If you have to wear a urinary catheter, then you probably already know that you need to change your drainage bag periodically. At least I HOPE you know that. If you don’t, stop reading this and change your bag!
Another important thing to be aware of is that everyone wearing an indwelling catheter is likely to be hosting bacteria in the bladder.
Around 1-in-5 people who have short term (2-4 days) catheterization will have bacteria in the urine. That percentage jumps to between 90 and 100% of people with long-term catheters.
HOWEVER, this does not mean you WILL get a urinary tract infection (UTI). Even though folks with long-term catheters are more at risk for a UTI, it is not a guarantee. Many long-term catheter folks never get a UTI. They have what is called “Asymptomatic bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine).” And that simply means that even though the little bugs are in there, they have not invaded your system.
How Do You Help Prevent UTI?
One way to help keep yourself safe from a UTI is to change your bag often. You should do this once a week , if at all possible. See the video below from our friend, Dr. Mario Torres-Leon.
Ask your doctor to make sure you’re getting enough bags. Hopefully they can provide you with as many as you need.
I you have any trouble getting enough bags that way, you CAN purchase them (not ideal I know). You can order them below if that is the case:
I have a catheter by passing and it leaves me with a burning sensation at the top of the penis ,it is no fun.
I assume you are referring to a typical catheter up through the penis? Yes. Those can cause quite a bit of discomfort for sure.
I have a supra pubic catheter and it also gives me a burning sensation at the top of the penis, that would be bearable but sometimes the pain is very intense, it would seem that electric currents go through the tip of the penis, it is horrible. I went to a pain doctor, now I take two Gabapentin 300 per day, I was fine 4 or 5 days but the last two gave me those terrible pains. I always carry with me Percocet that helps me in those desperate moments. 3 months ago they placed that probe. What I can do?
Hi Samuel. I am perplexed as to how a suprapubic catheter could cause pain at the tip of your penis. Are you sure you don’t mean a standard urethral (up the penis) catheter?
When I had the standard uretheral catheter (after my surgery), the tip did hurt and get numb too. that was because the catheter tube was there in contact with the tip of the penis all the time – going in and out all the time. For that pain, I used ointment on the area of the tube around where it came out of the penis. Maybe you could try some of that – like a neosporin or other topical cream/ointment that has a numbing ingredient in it?
Hi Ken. I recently suffered a UTI whilst abroad and after 3 very uncomfortable and painful attempts to insert a urethral catheter they had to fit a supra pubic one.
I too along with Samuel experience pain in the tube and tip of my penis.
Sometimes when I empty my bag i still feel the familiar pull of liquid through my penis which can be maddening when your aware that’s it’s not.
Do you think this has something to do with the UTI? Or maybe it’s an illusion of the mind that after 42 years of how Mother Nature intended, my psyche needs to adjust?
Thankyou
Rob
Hi Robert. Can’t say for sure. But one thing you might want to check is if the tube got kinked. My first SPC tube was quite thin and it got twisted once. I had the urge to pee, which was not supposed to happen. I did end up peeing some that day the normal way. Then aI saw the twist and straightened it out. But if it isn’t an actual problem with the tube, I think it might well be a psychological, “ghost” urge like you suggest. Or it might be related to the UTI also as you suggest. Not sure how helpful that was. Hope things clear up for you soon!
Hi Ken.thanks for the reply. Yes this has helped even just to talk about it. I have an appointment with the urologist tomorrow and at least can ask the question about a possible twist or kink. It’s still all quite new to me and certainly unexpected so although I’ve had lots of support from those close to me they are just as bewildered as I am!
I’ve also just found out I have an enlarged postate which is looking increasingly like the cause of my infection.
I hope you don’t mind me seeking your help/advice?
If this is ok I’ll keep you posted.
Thankyou
Rob
Of course, Rob. That is what the site is for as much as possible. I’m no medical pro. But having been through it, I try to offer my experience as insight for others where I can.
Samuel Schwartz says
June 3, 2018 at 3:42 pm
I have a supra pubic catheter and it also gives me a burning sensation at the top of the penis, that would be bearable but sometimes the pain is very intense, it would seem that electric currents go through the tip of the penis, it is horrible. I went to a pain doctor, now I take two Gabapentin 300 per day, I was fine 4 or 5 days but the last two gave me those terrible pains. I always carry with me Percocet that helps me in those desperate moments. 3 months ago they placed that probe. What I can do?
