It's a medina catheter, sometimes spelled medena catheter. It's got a hole at the top and two holes at the sides, near the top. The most common width is "30 Fr" or "30 French," which equals 1 cm. But it is available in narrower forms. Some people say they carry a narrower (24 Fr) version with them as well, or a Foley catheter in a narrower form.
A helpful how-to guide is available on pages 9-10 of the Summer 2013 newsletter called Roar!, from the Red Lion Group at St. Mark's Hospital. |
Some people use lubrication (water-based is best, but some people say they need oil-based.) Others don't. And yes, it's reusable. Just wash it out between uses. It will slowly discolor over time.
On occasion, I find it harder to insert. In those cases, I bend forward. Worst case scenario, I lie on my back (when at home, I do this on the bathroom floor) and lift my knees toward my chin. I cup the opposite end of the catheter so as not to let it leak. Other people have their own personal methods. |
THE LITERATURE
Unfortunately, there is not much formal medical literature on self-catheterization. It has been promoted most by the St Mark's Hospital in the UK (the j-pouch was invented there).
As a behavioral therapy, it does not lend itself well to a randomized controlled experiment. One study conducted by Dr. Simon Mclaughlin and others at St. Mark's reports on the quality of life of patients using a medina catheter. It is compared, however, to the average quality of life of the general population of pouch patients. This baseline comparison includes those (fortunate) individuals who have not had complications |