This page is so hopeful because I’ve recently started dating someone who cannot walk and I have had and still have so many question but I’m not comfortable with asking because i feel like it’s rude but I’m so curious and want to educate myself on everything that I can for now to the foreseeable future
Wow, I have just sat and watched all you videos back to back. I can’t believe how amazing you both are and how you’ve inspired me to get on in life following my SCI. I’m still in hospital and coming up to four months, so seeing videos like yours for when I’m in the big wide world is brilliant. Thanks so much to you both for the honesty and key things I’ll encounter. Keep going 👍🏼, would be great to see you on Instagram too.
That's very kind of you, we're glad we could help! What's your injury level? Craig is T4 complete and was in hospital/rehab for around 6 months total. We are actually on Instagram (instagram.com/_para_life/) but we don't post as much as we should 😂 Feel free to reach out with any questions or for a chat, we found it really useful to chat to someone in a similar situation 👍 Craig + Claire
Thank you so much for all your videos. As a student of occupational therapy, your videos help me understand the practical application of a lot of equipment I came across in textbooks. I am impressed and inspired by how you live your life actively and your openness to share your experiences with others.
Yeah I got a UTI from the catheters they make me use in the hospital. This was very useful. I'm not in rehab yet, because I've been denied by so many, so they want to send me home. And if so I'm trying to learn as much as I can so I can do this on my own. I'm 14 with a spinal cord injury. Fractured my C5-C7 and it shattered and cut my spinal cord.
That's definitely the best strategy! Although rehab teaches you alot, there is still so much more to learn (and we are still learning now!). Hopefully you can get into one though, as it helps alot! Catheters are annoying and you'll probably find even with perfect technique and good catheters you will still get a couple of UTI's per year, unfortunately. Keep up the good work 😀
Great vlog. As a T5 para from Australia, I've done some long-haul flights to Europe & Asia. Catheterising on a flight is challenging, as the cabin crew are always passing by.
Trevor, I have done the same thing, and it's even harder for a woman! I have ended up holding a blanket over myself with my teeth while I inserted the catheter. I finally got to the point where I didn't care if it looked strange to others, either. Always an adventure!
@@annekeehnen7618 Ditto to the 'don't care'. I was on a night long-haul fight (lights were dimmed) and told a hostie that I was about to cath and please don't come past. I must have had the whole cabin crew come past for a sneak look. :-) And yes, you girls have more than than a challenge irrigating than us boys.
i wish incontinence topic wasnt such a taboo topic its becoming more and more common in younger people as someone with CP with a suprapubic catheter i find i still leak my bladder and bowels are a mess trying to manage it is costly
You both seem like such a lovely, fun couple and very informative. The wee on phone story made me laugh! Thanks for all the videos you make and hope you're keeping as positive as possible in these weird covid times x
Hello Craig and Claire, How often do you have to take the medication for your bladder and how are the two medicine names called? Do you have a medication routine e.g. in the morning or throughout the day? Is there any other medication you have to take regularly? Thank you so much for your videos - this is really helping me a lot. All the best, Hadley.
Hi Craig I tried the catheters you use. I had an accident at work in 2023. I have no feeling in my blader or bowels currently under tests and waiting for bowel tests. When I tried the catheters at the hospital the catheter would only go in about half way freely, before I bypassed all over the hospital floor. The department wasn't really bothered I was just sent home with a bag full of catheters. I tried for times at home every time the urine bypassed on the bathroom floor and in the shower after two attempts hardly any went in the bag. Did you bypass when you did the trials. I'm long term catheterized going the hospital soon. It wouldn't work for me have you heard of this situation before. I'm desperate I'm sure you understand how I'm feeling. Thanks for the video's your a fantastic couple first class. Please let me know what you think.
How much water do your drink between those 4 hours and do you drink juice and stuff also do you have to use the bathroom around the same time everyday or is it just every 4 hours from when you wake up
The catheters with the bag are very handy, but I have to pay for my own and they're over doubled the price here in Canada. I just use the regular vapro catheter and plug it into anurine extension tube and go directly in the toilet without having to get out of my wheelchair, I have a long skinny bag and I carry the extension tube with me when I go out but I have a few of the ones you demo in case.
It's mostly volume-based, I don't find that coffee makes too much difference (although I don't drink it alot). Alcohol definitely makes me need to catheterise more regularly though! -Craig
6 months ago I shattered my T12, fractured my tailbone, fractured my hip, and bruised my spinal cord in a car accident. Im now paraplegic. Using catheters henders your bladder from gaining the muscle back in your bladder I thought?
When I was first paralysed, I used to get them quite regularly. More recently, I haven't had one for a while! All I can suggest is good hygiene, drinking a good amount and using a closed system catheter ( Hollister VaPro Plus). Hope that helps!
