Looking for suggestions on catheter cleaning in public. My technique is pretty much wait for people to clear out and do it quickly at the sink. But, my new problem is the bathrooms that have an attendant in them (no idea why this career path exist, many are able to handle turning on a faucet and grabbing a paper towel, who thought of this job?) Anyway, any idea of cleaning methods in that type of situation?

This is why I hate using public bathrooms.
I always look for a restroom that may private or a separate family/handicap restroom with a door lock.
If not, head to the corner sink so you would only have a neighbor on one side.
Clear the catheter with a syringe whole still in the stall so it is relatively clear.
Hold the catheter under the water with two hands and you can hide it pretty good.
I always wonder what people think and whether they think it is a piece of rubber I'm using to tie off a vain.
Bill

Goodness, you guys need help form a woman!!!
I have discovered these really neat disposable mineral water bottles designed for kids.Small quantities, about 5-7 onces. Small enough to carry around in a small purse or bag and just the right quantity! They have a drinking nipple/spout on them that fits perfectly into the catheter. So, I fill up my empty bottle before I go into the stall and then use it to flush and wash my catheter in perfect privacy!
My husband still can't figure out why a walk around with an empty, old, water bottle in my purse and has tried repeatedly to throw it out!!! It has made my trips to the washroom so much quicker and easier, and oh so much less stressful! Tryout the Evian or Vittel for kids ones. they usually work fine.

i'm not sure, but i think the implication in the original post is after pushing water through and getting the initial "stuff" out, how do you more thoroughly clean the whole cath with soap and water.
(or rather, that's what I like to do after intubation)

I mean i do the same thing (essentially) that you do. I fill up a bottle with water before going in a stall. Then I use that water to quickly flush most the gross stuff off. But the excess lubricant, etc is still on teh outside, and i like to wash it with soap and water before putting it back in the cosmetics case i put the intubation stuff in. So i pretty much do what Bill does.
Once, a few weeks ago, I was the only one in the bathroom, quickly trying to clean the cath in the sink, and this other girl walked in, so i just tried to keep it as low into the sink as i could, and figured she probably didn't look too hard at what i was doing, assuming i was washing my hands or something. And i also figure if you wash it out like it's no big deal, most people won't pay you any mind.

and besides, it's just a plastic tube. not too offensive or anything. most people would never dream in a million years what you were just doing with that tube.

Occasionally I fill both the syringe and the mini bottle and put a few drops of hand soap in it.
I then use the bottle like a squirt gun and wash my tube both outside and in with it. It is very effective.
Zip locks work too if you have no water around. I just keep 1 in my purse for such situations.
I can give it a good wash once I get home.
The pressure from the bottle isn't enough if the tube is clogged but quite sufficient if the it is jsut a rince.
Am open for anymore suggestions!
P.S. we are all much too self conscience about it all. Most people live securely in their own little bubbles and never notice anything outside of them anyway!

re the extra lube on the outside of the cath:
when I take the cath out I always hold toilet paper around the cath at the stoma b/c there are always drips . So when the cath passes through the TP, the excess lube is wiped off.
Then I just squirt water through with the syringe and wash the cath later at home.

When I travel I am always carrying bottled water to drink anyway so that just comes into the stall with me for use in the collapsible cup in the public restroom.

As the years go by you will become more comfortable with being anywhere and having to empty.

You may even adopt the attitude of : I really don't care what people think I'm doing in here

I guess I am probably closest to Lesrich in the way I deal with this.
I have to use a general bathroom daily at work. I have my backpack under my desk, so I just grab that before I go in. Once in the bathroom, I fill up my syringe bottle and head to the stall. I take about four or five small lengths of toilet paper and place them over the hand rail (in the handicapped stall. Though when thats not available, I make due with sticking the pieces of toilet paper elsewhere). As I intubate I use the TP to wipe of excess drips etc.. When finished I flush twice with the syringe (there is probably another name for it since its bigger than what I think of as a syringe) and wipe the outside with another string of toilet paper. Shake catheter to dry and then put back into its plastic bag and on into the backpack. Seems to keep it clean enough for me. I clean mine at home in my bathtub(after the initial rinse with the syringe) but wouldn't want to have any foreign bacteria in the sink where someone washes their hands. Just me though.

As a side note. Bill, I dont have to worry about people thinking I am a drug user in the sink since I dont bring the catheter out. I do wonder if thats what they think I am doing in the stall since I stand to empty. I know when I was normal you couldnt help but glance over at the next stall on occassion. Must be a bit odd to see someone standing facing the wrong direction with pants around their ankles. Not to mention, I always come out of the bathroom with a wadded up bit of toilet paper to throw away (I put the old Ampatch and the covering from the new one on the toilet until I am done then hide it with toilet paper and throw it away).

Mike S

Ok, how about the health part of cleaning feces off of the catheters? I know that when you work at a restaraunt (or anywhere) after using the restroom you are supposed to wash your hands with soap and hot water, or how about the lettuce/spinach scares when the produce wasn't cleaned properly and people got sick (I forget what it is called) from it. This is kind of the same thing. I know that I put my catheters in bleach water and change it about every couple days or so and of course wash my hands with antibacterial soap, but I am not quite sure if even that is good enough to not spread germs. So far I havent gotten sick or anything but I am always a little paranoid that it may be pretty gross if someone knew exactly what I was doing and how. Anybody else feel this way?

I have been curious - my husband thought he saw a commercial about a disposable catheter related to the germs of reusing - not sure if it was a surgery commercial.

I have used soap and water forever - nothing else to sterilize - my surgeon said that would be all that's needed.

Jillyian, you use bleach - does anyone else use this or another method?

I save all of my "old" catheters, and when I go out of my house I always carry TWO of the old ones, along with my cover bandage and small packets of lube. If I do not have the small water bottle with the right top, I can just wash it out in the toilet and wrap it up and toss it away. I was going to throw it out anyhow, so just use it and toss it. I always grab some paper towels before I go into the toilet area.
as to cleaning my catheters at home, I just use hot water and soap, and have NEVER had a problem in the past 10 1/2 years.

Going on 30 years and have maybe belached my Cath 3 or 4 times in the first year.....since then it is just soap and water (I can keep caths up to 10 years!!! or until they crack, stiffen and break! ) and I do not get pouchitis or any other G/I diseases..so it can't be that bad...Can't get new ones here so it is the only way to be sure that I have a lifelong supply...never have thrown one out that isn't 'dead'!
Other people? No longer my concern...my concern is comfort and safty and easy of emptying....too old to worry anymore...squirt bottle, tp and paper towel and I can go anywhere ( an have ) using anything to empty into or out of (a moving vehicle? ) since I ripped my valve in 2007 in a public toilet and have paid the price for undue modesty I no longer worry...I am just happy to have a functioning pouch!!!!
Life is toooo short to worry about the silly stuff....
Sharon