“Cathing is not always easy, but it doesn’t have to be a battle.”
Ali, former NHS nurse and GentlCath Glide™ user, was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. She struggled to accept she’d need a catheter. In part, she says, because as a nurse she was used to providing care – not receiving it.
“With nursing, you care for other people, but no one cares for you,” she says. “I had to reverse my role and that was difficult. I started using intermittent catheters about 8 years ago – I should have started before, but I was petrified. I didn’t want to admit to myself that something was wrong.”
Along with recurrent UTIs, episodes of leakages were becoming more common. “I was horrified I’d go to someone’s house on a job and sit on the sofa and leak.” The anxiety saw her become increasingly isolated from friends and family. Her cherished holidays and even day trips were becoming impossible.
"When you get to the point of no return, it's the only choice you have left. Then you think you've nothing left to lose. So, I decided it was time to start cathing."
Ali’s initial training to use an intermittent catheter was made easier because, as a nurse, she had a good understanding of the female anatomy. But the experience of being on the other side of the treatment table underlined the importance of the role a nurse plays – not just in teaching the physical aspects of catheterising but caring for the emotional ones. “As a nurse, I’ve catheterised other people hundreds of times, but even for me, it was difficult to be doing it to myself in front of someone."
"The emotional side is such a huge part of catheterising. It's so important it's cared for and respected."
Stories like Ali’s are the exact reason why we created the me+ support programme – to support users and clinicians through not only the physical impact of cathetersing but also the emotional impact.
Explore the me+ tools and resources designed to help guide the way to confident living with intermittent catheterisation. https://lnkd.in/e85QtA_Z
#ForeverCaring #ForeverConvatec #ContinenceMatters
