Search

Melanie – Living with a urinary catheter

Melanie broke her neck and back after falling from a horse in 2010. She had a urethral catheter for a few months and then tried intermittent self catheterisation. She found the latter was impossible without help so decided to have a suprapubic catheter.

Sonia

Sonia has experienced depression since she was 17. As a teenager she had problems with an eating disorder and began self -harming. She was admitted to hospital after having taken an overdose of paracetamol when she was in her 20's. Since that time she has had several admissions to hospital and has been referred to community mental health services at various times. She has tried numerous different antidepressants, but has found it difficult to find the right one for her. Some have lost their effectiveness after using them for a time, and sometimes she has experienced side effects that she has found intolerable.

Vicky

Vicky became paralysed after a skydiving accident in Spain when she was 31. She feels self-conscious about her leg bag and would welcome a newly designed catheter that does not need a leg bag. She had a urethral catheter at first and then a suprapubic.