Sara
![](/uploads/media/interview/.thumbnails/filexk6Ri8_205x410.png)
Age at interview: 60
Brief Outline: Sara has multiple sclerosis (MS). One day in 1999 she found she could not pass urine. Since then she has had a urethral catheter. She manages it by keeping it clean, drinking copious fluids, having bladder washouts and taking nitrofurantoin, citricidal and cranberry.
Background: Sara retired due to ill health. She worked within public relations, advertising, special events and exhibitions for the retail and charity sectors. She lives with her partner. Ethnic background/nationality' White British.
More about me...
After having symptoms for five years Sara was at last diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). One day in 1999 she found that she could not pass urine, so had to have a catheter inserted so that the urine could drain from her bladder. Sara tried intermittent self catheterisation but could not manage it because her arms are badly affected by her multiple sclerosis. Since then she has had an in-dwelling urethral catheter, which is made of silicone. Sara finds that living with a catheter is quite comfortable and that it has made her life easier. The catheter drains continuously. Sara used to use her flip flow valve but now she cannot use her hands to turn it on and off. However, she still uses it when she has a shower. Her carers turn it off and disconnect her leg bag to avoid it getting wet.
Sara has only had one urinary tract infection since the catheter was first inserted. She thinks that this is due to the way she manages her condition. She drinks two litres of water a day, she is very careful to clean her catheter and she makes sure that others wear gloves when changing bags or when emptying them. Sara’s partner helps her to wash out her bladder twice a week. Sara also takes the antibiotic nitrofurantoin every day. Every morning Sara also takes one capsule of cranberry juice and 5 drops Citricidal, a grapefruit seed extract. Sara is convinced that this routine helps to keep her bladder in good condition, and prevents infections. Every few years Sara goes into hospital as a day patient and has her bladder cleaned and stretched under general anaesthetic.
Sara has a new drainage bag every week. The district nurse changes her catheter every six weeks. Sara has a number of carers who call during the day and who change her bag when necessary and help care for her. If her bag is not emptied on time Sara experiences ‘feed-back’ and can occasionally suffer agonizing pain. However, most of the time carers arrive on time and everything runs smoothly.