I've been self-catheterizing for 1 month now, and am still at 2-3 hours between bathroom times. I'd like to start going out in public without running home in 2 hrs, but I really don't want to use public bathrooms. For me it is necessary to drink grape juice with every meal, but my biggest fear is not having that juice (lots of water doesn't always work) and having to try and intubate when the stool is so thick that nothing comes out. When that happens I HAVE to flush to get it moving.

So my question is how do you get things moving in this situation? If I'm in a bathroom with several stalls next to me, how do I work around this situation? When I flush I have to get on my knees and do it.

Also, I use the medena open ended cath and I'm afraid of future trauma to the valve because there is no bullet end. Anyone else feel this way?

Hi..congrats! OMG it has been so long and all this is bringing back memories - not bad ones - just figuring out things - and no internet!

I've used medina cath since 1980 - and the cath did not cause valve probs. I tried bullet end and it didn't empty as well for me.

Is your stoma positioned low so that you just sit on the toilet and insert cath, aim down and it goes right into toilet? If not, you can carry an empty water bottle (cut off the top) and sit on toilet, insert cath and aim into bottle, then empty poo in toilet and toss bottle.

I used to rinse out my cath in public restrooms in the early years and it just was too much hassle. I remove my cath, tap as much poo as will come out, then take a toilet seat liner, wrap up my cath in it and stick in in a zip lock bag into my purse and rinse when I'm home or somewhere convenient. If I'm out for a really long time, I take it out of the zip lock bag, reinsert and repeat. Sounds gross but have never had pouchitis or probs doing this - at least for me.

I never irrigate in a public restroom - if poo is thick, I just empty gas out and move along. You don't have to irrigate with each empty once your pouch matures.

I hope more members answer - this is fun stuff! Good luck and don't be embarrassed in a pack public restroom, my ulcerative colitis caused me much more grief.

This has been a serious challenge for someone that has had an ileo for 27 years! I spent that entire time getting on my knees several times a day to empty that damn bag. That was the only way that worked...and getting on your knees (in a dress) in some disgusting public bathrooms was AWFUL! Plus I got such terrible arthritis that my kneecaps have moved out of position and I have to get cortisone shots!

ANYWAY, I digress. I love the medina, it's been great so far. My stoma is so low (REALLY LOW) that I have to sit way back on the toilet and seriously bend the cath in the toilet. But it works fine so far and I haven't had problems... until I tried sitting on the toilet after eating too much pasta with too little grape juice, and absolutely nothing came out.

So that's definitely a scare for the future. It will definitely change, and luckily I don't go far from home so I won't have to deal with this in public quite yet. I just really don't want to ever flush in public! How awful to deal with that frustration! has anyone ever been caught in public with no way to get things moving?

Hey there Kitty

I too have to irrigate a lot (almost every time I empty) and I DO drink a lot of water, water and coffee and tea and I tried grape juice too even though I'm not a fan and still the poo is pretty thick.

I don't like sitting on the toilet to empty either. Same reasons, have to sit way back point the thing down into the bowl and then if I have to shoot water into myself and it comes flying out....

I do get on my knees (on a paper towel) but knees are starting to hurt with cement floors so I think i'm gonna have to find another way too!

I carry a big over the shoulder bag/purse - (actually coming back into style they're in stores everywhere now) I always keep my water bottle (a large thick plastic wide mouthed bottle with the cap attached) and a large bulb syringe in there. I always fill the water bottle up b/f going into the stall, put the water bottle on a handy ledge and get the syringe in there filled with water too so if I need it, its ready to go. And at the very least I can use that water to rinse off the cath when I'm done.

Best thing to do? Find the places that have the single toilet and sink (some fast food rest, small business, gas stations etc) and just empty into the sink! It is much easier.

I hope that helps

--
katie

Hopefully, I copied this site address correctly. Some of it may have already been stated for you.

I would like to add that you can buy grape juice in little boxes that will fit in your purse. I will carry one if I am out for a long day when I am on vacation and am eating food I am not used to. Something for you to think about as your body adjusts to your 'new plumbing'
It may be hard to believe, but you do figure this out and it does become second nature.



http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/...1006091/m/6241020582

Just for anyone that has to kneel on the ground, I bought one of those foam things people kneel on when they wash floors or garden. It's helped exponentially for knee pain.

I guess I just hate to flush in public. it would be ideal to intubate sitting down and be done! I will drink a glass of grape juice and it makes it pretty liquid, which makes things really fast and I don't have to flush.
So my question is what is the difference between direahha and very liquidy stool (from grape juice)? Is it basically water?

I've been doing this for years (30)and have it down to a science...I used to use a baby bottle but now you can get the sports tips on water bottles..fill before entering the stall (extra water can be in a seperate bottle if needed...I use it for rincing, filling up my syring if needed and it even can be used to irrigate with if the tip is the right size to your cath....yes, my stoma is now verrryy low but i still sit (those knees again)..always drink prune juice every morning (get one realllly good empty out per day) and then irrigate if needed when out..spare ziplocks in purse, wetwipes and tons of emergency stuff in bag....even clean undies and tape etc...practice helps...lots of it but I have done this during road trips across Europe and the middle East, north africa and turkey (voted best toilets in the world! Clean and fresh water always in the stalls!)That little water bottle has changed my life....You might want to cover your undiers with an open plastic bag in the begining to keep things clean and then throw it away...I lube too so I use the mini packets but don't open them completely up, just make a little tear and squeeze out a drop..more then enough so I can reuse the packet for a week....Take a friend with you in the begining for moral support
And trust me the difference between diareah and grape juice? how you feel...once feels great, the other???? Not so great!
Sharon

Please forgive me for repeating these idea's again. Some new K-Pouchers may not have seen this.
I never intubate directly into a toilet. I carry a casino coin cup with me and use that.I do it standing up, no kneeling and no splash. They are easy to empty and reuse. At home you could use any type of wide open container, such as a male urinal.
I also irrigate each time and use a bulb syringe. This can be done with one hand.
Many places have private bathrooms [shopping mall offices,stadiums,casino's,large stores and any place that has a nurse or medical office], or family bathrooms with privacy and sink.
I hope that you can use some of this information.
Good luck and good health'
Larry