Gordon
Gordon was catheterised urethrally aged 89. For 3 years his catheter changes were painful. In 2011, he looked on the internet for information and came across a herbal remedy for an enlarged prostate containing Saw Palmetto. He has had no problems since.
Gordon went into hospital for an emergency hernia operation. Shortly afterwards, he had a stroke. He was 89 at the time and catheterised, something which he said he readily accepted as he trusted the doctors.
At first, Gordon’s catheter was changed every 6 weeks and he was told that he had an enlarged prostate. This made changing the catheter particularly painful. For 3 years he lived with the pain of catheter changes. In 2011, he decided to look on the internet for more information and came across a herbal remedy for an enlarged prostate containing Saw Palmetto. Gordon said, I got some and, in no time at all, that worked and it reduced it. And the catheter goes in and out with no bother at all.’ Now he said his catheter changes can be done in 5 minutes and involve no pain at all. Before this, he dreaded having his catheter changed, often worrying about it a week ahead of time.
Although Gordon was unsure whether he had a urethral or suprapubic catheter, a catheter that is inserted through the penis is a urethral catheter. Gordon said his catheter was made of latex and more flexible than his previous one. He said he found male district nurses better at changing his catheter than female ones. He felt he was given very little information from doctors or nurses about catheters and found out more for himself on the internet. His niece also gave him information about sleeves and straps to keep the leg bag in place.
Gordon said he had a carer at first but, when his daughter retired, she became his main source of support. His daughter helps by doing any of the household chores that might need doing, including vacuuming, washing dishes and preparing meals. She comes in every day and also makes his bed and does his shopping when needed. Every Thursday, Gordon said a professional carer came in to give him a shower.
At one point, Gordon had a lot of urinary tract infections and was prescribed antibiotics which he had to take daily for 2 or 3 years. His doctor recently stopped prescribing these as the sore that was causing problems was no longer there. Gordon thinks this is because his prostate is no longer enlarged. He said he has no pain at all now because of the catheter and only remembers he has one when the bag gets full. He changes his leg bag once a week and now has his catheter changed every twelve weeks.
Gordon said that at one stage he was offered a suprapubic catheter. He declined, though, because he didn’t want another operation at his age. He manages very easily with a urethral catheter and doesn’t have to get up at night to urinate.