on Monday I live for another 3 months until the next round of testing, even plan on going on holiday. Well done on your own personnel “Ankr app” and long may it continue. Your emotional journey sounds much the same as mine as it’s in the early hours when you lie in bed thinking about the whole stupid world that has been thrown at us and the question is always “Why Me” but you get up and get on with life as it is and thats what counts.
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Thank you
I tried a size 8 today, my usual size is 14, I have learned how to hold it in limb you have to first feel it inside you. Anyway of course it went in and out very easily much easier than a size 14 and the same amount came out. I can only say what I have said all along that one should use the smallest size that works. Not enough people read this compared to the amount of people using catheters which must be in the 100000 at least. If you have anywhere else where you can put this post or link to it you are welcome to do so. -
Quite a summary. Thanks for all your work. You will never know how many (it will be a lot) people you have helped along. Thanks.
DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.
The second type Manfred-sauer,Coloplast, hollister,teleflex one doesnt need to use a slider.
So my choice is between these four. Coloplast is not covered and one has to have a good hand to use it so I will drop that. Now about the other three.
From an email by teleflex to me.
I have indeed seen your post, thank you for your honest views. The group looks to be a great support for the end users.
Are you referring to the IQ Cath from Manfred Sauer? If so, the IQ Cath has a small ‘ball’ (spherical tip) on the top of their catheter where our tip is called an ergothan tip (tapered) instead of the ‘small ball’ the shaft of our catheter is firm but the tip flexible.
Well that is the difference between the two. Now hollister has an added feature to control infection. And that is the cap to put on the top of the limb where the infection mainly comes from. It being the nearest to the outside world. So unless you can use the cap again and again and use the hollister cap on the others that would make them not really different.. I have sent an email to the two German companies that they should also have a cap. I am quite sure they will. I have only tried them all once or twice and will try more often before I can make a decision. One thing you can be sure of that these are the best because you dont have to hold the catheter with the limb which can sometimes hurt afterwards. I again say that one should really use the smallest catheter it would go in the easiest and if it works then that should be the one to use. I have proven this from the coloplast which has one size most likely less than twelve if a size twelve can use it.
https://www.cochrane.org/CD006008/INCONT_intermittent-catheter-techniques-strategies-and-catheter-designs-managing-long-term-bladder
Manfred-sauer, gentle-cath, hunter-urology, clini-med curan, Braun, MTG pioneer.coloplast, Hollister, wellspect, bard, teleflex, sensa-cath
They are basically two types one which uses a slider that has to be moved back on the catheter to put the next part in, and one which you push in the catheter under a plastic like, or the funnel.
So the first type are Bard, Braun, gentle-cath,MTG,curan,Hunter,wellspect, sensa-cath.
Some of these if they are not too soft can be used by pushing the funnel.
Some of these have to be held they should not fall out while moving the slider back by holding the limb and some by holding the cap.
Some are covered
Some have a good large soft slider and some have a small or hard one.
Some even though they call their catheter tapered are not tapered enough
Some still have a sachet.
Some easier to open than others.
Some come with see through plastic to see the sachet and the water flooding the catheter, with others you cant.The second type Manfred-sauer,Coloplast, hollister,teleflex one doesnt need to use a slider.
hunterurology.com/products/aloehydroplus
//hunterurology.com/images/site-images/AloeHydro-Image.jpg
—Aloe Hydro Plus is a hydrophilic intermittent catheter, which means that you need to activate the coating before use. Fold the catheter at the base of the funnel to break the water sachet and wait for 30 seconds. When the coating has been activated the catheter will turn slightly cloudy and become slippery when it is ready to use.Together with the flexible tip and smooth eyelets, this allows for easier insertion and removal.—
This catheter as can be seen comes inside a see through plastic with a large soft slider. I did manage to break the sachet maybe I am getting more experience but I, as usual could not hold it in with holding the limb. But I managed to hold the slider and push it in by pushing the funnel. It went in and out easy and a lot came out. It is well tapered and has no bag. Of the uncovered ones I found it one of the best although maybe it is because I have more experience. That is all the catheters I have, so now I have to make a conclusion.Attachments:
How to use a liquick BASE catheter?
