You will be given a supply of equipment to take with you when leaving hospital, and told where to get further supplies in the future. In most cases, catheter equipment is available on prescription from pharmacies.

You should be taught how to do this yourself. This is known as clean intermittent self-catheterisation (CISC). Also, you can get a just can't wait card, this gives you peace of mind and access toilets in a rush. You will probably worry about how the surgery will affect your relationships, whether with a partner or with friends. For a few months, your body will be recovering from having major surgery. So you may not have the energy to meet people or go to places like you did before. Please note that because a leg bag is smaller than a regular drainage bag, it will have to be emptied more frequently. avoiding kinks in the catheter and making sure any urine collectionbags are kept below the level of your bladder at all times

Cancer Research UK nurses

The catheter is held in the bladder by a water-filled balloon, which prevents it falling out. These types of catheters are often known as Foley catheters. What makes these bags even more exceptional is that they are free of powders. They do not turn the liquids into lumps of gel.

Drink plenty of liquids. You should drink at least 8 cups of healthy liquids a day, if your health care provider approves.A larger quantity of blood in your urine may be a sign of a urinary tract infection and you should speak to your GP about this in case you need a course of antibiotics You may occasionally experience specs of blood in your urine and this is generally nothing to worry about You can get a UTI from using either a short-term or a long-term catheter. However, the longer a catheter is used, the greater the risk of infection. This is why it's important that catheters are inserted correctly, maintained properly, and only used for as long as necessary.

A urinary catheter is usually used when people have difficulty peeing (urinating) naturally. It can also be used to empty the bladder before or after surgery and to help perform certain tests. Having a urinary catheter shouldn’t stop you from doing most of your normal activities. You will be advised about when it is safe for you to go to work, exercise, go swimming, go on holidays, and have sex. Werneburg GT. (2022). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections: Current challenges and future prospects.This will include advice about getting new catheter supplies, reducing the risk of complications such as infections, spotting signs of potential problems, and when you should get medical advice. The charity Bladder and Bowel Community has more information on indwelling catheters. Preventing infections and other complications