Normally if we fly short-haul, I would go before take off in the terminal and again once I land. If the flight is 4 hours or more most of the time I would catheterize in my seat with a jacket over my lap since in most planes the toilets are not accessible and there is no way to get there. We have heard of some planes with accessible toilets but we have not used these yet ourselves 👍😃
I'm an L1 sci complete my accident happened in 2020 I'm pretty new to this but I recently learned to push my urine out and not use a catheter I just pay attention to my water intake and no more uti's
what's the name of the catheter Craig uses I currently use a lofric with an additional bottle which when you are out and about can be a pain whereas one with an added bag might be of use for me in certain situations
Craig uses the Hollister VaPro Pocket Plus catheter. It's by far the best catheter we've ever used, you can probably get some free samples to try from Hollister 😀👍 bit.ly/3e9E8wT
Here's a link to it: www.coloplastcharter.co.uk/Charter/hollister/vapro-pocket/standard-catheters/vapro-plus-pocket-male/ I use the 71144 model. Hope that helps 👍
I put myself on a strict toilet schedule especially whenever I start clonic type spasms in my left leg...actually, it's usually too late when those start...that means the bladder spasms are right around the corner. But just every 2 or 3 hours, in general. The worse thing about being injured was indeed losing my bladder control (OMG it was so frustrating). Just so you know, incomplete spinal cord injuries , as well as sacral and lumbar injuries can also cause bladder issues. I walked and had a C4 injury...but always bladder issues of not being able to make it in time. Yeah, but the thought of using an intermittent catheter makes me cringe. I mean I know there is no sensation on the outside of the body, but surely there is on the inside. Besides, how is this not very similar to a foley? After the wee, don't you mind wheeling to the sink with dirty hands? I always have baby wipes or something....
It definitely made me cringe at first the idea of putting something up my urethra 😲 but you do what you have to do. It's definitely much worse than not being able to use my legs! Because the nerves which control are right at the base of the spinal cord, almost everyone with any kind of SCI at any level (complete or incomplete) is likely to have some issues with bladder control. 👍
@@morgancalvi6675 That's not a bad idea, but I find with the bag on the end, that's not really necessary and it's so much more convenient to use these. As for wheeling to the sink after, with the closed system catheter I find I don't normally touch anything too dirty, and at home I can position myself between the toilet and sink so I don't have to move to wash my hands (I showed a slightly more camera friendly position in the video)
@@PARALIFE oh I know...a supra pubic catheter is definitely in my future (can you please explain a flip valve--is that when you can either wee on your own at home, or turn the flip valve on when you are out in public and the wee just goes in a leg bag or toilet to save transferring onto a dirty toilet?), but with this stupid virus thing...no doctor will work.
I used to do that every time, but now I don't anymore. I haven't noticed any difference in terms of the number of infections I get (if anything it is less!) -Craig
Thank you for taking the anxiety out of these things, and explaining everything so clearly.
This page is so hopeful because I’ve recently started dating someone who cannot walk and I have had and still have so many question but I’m not comfortable with asking because i feel like it’s rude but I’m so curious and want to educate myself on everything that I can for now to the foreseeable future
It's great that you want to learn more! Thanks for watching 😃
Wow, I have just sat and watched all you videos back to back. I can’t believe how amazing you both are and how you’ve inspired me to get on in life following my SCI.
I’m still in hospital and coming up to four months, so seeing videos like yours for when I’m in the big wide world is brilliant. Thanks so much to you both for the honesty and key things I’ll encounter.
Keep going 👍🏼, would be great to see you on Instagram too.
That's very kind of you, we're glad we could help! What's your injury level? Craig is T4 complete and was in hospital/rehab for around 6 months total. We are actually on Instagram (instagram.com/_para_life/) but we don't post as much as we should 😂 Feel free to reach out with any questions or for a chat, we found it really useful to chat to someone in a similar situation 👍 Craig + Claire
Thank you so much for all your videos. As a student of occupational therapy, your videos help me understand the practical application of a lot of equipment I came across in textbooks. I am impressed and inspired by how you live your life actively and your openness to share your experiences with others.
Hi Craig and Claire. I've been tuning into your videos from time to time. This stuff is fascinating! Hope you guys are doing well
Paul :)
Thanks Paul, glad you enjoy 😃 Hope things are good!
Yes please, would like to see you mak vid of how to control UTI n can you give me the link of where i can source those CAT pls.
you guys are really doing useful work with these videos,its not easy to do them i'm sure but many people will find them helpful
Thanks for the feedback, it's nice to know if anyone's getting anything out of them!
