Toileting happens wherever you are. Be ready!
I know as a fact that just because I have a neurogenic bladder and bowel I need to be as prepared as a boy scout, as diligent a new mother, and as ready as an army troop deploying overseas. I ALWAYS have my catheters along. There is more to being prepared than having the material goods, believe me. I need to TRAIN and so do you.
Every day, sitting on the toilet, I insert my catheter, quickly and efficiently. . I mean the SAME OLD POSITION. Every day, it is the same angle, the same technique. I don't even think about the insertion point anymore. That particular angle for me is fast. I do it on auto pilot. What happens if I am out and need to use a really dirty portapotty or if I am out in the wilderness and need to pee in the great outdoors? My body position changes, my urethra is at some wonky angel. I am sweating bullets because I not only need to pee, but people are waiting for me and I feel stressed out because for some reason my catheter is not inserting.
SO WHY NOT CONSIDER, WHILE YOU ARE AT HOME AND NOT UNDER PRESSURE, GETTING YOUR BODY IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS WHILE YOU CATH? THAT WAY YOU WILL KNOW THERE THE DESIRED LOCATION ON OUR BODY HAS SHIFTED TO INSERT YOUR CATHETER TRUST ME.
It cracks me up to see the insertion directions on our wonderful medical devices. Most instructions say, one should insert while sitting on the toilet. Well I can't speak for guys but I am sure that I'd you lined ten different women lined up and one measured exactly where they inserted their device to pee, the catheters would go in at different locations and angles. Think about it. Our body in the area totally evolves during different stages in our life such as having a baby, being overweight or underweight. Our area down there is not necessarily held in to place solidly. Sure we have a pelvis but it is a bit like a bowl of jelly. We move and our body morphs. What works well in one position is impossible in another. We need to practice inserting our catheters in different positions. My point in all of this is that it is not always possible to sit on the toilet. Life takes us all over and we should not be so willing to give that very precious freedom away because we are afraid of where the next toilet is. Is it harder for us, YES! Let’s just get over it, practice other positions to cath ourselves, and GET OUT and HAVE FUN.
Ok Boy Scouts,practice different positions to cath and be prepared!