Tear the package open by a length of approx. 10 cm and remove the catheter by using the blue protective sleeve. Push the blue protective sleeve towards the catheter tip. Holding the catheter by the blue protective sleeve you are able to insert it into the urethra without any hand contact. This is also a German company and to me exactly the same catheter as the Manfred Sauer one. I cant tell the difference. It is also the perfect catheter. No need to hold it in. Properly tapered unlike others who call theirs that. Covered all the time. After inserting the tip and another few inches you hold the blue sleeve and push the catheter through it into the limb or push it by the funnel. It doesnt hurt and goes in easily. You can read more about it on the link I gave. They dont seem to have a video for this only for a previous product and not in English. It squashes down well. I have only one more to do. This company seems to be global and also seems to make Rusch products. It did not come with a bag but they do make one with one.
I have gone on a lot about sizes. All companies (except coloplast) stress that one must have the correct size measured by a nurse. I understand ‘correct’ size to mean the largest one which will fit into your limb opening. And the only reason so far is that the bladder will empty a few seconds quicker. I dont think the opening will otherwise close up. I dont believe any nurse ever measured an opening, they just think of a number and if it goes in thats it. Now many sites of these companies have a Q&A page and the usual question is, what happens if the catheter gets stuck inside. They dont have my answer which is if it happens too often then get a smaller and smaller size, till one that wont get stuck so often. I am sure the seconds he will lose will be far less than waiting to get unstuck every time which is one of their answers. But of course the companies cant say that, because it would mean that really size doesn’t matter. So anyone with the least bit of problems like it doesn’t go in easily or come out easily, which as I said can also be because of the ‘grease’ drying up, get a smaller size catheter. I can only say if that is the only reason you need a nurse, and can otherwise put it in yourself which you very likely can after reading so much about it here, and most likely better than having a nurse, then you dont really need one. They seem to be the highest paid nurses, most likely because the companies pay them as well, to promote their products. I wonder if there are any more medical products where the patient or nurse can choose between them.
Wellspect LoFric Intermittent Catheters
From the comment on the video.
—Each person has their own unique condition and there is not just one answer on how to learn to catheterize. Some of you might experience a feeling of unease when you are about to get started. But don´t worry. Most people get over and past that feeling as soon as they have tried it a few times.—
I only know one answer and that is how to get it inside you and there is only one way to do that.
I must admit something first. I have said all along that I dont know how to hold it in by holding the limb. I do remember now when I trained that I held the limb up while holding it tight. Not that I like doing it but it would help a bit with holding it and holding it up, it would not fall out when moving the slider back. Another thing that I haven’t mentioned. Some companies especially like this one, which has a sachet which I couldn’t open, says that if the catheter doesn’t stay ‘greased’ long enough after opening the already ‘greased’ ones, or those with a sachet that does this, or you wait too long it will hurt you either as you put it in or when you take it out which is of course later.
Now back to this catheter. It comes with a sachet is fully covered with non-see through plastic. You cant see the sachet and you cant see the liquid coming out of it. Another problem is as I say I couldnt open the sachet with my fingers. After a time it still felt full so I decided to open the catheter covering and the sachet was open and what I felt was really an airlock. So now I l know, I have to prick the plastic first. Well you live and learn. Anyway one should be able to see the sachet through the plastic and also the liquid coming out of it. It is an uncovered catheter and is held by the limb. I somehow managed by holding it up. The slider I am sorry to say is the worst one I have come across loose, made of thick plastic and very hard or should I say impossible to hold the catheter with. I couldnt push the catheter in using the slider so i had to push it from the funnel. It wasnt easy because the catheter is quite soft plastic and bends. l somehow managed, a lot came out. No bag comes with it. It didnt hurt not going in or going out, and went in easy. They have a lot of videos. views 3017 They speak in English.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34X39HInfFI
I have received this feedback from a nurse of one of the companies I discussed.
