Whether you are catheterising all the time or just some of the time, it is important that you follow medical advice regarding your catheterisation schedule to ensure you are not retaining excessive amounts of urine in your bladder. Below are some reasons why you should maintain scheduled catheterisations:
Infection – bacteria can multiply in stagnant urine that remains in the bladder. This leads to urinary tract infections or UTIs. Untreated, UTIs can travel to the upper urinary tract and kidneys and potentially cause sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency.
Incontinence – when the bladder becomes over-full, urine can leak without warning, often called overflow incontinence. Uncontrollable bladder leaks can be both embarrassing and impact on your skin health around the sensitive genital area.
Reflux – if the bladder gets too full, urine can flow upwards, back up the tubes (ureters) that lead from your kidneys to your bladder. Because urine is not supposed to flow this way it can lead to infection and, if left untreated, may cause irreversible kidney damage.
Therefore, while catheterisation can at times be overwhelming, it is very important to follow medical advice to ensure you look after your bladder health and overall well-being. If you are unsure of how often you should be catheterising and or have any other concerns regarding bladder emptying, be sure to speak to a medical professional.