TIPS
Avoiding certain foods:
I find that certain foods tend to cause blockages in my catheter.
Pineapple and mushrooms are the worst. Eggplant skin can sometimes be problematic. If I eat them, I only eat very small amounts, and I am sure to chew extremely carefully. Otherwise, I am unclogging the catheter multiple times in one sitting, which is not fun at all.
Getting used to it:
I started using the medina catheter at home only. I practiced at home as if I were in a public stall, and, after about a month or two, I then started using my "kit" outside of my home.
When the sink is too public:
Filling the cup with water and bringing that into a stall is sometimes a bit awkward, if there are too many people. If you have a small bottled water container (disposable is preferable - I wouldn't want to drink from it after) that you can casually take into the stall with you, that's a good alternative.
Diet & stool consistency
The softer (the more liquidy) your stool, obviously the easier it is to clear your pouch through the catheter. Fruit sugar (fructose) will soften your stool significantly. Prunes are best known for this, but grape juice or any fruit juice will also significantly soften your stool. At this point, I don't pay too much attention to this, and sometimes I've got very slow-moving stool. This just means that sometimes I have to flush it mid-way through evacuation. Watery stools aren't all that great either. I have, however, given up most insoluble fiber: I eat white bread instead of wheat bread, and the only breakfast cereal I eat is oatmeal (insoluble fiber). I still do eat vegetables though, which is insoluble fiber. I tend to stay away from lettue, which has a less good fiber/nutrient ratio. Fortunately, I'm otherwise rather active and healthy, so I'm not too concerned about diabetes from my low-fiber diet, although that is a potential concern.
Washing:
I know someone who always wears vinyl gloves when administering the catheter. That's a bit much for me. I simply rinse the catheter clean with soap and water when I can. When I'm in a public restroom, I simply rinse with water. Though I haven't done it, some say they periodically soak the catheter in diluted bleach.
Security:
At the airport, before going through security, I put any kit I may have in my coat into a bag. It's less likely to cause notice there. Once a security officer asked me to open the kit. She saw the syringe and assumed it was drug paraphanalia. I explained it was "a medical kit" to which she rolled her eyes and just waved me onward.
I find that certain foods tend to cause blockages in my catheter.
Pineapple and mushrooms are the worst. Eggplant skin can sometimes be problematic. If I eat them, I only eat very small amounts, and I am sure to chew extremely carefully. Otherwise, I am unclogging the catheter multiple times in one sitting, which is not fun at all.
Getting used to it:
I started using the medina catheter at home only. I practiced at home as if I were in a public stall, and, after about a month or two, I then started using my "kit" outside of my home.
When the sink is too public:
Filling the cup with water and bringing that into a stall is sometimes a bit awkward, if there are too many people. If you have a small bottled water container (disposable is preferable - I wouldn't want to drink from it after) that you can casually take into the stall with you, that's a good alternative.
Diet & stool consistency
The softer (the more liquidy) your stool, obviously the easier it is to clear your pouch through the catheter. Fruit sugar (fructose) will soften your stool significantly. Prunes are best known for this, but grape juice or any fruit juice will also significantly soften your stool. At this point, I don't pay too much attention to this, and sometimes I've got very slow-moving stool. This just means that sometimes I have to flush it mid-way through evacuation. Watery stools aren't all that great either. I have, however, given up most insoluble fiber: I eat white bread instead of wheat bread, and the only breakfast cereal I eat is oatmeal (insoluble fiber). I still do eat vegetables though, which is insoluble fiber. I tend to stay away from lettue, which has a less good fiber/nutrient ratio. Fortunately, I'm otherwise rather active and healthy, so I'm not too concerned about diabetes from my low-fiber diet, although that is a potential concern.
Washing:
I know someone who always wears vinyl gloves when administering the catheter. That's a bit much for me. I simply rinse the catheter clean with soap and water when I can. When I'm in a public restroom, I simply rinse with water. Though I haven't done it, some say they periodically soak the catheter in diluted bleach.
Security:
At the airport, before going through security, I put any kit I may have in my coat into a bag. It's less likely to cause notice there. Once a security officer asked me to open the kit. She saw the syringe and assumed it was drug paraphanalia. I explained it was "a medical kit" to which she rolled her eyes and just waved me onward.