Male with neurogenic bladder: what are my options?

Good morning waddling. Yesterday from a coloplast website I copied a long plate page which I’m adapting. I thought it’d be a good idea for me to keep track of the amount of your and I put out a different times during the day. At 11:15 last night and I went to bed. I emptied the urine bag. This morning at 6 AM when I got up there was 900 mL of urine in the bag. Does that mean that I need to get up in the middle of the night to self catheterized or is that appropriate for a nighttime void? During the day do I feel the pressure and that tells me to authorize? Or do I look at the clock and do it just every so many hours? I hate to bother you with such probably dumb questions from your end as you think they are, but this is also new to me and very confused about a lot of things. I would think within the next month month and a half. I will have to start the catheterization self catheterization before I start. I wanna see if I can kinda get things in order so I really don’t have any surprises and I can do the whole thing correctly. I watched a couple of videos yesterday where it showed men actually inserting the catheter and it looked simple. And I know for me it’s gonna be difficult. And if I could be honest with you, I’m still somewhat frightened. Thank you for your patience with me. Have a wonderful day.
2will2

Your time of sleeping through the night may be over. You’ll probably have to empty your bladder at some point in the night. I don’t know what you’ll experience on how often you have to urinte. Per Google which is where I get my info A healthy adult bladder typically holds between 300 and 500 ml (10–17 fl oz) of urine before the urge to urinate occurs. While the comfortable capacity is roughly 400–600 ml (about 1–2 cups).
Please consult your medical professional for more info.

Thank you again for taking time to respond to me. I know I will be speaking with my urologist about what’s happening and going to happen. It may sound silly, but since I’ve been communicating with you and another man or two at his website, I feel a little bit more content or relaxed about the whole situation. The difference between speaking with the doctor and you and the other fellow that I’ve been communicating with is that this is your life and you are living it and what you were sharing with me are true life experiences. If I could ask another question. You stated I wouldn’t be sleeping through the night. Do you set an alarm to get up at a certain time during the night or is there a pressure that builds up in your bladder that wakes you up that you know you have to cath? With a catheter I am presently using I empty the bag rather just as I get in bed and then I emptied it again as soon as I get up, which is 6 AM and I usually go to bed around 11 AM 11 PM rather. This morning I had 800 mL in the bag and yesterday morning I had 1400mL in the bag. That’s at 6 AM after having emptied the bag at 11 o’clock before I got into bed. And definitely for what you said about capacity I know that’s way over. Thank you for taking time with me. You probably don’t realize how much you have done for me. Have a nice day
2will2

@2will2 You bladder will wake you I assume. Note the bladder capacity I stated and your normal output. The math says you are awakened by your bladder if your bladder has any working nerves.

@2will2

I thought I would never be able to self catherize. After 18 months of 4-5 X day, the past is behind me. a little inconvenient when out but you learn to carry supplies and schedule. I am bound to Coloplast 12 French flex. Comfort medical ... great product. Take a deep breath, will be one of life's lesser traumas.

Good Morning @sperio ,
Thank you for your comments. As I have stated, I presently have a catheter in May that the urologist we move every four weeks in asserts a new one. So I have had a little to do other than empty the bag and wipe down the tube that connects from my penis to the stationary holder. And about a month or so I will have to start self catheterization and that will require a lot of my part. So I’m trying to find out what lies ahead and how my life is going to be. I’ve been googling and picking up some information there. I didn’t realize that they were so many choices as far as catheters were concerned. Such as whether you have to lubricate yourself or self lubricate, the type of tip, whether it is flat or what is a cute, length, and so on. Confusing and foreign information to me right now. You stayed at the type of catheter that you were using. You must have tried others and I have found this to be the best. Can you tell me why you use this particular catheter and what advantages you think it has over the other ones. Also, can you share with me any do’s and don’ts?

@2will2
You are correct as options. Mayo recommendation and no reason to change. Coloplast very helpful as to integration into lifestyle . Very scary at first, now a way of life. You can do it as thousands do for many years. You are not alone. years.

Good Night @sperio ,
Thank you for your comments and your honesty about also being scared at first. That’s where I am right now scared. But you go on to say how it’s become part of your life and that is positive and that gives me hope. I’m beginning to see as you said, I’m not alone. Pleased to see how you have adjusted and that gives me hope and encouragement to go on.

@2will2 I would never try to talk anyone out of self catheterization. However, I will share my experience with long-term Foley catheter use.
I am out of the house a lot and travel a lot. I use a valve on the end of the catheter instead of bags. It just tucks up inside my undershorts. I have the catheter changed every three months. I know that most urologists recommend changing every four weeks or so but a CDC panel of infectious disease experts concluded that there is no evidence that this reduces the incidence of UTIs. I have been doing this for three years and so far have not had any UTIs. The only downside for me is that the catheter can irritate the tip of the urethra when walking, if not positioned properly. But I have been dealing with this and I walk my dog, a couple of miles three or four times a week.

@windrider354
Well, when writer thank you for the information. I have this fully gathered in me since December. I don’t mind it. It’s become a way of life. I empty the bag just before I get in bed at 11:30 and I emptied it again when I get out of bed at 6 AM, it’s usually around 900. During the course of the day I emptied it when it seems to be getting an all kind of heavy you know or uncomfortable I should say for me to bounce around with it. I am due to get a special bladder test next week to see if my bladder is expelling anything which I don’t think it is. Then in two weeks I see the urologist to discuss possibly long-term. I certainly wouldn’t mind doing this long-term I feel comfortable with it. I’m used to it, and my life has adjusted to it. I will be honest with you. I am frightened and scared to do the self catheterization when I see I have to self authorize and stick that tube into my penis and all the way up to my bladder 5 times a day. Truly, it scares me. Thank you for your information in anything else you might be able to share. I have a nice day.