— I can say is that any item like a catheter has to go through stringent evaluations with catheter users before they are allowed to go into the drug tariff to be dispensed. Every single individual needing to use an ISC product is different, and that is why there are so many products out there to enable individuals with the help and expertise of the nurses, to find the best and most suitable product for them. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to share your feedback with us.–My experience which you are all reading shows a totally different picture. People are only different with the ability to use their fingers and hands. Where the catheter goes they are all the same. And if they have problems there with one catheter they will have it with all of them. I doubt if any nurse chooses a catheter based on the differences in people I mention or even knows the differences in catheters. They are most likely paid by the catheter companies to use their product. I believe that the catheter companies are just fooling the public and the nurses who have really no idea. I have still to find a company to tell me why they have so many sizes (coloplast manage with only one) and if there is really a difference in minutes (more likely seconds) in how quick they are to drain a catheter they should tell us how many. I also cannot believe that it goes into any evaluation with a user. Then only the best would be allowed. Or they use a user whose hands and fingers are perfect.
SensaCath Intermittent Catheter
This is an uncovered catheter which has to be held by the limb which I cant do, with a very small slider for only two fingers which i cant hold and also much too loose on it. I cant tell the difference between it and the bard one. Not much came out so I used a bard catheter afterwards and no more came out so it most likely emptied it. I have tried again holding it by the limb which you have to be able to do to use it but no luck. I have tried it at almost the ‘base’ of the limb everything I can think of. Although I could use pliers for the slider and really would have to, I cant very well use it for the limb. It did not hurt and went in easily. I believe I have only three more to try and hope to do them soon. I cant see a video for this, but it would be the same as the Bard one. It did not come with a bag and is not tapered.
https://www.clinisupplies.co.uk/products/44/SensaCath-Intermittent-Catheter
Tremendous summaries. Thanks.
DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.
Thanks. Well why not get someone also to do what I cant do. A woman to do the same on female catheters. I am sure they are also not the same. I think I should stress again that I have only used most of them a few times and have only been trained on the first one. It is possible that with training or experience things may be otherwise. I should add. I thank all the companies who sent me free samples. I really hope they will improve on ‘holding’ the limb. Two companies have a small piece of plastic for that. They all should have it. I am sending a link to all companies whom I included in the survey. Perhaps one of your viewers can add on their opinion of companies whose products I cant get like rusch and care. Coloplast refuse to send me samples I still gave them a good report I am not being biased by that. I did therefore ask them to give me a sample since I had to return it to the one I borrowed it from. They still wouldnt even though I wrote to them I surely deserve it and would agree to pay for it. Their excuse was that even though I had sent them my hospital training card and they knew my doctor had authorised a distributor to send me more, still I had not trained on their catheter and my doctor had not authorised their catheter for a sample to be given and it could be dangerous for me. I can only say I wrote back, do they really think I need training after giving such a comprehensive report. Being a user I am sure that I know better than any trainer who isnt. And as you can see, if youve seen one, youve seen them all and theirs is no more dangerous than any other. I ask each company why do you need so many sizes and insist on it. Coloplast has one size for 12-18 why must you have four sizes for that. One company told me although he was only a salesman that he thinks it will come out quicker with a higher size. I suppose it would since the tube is wider but I cant see it being more than seconds even on a very full bladder which it rarely is.
Byron, I will echo what others have said. Thank you so much for reporting on this. I know that a LOT of patients will find your
report extremely useful!!Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
VaPro catheters | Hollister
It was a real pleasure to use. I get the impression although it says size 14 it seems thinner and little urine came out and I cant be sure anything was left in unless I use another catheter but I dont feel like doing that now. Anyway they have come across with what I have been saying the main problem is all the time that you have to hold the limb tight it should not fall out. They have sorted this out this way. They have cap on the tip which you also insert and the cap is like a one way street that the catheter can only go in unless you pull the cap out. So you only have to hold the cap onto the limb and make sure it stays in. There is another one also having a cap which I have mentioned so it us unlikely to be patented so they all should have this. It is only a very little piece of plastic which works well.
Much simpler than holding it tight. The catheter is covered with a plastic which you push in and at the same time squash down. It would be easier if the plastic could come off at the end but there is something holding it back. It did squash down quite well. I would cut if off to start with. It went in easily and didnt hurt at all. Taking out one has to take out the cap and pull it out. I must state that one has to take out a catheter slowly otherwise I dont think any lasting damage will result but it can hurt for quite a few hours afterwards (my experience). I again tried to hold this catheter inside although unnecessary but couldnt. Views 152
https://www.hollister.co.uk/en-gb/continencecare/vapro#paneld7-1 Is also of interest. I just wonder if you can put the end on another catheter even after it has been used and washed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4fj4iXtlcSign In to reply.