Yeah I got a UTI from the catheters they make me use in the hospital. This was very useful. I'm not in rehab yet, because I've been denied by so many, so they want to send me home. And if so I'm trying to learn as much as I can so I can do this on my own. I'm 14 with a spinal cord injury. Fractured my C5-C7 and it shattered and cut my spinal cord.
That's definitely the best strategy! Although rehab teaches you alot, there is still so much more to learn (and we are still learning now!). Hopefully you can get into one though, as it helps alot! Catheters are annoying and you'll probably find even with perfect technique and good catheters you will still get a couple of UTI's per year, unfortunately. Keep up the good work 😀
Great vlog. As a T5 para from Australia, I've done some long-haul flights to Europe & Asia. Catheterising on a flight is challenging, as the cabin crew are always passing by.
Yeah it's difficult, I always go under a blanket/coat, not the nicest thing to do with people passing by but not much other choice!
Trevor, I have done the same thing, and it's even harder for a woman! I have ended up holding a blanket over myself with my teeth while I inserted the catheter. I finally got to the point where I didn't care if it looked strange to others, either. Always an adventure!
@@annekeehnen7618 Ditto to the 'don't care'. I was on a night long-haul fight (lights were dimmed) and told a hostie that I was about to cath and please don't come past. I must have had the whole cabin crew come past for a sneak look. :-) And yes, you girls have more than than a challenge irrigating than us boys.
How do you know when you have put the catheter in far enough?
i wish incontinence topic wasnt such a taboo topic its becoming more and more common in younger people as someone with CP with a suprapubic catheter i find i still leak my bladder and bowels are a mess trying to manage it is costly
You both seem like such a lovely, fun couple and very informative. The wee on phone story made me laugh! Thanks for all the videos you make and hope you're keeping as positive as possible in these weird covid times x
Thanks so much! 😊
Hello Craig and Claire,
How often do you have to take the medication for your bladder and how are the two medicine names called? Do you have a medication routine e.g. in the morning or throughout the day? Is there any other medication you have to take regularly?
Thank you so much for your videos - this is really helping me a lot.
All the best,
Hadley.
Informative, easy to understand video. Thanks. Yes, I would like to see a video about how to control UTIs.
So if a person can push their urine out, is there any way for them to be sure they've fully emptied their bladder?
Have a question to ask but noticed you stopped posting Vlog one year ago. Hope you are good?
Hi Craig I tried the catheters you use. I had an accident at work in 2023. I have no feeling in my blader or bowels currently under tests and waiting for bowel tests. When I tried the catheters at the hospital the catheter would only go in about half way freely, before I bypassed all over the hospital floor. The department wasn't really bothered I was just sent home with a bag full of catheters. I tried for times at home every time the urine bypassed on the bathroom floor and in the shower after two attempts hardly any went in the bag. Did you bypass when you did the trials. I'm long term catheterized going the hospital soon. It wouldn't work for me have you heard of this situation before. I'm desperate I'm sure you understand how I'm feeling. Thanks for the video's your a fantastic couple first class. Please let me know what you think.
I am using suprapubic catheter and have stricture. Doctors said to me that you can't apply CISC as stricture will recurr.
You guys are so helpful, love yall, look forward to watching more of your videos
Thank you so much! We're glad you find them helpful 😀
Hi, can one change catheters daily
My have likeage problem bladder spasms
Thank you lovely people that was really useful, take care.
How much water do your drink between those 4 hours and do you drink juice and stuff also do you have to use the bathroom around the same time everyday or is it just every 4 hours from when you wake up
And what if u want to drink a few beers it must be horrible
Wow! Great video...Super informative! Thanks so much
The catheters with the bag are very handy, but I have to pay for my own and they're over doubled the price here in Canada. I just use the regular vapro catheter and plug it into anurine extension tube and go directly in the toilet without having to get out of my wheelchair, I have a long skinny bag and I carry the extension tube with me when I go out but I have a few of the ones you demo in case.
Do you have to cath more frequently if you’re drinking diuretic beverages such as coffee or beer or is it mostly volume intake dependent?
It's mostly volume-based, I don't find that coffee makes too much difference (although I don't drink it alot). Alcohol definitely makes me need to catheterise more regularly though! -Craig
6 months ago I shattered my T12, fractured my tailbone, fractured my hip, and bruised my spinal cord in a car accident. Im now paraplegic. Using catheters henders your bladder from gaining the muscle back in your bladder I thought?
Am SCI surviver, how can get the free catheters?
Fantastic info thank you so much !!!!
Do you get bladder infections often? And what do you do to prevent them?
When I was first paralysed, I used to get them quite regularly. More recently, I haven't had one for a while! All I can suggest is good hygiene, drinking a good amount and using a closed system catheter ( Hollister VaPro Plus). Hope that helps!
