Getting Started With Self-Catheterization If you have a medical condition or injury that damaged the nerves to your bladder, you may need to use a catheter so you can pass urine properly. Your doctor might insert a permanent catheter for you to wear, but it's also possible you'll have to insert a catheter yourself a few times a day to drain your bladder. Although the thought of inserting a catheter yourself at home may sound daunting, it's actually an easy process once you've had some practice. Here is a quick look at buying and using catheters at home. Start With A Prescription You can buy catheters without a prescription, but there are so many choices available, it is best to start with some direction from your doctor. He or she can …show more content…
If you run out of catheters and are forced to hold urine longer than you should, you can cause damage to your bladder or get an infection. Therefore, once you know the size and type of catheters you need, you want to buy supplies for a week or month at a time and refill your stock before your current supplies run low. Think of them just as you would prescription medication. You don't want to run out. In addition to the catheters, you'll also need other supplies. Some catheters come already lubricated, but if yours don't, you'll also need a supply of medical lubricant so you can insert the catheter without friction. You'll also need wipes to clean yourself first so you don't pass bacteria into your bladder. Gloves are not required, but you may want to wear them when you insert a catheter to help keep the catheter more sanitary, especially if you get urinary tract infections easily. In addition to the catheters, you may also want a bag if you can't get to a toilet easily. This allows you to drain the urine into a bag for easy disposal. This is handy if you are bedridden or when you're traveling. The bags are also handy when you need to measure your output or collect a urine sample. Understand Your