Reply
Ken Theriot says
“June 3, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Hi Samuel. I am perplexed as to how a suprapubic catheter could cause pain at the tip of your penis. Are you sure you don’t mean a standard urethral (up the penis) catheter?”
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Please go to University of California Stanford U. Urology studies of Pelvic Floor pain. Two primary researchers, David Wise, Ph.D and Rodney Anderson, M.D published a compendium of known issues of neurological muscle reactions affecting numerous lower abdomen functions.
Their “A Headache in the Pelvis” is in at least the 6th edition, which I have.
I’ve worn a suprapubic since 2016. The pain in the Frenulum of my penis can be severe from both defecation and any form of pressure or disturbance on the catheter, and, as I fill the catheter with iodine and cap it for day use, when my bladder is full the same penis-pain.
The 10% iodine Povidone topical solution is 100% effective in destroying biofilm, and all forms of mineral clumping that bacteria and virus colonies quickly produce when treated with recommended 0.09% saline flush. I use another catheter to measure just over the amount needed to fill the catheter and push it into the catheter with a 60cc syringe. Too much inside my bladder causes quite severe pain, again in my penis.
To relive intense pain I take short, very hot showers. To sleep I use a vibrating heat pad – Sunbeam brand – which I double and place up against my perineum. In about 20 minutes the pain leaves and I am asleep.
Do Check the pelvic floor muscle neurological information, as it applies to many prostate issues.
https://pelvicpainhelp.com/prostatitis/
Ithank you for the tip about Neosporin, I have a slight fever and sniffles, should I be concermed
Hi Richard. If you think you might have a fever, you should call a nurse or doctor about it and get advice from them. I’m not a doctor or nurse and definitely can’t advise you on this. Hope you feel better.
Hi ken, it’s been so many years since your urethroplasty, i am wondering how are you doing now, urine flow, erection, pain etc. Can you update
Faisal – I’m back to normal. For awhile after the surgery, I had “superflow,” and was really just shooting urine our like a race horse :-). But that has subsided back to what would be normal for most guys. I have no problem with erections or pain at all. So that’s the update :-).
Thanks for update ken. I just had end to end uroplasty on 8th Sept, i am 25 year old from Pakistan. My stricture was less than 1 cm. I had suprapubic for 1 month before uroplasty, now i have both catheter in. I don’t have any pain at all but sometimes i feel urge to urinate with catheter and it is just awful. Doctor said he will remove catheter after 15 days, so hoping everything go well
Congrats Faisal! though I’m sorry to hear about the uncomfortable urge to pee. I wonder if that has to do with having both catheters still in. they removed my SPC when I got my urethroplasty. The only time I ever felt an urge to pee was when my SPC tube was a little too thin and got twisted. That caused my bladder to fill up and of course there was an urge to pee then. That urge usually is caused when the bladder is full. So with 2 catheters, you should definitely not have a bladder filling up with pee. Have you asked anyone at the hospital about this? If not, I highly recommend you do that. It will probably go away when the catheter is removed, so I hope that time passes quickly for you. Best of luck!
I have had my catheter now for just about two years. I am 83 years old and am still very active (go to the Y every morning for a couple of hours, mow the grass and work around the house, do volunteer work – teach other seniors how to use the computer and Android Smartphone, and volunteer doing programs at a local retirement home. I keep coming back to your site to see what might be new and helpful. I have been lucky in that I have not had any problems with urinary infections after the very first one I had soon after I had this problem. I was told my bladder was so stretched that the muscles no longer worked and would never work. My prostate has grown up into the bladder. I had a second opinion and having an operation would prove to be only about 20-30% successful and would take months to find out what the future would be. So, I decided to stay with the catheter. I am glad your site is still active.
Thanks George. Sorry things have gotten to that state. But if you can adjust to living with a catheter, I think you’re right that it is probably the best work-around.
glad to hear how active you are. I wish I were that active NOW, not to think about when I’m in my 80s. Well done!
Best of luck with the catheter. There are some companies making new ones that address the discomfort (and increased UTIs) that happen from having a tip poking out the end like most catheters (like Foleys). And I try to work with them to see if they are ready to announce to folks on the site.
I’ll put new posts up about these products when they are ready.
Cheers!