God bless you guys..... Thanks a lot for the information.😊
Can you please name the two medications (muscle relaxant) you take.
What about on a plane because those bathroom are super tiny?
Normally if we fly short-haul, I would go before take off in the terminal and again once I land. If the flight is 4 hours or more most of the time I would catheterize in my seat with a jacket over my lap since in most planes the toilets are not accessible and there is no way to get there. We have heard of some planes with accessible toilets but we have not used these yet ourselves 👍😃
I'm an L1 sci complete my accident happened in 2020 I'm pretty new to this but I recently learned to push my urine out and not use a catheter I just pay attention to my water intake and no more uti's
That's awesome! It's great that you found something that works 😀
How much water will drink daily , becoz I must drink 3 to 4 litre becoz having cramps of stomach.
Can you tell me the brand of the catheter you are using? Thanks!!
It's a Hollister VaPro Pocket Plus 😊
@@PARALIFE thank you!
whats the brand of the catheter
I’m T12 & l 1 sci complete accident |how to by catheter bag .
Thank you soooo much!
Can we control our bladder again
I'm not sure what's more depressing being paralyzed or having to do this
Or maybe your outlook on life and your mindset surrounding disabilities. Grow up.
what's the name of the catheter Craig uses I currently use a lofric with an additional bottle which when you are out and about can be a pain whereas one with an added bag might be of use for me in certain situations
Craig uses the Hollister VaPro Pocket Plus catheter. It's by far the best catheter we've ever used, you can probably get some free samples to try from Hollister 😀👍 bit.ly/3e9E8wT
@@PARALIFE thanks ill look into it
Vapro by hollister are great, I have used them before but couldn’t quite manage them independently repeatedly throughout the day
Thank you so much
Hi
I can’t find that cath that u use On the website of coloplast Can you send me the model number to help me out please?
Here's a link to it:
www.coloplastcharter.co.uk/Charter/hollister/vapro-pocket/standard-catheters/vapro-plus-pocket-male/
I use the 71144 model. Hope that helps 👍
@@PARALIFE Thank you, I’m recently injured C6 through T1 I am new to all this. Your channel has been a huge help
How often do you cath??? I do it every 6 hours.
I cath about every 4 hours (but sometimes more often if I drink alot)
4
nice video
Thanks!
Are the bags fully sealable if you cant empty them immediately ?
You can turn the bag upside-down and squeeze and nothing comes out. We will tie a knot in the tube and keep it upright just to be sure though.
I put myself on a strict toilet schedule especially whenever I start clonic type spasms in my left leg...actually, it's usually too late when those start...that means the bladder spasms are right around the corner. But just every 2 or 3 hours, in general. The worse thing about being injured was indeed losing my bladder control (OMG it was so frustrating).
Just so you know, incomplete spinal cord injuries , as well as sacral and lumbar injuries can also cause bladder issues. I walked and had a C4 injury...but always bladder issues of not being able to make it in time.
Yeah, but the thought of using an intermittent catheter makes me cringe. I mean I know there is no sensation on the outside of the body, but surely there is on the inside. Besides, how is this not very similar to a foley?
After the wee, don't you mind wheeling to the sink with dirty hands? I always have baby wipes or something....
It definitely made me cringe at first the idea of putting something up my urethra 😲 but you do what you have to do. It's definitely much worse than not being able to use my legs! Because the nerves which control are right at the base of the spinal cord, almost everyone with any kind of SCI at any level (complete or incomplete) is likely to have some issues with bladder control. 👍
@@PARALIFE I actually carry a rigid camping female urinal in case of emergencies....
@@morgancalvi6675 That's not a bad idea, but I find with the bag on the end, that's not really necessary and it's so much more convenient to use these. As for wheeling to the sink after, with the closed system catheter I find I don't normally touch anything too dirty, and at home I can position myself between the toilet and sink so I don't have to move to wash my hands (I showed a slightly more camera friendly position in the video)
@@PARALIFE oh I know...a supra pubic catheter is definitely in my future (can you please explain a flip valve--is that when you can either wee on your own at home, or turn the flip valve on when you are out in public and the wee just goes in a leg bag or toilet to save transferring onto a dirty toilet?), but with this stupid virus thing...no doctor will work.
@@PARALIFE can you feel the catheter inside though?
How uti managed by medicine
Thank you. xxx
Aside from washing your hands prior to catheterizing do you disinfect the head of the penis so you don’t introduce bacteria from the insertion?
I used to do that every time, but now I don't anymore. I haven't noticed any difference in terms of the number of infections I get (if anything it is less!) -Craig
God bless you
I always forgot most men in the UK are uncircumcised.
Yes yes yes yes yes 🎉