What is involved in self catheterization with a neobladder?

Self catheterization is not painful. Just need the catheter and medical examination gloves. I use pre-lubricated Cure Ultra catheters. I have to use catheters that have the coude tip. Doctor can tell you if you need the coude tip by inserting a catheter for you. Strongly recommend pre-lubricated because lubricating is a mess and a pain.

Good question, @jimelee108. In addition to the helpful response you already got from @moose63, I'm tagging @sepdvm @bajaman @mgb007 @steenrl who can share more about self-catheterization with a neobladder and related supplies, etc.

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Experiences with neobladder surgery for bladder cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bladder-cancer-and-neobladder-surgery/
Jimelee, have you been scheduled for surgery? How are you doing?

Hello @jimelee108
My husband had lots of postop issues with his neobladder but things have settled down now. He needs to catheterize 3-4 times daily as normal urination just does not empty the neobladder. He has had strictures at the urethral neobladder junction so they need him to use a larger diameter catheter to keep this open. Despite this, he finds catheterization nonpainful, nothing like the cystoscopies I am sure you have experienced. He also prefers the prelubricated catheters for ease of use and gets a script from his urologist to keep a nice supply on hand. He did try different catheters as some pass more easily than others and the urology department has been great about making recommendations. The prelubed ones have won him over. Lots of hand washing before to prevent infection, sterile gloves can be used as well. While it is a big change, for him it is better than an ostomy and much better than cancer.

Glad that postoperative challenges have subsided. I sure agree that having to use a catheter is much better than an ostomy or cancer! God bless.

I’ll be having bladder removed after chemo. Will your husband have to self catheterize himself daily forever, or is this temporary? I’m still trying to decide between ileal conduit or neobladder. I’m a male age 47.

No way to know if you will need to use a catheter until after surgery. My understanding is most people do need to use a catheter. I find using a catheter is no problem. I travel a lot and have been able to manage the process where ever I am. Hope and pray your surgery goes well and without complications.

I have had a neo bladder for 6 years. I cath when needed. It works great! I am female at times if there is a lot of mucus it leaks. I just wear a pad. It’s a change of life I would rather have that then the other options. I can urinate on my own if I don’t have a cath. The only thing is it doesn’t fully empty. But I can cath later to empty I can say for me it was the right choice.

Can you @moose63 @sepdvm @moose63 @lennypo18, share: How would a person know his/her neobladder doesn’t fully empty before doing self catheterization? Is a complete voiding (i.e., zero residual urine in the bladder) possible for a regular bladder or neobladder? Do urologists think it is normal and okay if residual urine is less than 100cc in a bladder after voiding? Appreciated!

I was told you always have urine left in your bladder (neo and regular) but I kept getting infections and I would have to urinate again shortly after all ready urinating. So the drs checked my bladder and I was not emptying enough. Less than 100 is pretty good. So they had me cathing 4x a day as needed. Now infections are less . So must be doing something right.

Following is my experience and hope it gives you some guidance. My catheter was removed three weeks after removal of my bladder. For about four weeks or so it seemed like I my neobladder was emptying. I started having severe pain in my lower back and went to the emergency room. It was determined that my bladder was not emptying and was backing up in my kidneys. I had to start doing self catherization. I have been doing so for four years without problems. Bottom line is I know of no way without medical tests that you can determine if your neobladder is emptying without self catherization. If you have to self catherize, my experience is it is it is no big deal. I do so about every four hours or six times per day. It is not painful.