Iain
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Iain works full-time and lives with his wife. When they go on holiday he takes a spare catheter with him which, if needed, he can change himself. Iain drinks lots of fluid every day and takes cranberry capsules. He advises other catheter-users to drink lots of fluid.
Iain started ISC because he had overnight incontinence. When he had continence problems during the day too and started losing feeling in his fingertips, he changed to an indwelling catheter.
Iain started ISC because he had overnight incontinence. When he had continence problems during the day too and started losing feeling in his fingertips, he changed to an indwelling catheter.
Iain compares his experience of a urethral and suprapubic catheter.
Iain compares his experience of a urethral and suprapubic catheter.
Iain self-catheterised for 5 years because he had urinary retention. Although it can feel alien at first, ISC is easy to do. He used his watch to remind him to catheterise 4 times a day.
Iain self-catheterised for 5 years because he had urinary retention. Although it can feel alien at first, ISC is easy to do. He used his watch to remind him to catheterise 4 times a day.
Iain enjoys going to the cinema and concerts. He also goes away on holiday, but these activities and shopping expeditions are planned around toilet locations.
Iain enjoys going to the cinema and concerts. He also goes away on holiday, but these activities and shopping expeditions are planned around toilet locations.
When you’re going somewhere, if you’ve got bladder issues you’re always very aware of your surroundings. And more or less your shopping experience is mapped around by toilets. So if you go into that shopping centre there, it’s got toilets in A, E & C locations. So you’re kind of going around the area close to those locations. It’s very interesting, you probably live your life around the toilets ‘cos that way you know where they are. And you live your life that way and you have to, unfortunately, to adapt to cope with that.
When travelling, Iain took spare catheters and enough supplies to change a catheter if necessary. He usually stayed in a place with easy access to healthcare.
When travelling, Iain took spare catheters and enough supplies to change a catheter if necessary. He usually stayed in a place with easy access to healthcare.
Iain practised intermittent self-catheterisation for about five years. After that he had a urethral and then a suprapubic catheter. He has hardly missed a day's work.
Iain practised intermittent self-catheterisation for about five years. After that he had a urethral and then a suprapubic catheter. He has hardly missed a day's work.
Yes.
Iain couldn't think of any negatives about living with a suprapubic catheter. He said people shouldn't feel embarrassed by incontinence.
Iain couldn't think of any negatives about living with a suprapubic catheter. He said people shouldn't feel embarrassed by incontinence.
Yeah. I can see no downside to it.
When Iain first had bladder spasms, he didn't know what they were. He had bad pain in the abdomen. He tried various medicines before his doctor solved the problem.
When Iain first had bladder spasms, he didn't know what they were. He had bad pain in the abdomen. He tried various medicines before his doctor solved the problem.
Yeah.
You might not get the most up to date information on drainage bags at the hospital. Iain recommends a website. They deliver his bags to him in discreet packaging.
You might not get the most up to date information on drainage bags at the hospital. Iain recommends a website. They deliver his bags to him in discreet packaging.
I get this stuff sent to my work for example, and I’m not worried about being seen by having that there, ‘cos there’s nothing of their name on it at all apart from the distribution address. It’s just a very small name on there, a distribution label. And only if you know what it is, ‘cos it’s very non-descript, and Charter Health could be anything.
When Iain saw members of the urology team in the early 1990s, communication was poor. Now doctors talk openly to patients and 'treat you like a human being'.
When Iain saw members of the urology team in the early 1990s, communication was poor. Now doctors talk openly to patients and 'treat you like a human being'.
Yeah.
Having sex with a urethral catheter made Iain sore. He found it much easier with a suprapubic catheter.
Having sex with a urethral catheter made Iain sore. He found it much easier with a suprapubic catheter.
Iain thinks the Bladder and Bowel Foundation (now Bladder and Bowel Community) website is one of the best. He also recommends the site of a company supplying catheters and bags.
Iain thinks the Bladder and Bowel Foundation (now Bladder and Bowel Community) website is one of the best. He also recommends the site of a company supplying catheters and bags.