Cathing with full sensation?

I love the speedicath compact, it only burns during removal and for that little while after but not during insertion, and is much easier to insert (I don't hit my thigh or elsewhere on my privates during insertion, the shorter cath and rigid plastic part are easier for me to control) but I haven't been able to find them covered by medicaid yet. So I had a bunch of my friends request samples from the company and send them to me... And I keep them on me for when I need to cath quickly such as out in public or giving urine samples at the Dr. 

I still get that burning that feels like I need to pee still after using them, but I think it doesn't last as long as with the vinyl caths.

I don't believe I get actual bladder spasms, at least the medications for them did nothing for me and my second urologist agreed I didn't have overactive bladder I was having different issues. Rather I get spasms in the muscles around the bladder and in the pelvic floor that cause my inability to urinate normally. Sometimes the strength of my abdominal muscles is enough to force the urine past, sometimes it isn't, and sometimes I get part of the urine out but some retention.  

Most of the time I drink loads, I stop in the evening though because I have nocturia no matter how little I've drank. I used to have issues where I severely dehydrated during the day due to producing large amounts of dilute urine even when already dehydrated. I was tested for lots of issues such as diabetes insipidus but never found a distinct reason for what was going on then, but certain things contributed like when I was hypokalemic it was worse so I started getting regular vitamin K checks and scripts. When I started on narcotics for pain control it reduced the amount of urine I produced which helped. I need to drink a lot to maintain blood pressure due to dysautonomia and vasodilation. My urologist wants me to see a nephrologist about the nocturia, since its the volume of urine at issue and not coming from the bladder such as overactive bladder. Anyway, dehydration hits me quickly and severely from the dysautonomia and vascular issues so I'm sure to drink enough during the day and I always have a water bottle with me Thanks!

Hello Lin,

I am male but know some women do not have to use lubrication for catheter insertion. If you're using a catheter that is painful, I would highly recommend some lubricant just to make sure that this is not the source of your pain. I have a lot of sensation and can feel the catheter and can void normally, but I have a high residual.  If I have a uti, it is pretty painful for me. (I do have a question of a word you used a couple of times though, dysautonomia, what is this?)  With severe pain, I suffer from Autonomic Dysreflexia. The whole AD works with headache, blood pressure rising, sweating and rapid pulse. Have you tried a female hydrophilic catheter?

Good luck.

I've always used lubricant, except for the hydrophillic (speedicath compact) ones. I just don't do a great job at lubricating it, I struggle a bit with control and have problems like not getting the lubricant spread out, having globs fall off, or when I bump something else before making it to my urethra having a glob of lubricant come off at that time. 

Like I said before I really like the speedicath compact (hydrophillic), its both easier to use and more comfortable with less burning. Still trying to work on finding somewhere that carries it and having medicaid cover it. I found a company that carries it that says they accept Indiana medicaid (company suggested by someone on Care Cure), but when I contacted coloplast directly asking for help finding somewhere they said Indiana medicaid didn't cover their products... I'm hoping that person was wrong. I'd like to at least find a company that I can get hydrophillic catheters from. But even then the length is an issue contributing to me bumping spots before making it to my urethra. I guess though as I get more proficient, I could probably figure out the right spot to hold on the catheter that lets me hold as far up as possible for more control but still be far enough down to insert the catheter all the way. The rigid part on the speedicath compact is perfect. Back in December I swear it took me 20 minutes to get a urine sample for my pain clinic. I went through 2 catheters, tossing the first one after missing my urethra too many times. Part of the time was also me trying to pee without the catheter before trying, and after failing with the first catheter. Finally got it. Little over 6 months later, on tuesday it took me probably 3 minutes in there with a speedicath compact. Woohoo! lol. 

Dysautonomia is a condition thats caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. There are many different conditions that fall under dysautonomia, since the autonomic nervous system controls so much. There is some similarity with AD symptoms, I noticed that when I joined CC. POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is a type of dysautonomia, usually the most well known type. I've had POTS before, I say before because that one for me sorta came and went into remission depending on other conditions. I have IST though (inappropriate sinus tachycardia) caused by the sinus node firing incorrectly. I take beta blockers which bring my heart rate down to a safe range. Without the meds my resting heart rate ranged from 110-150. Standing up or walking short periods (like from handicap parking spot into a store or office) was enough to shoot my heart rate up 30-50 beats and leave me exhausted, short of breath, hypoxic, very dizzy... It was pretty miserable. Exercise or heat (like even a hot shower) would cause it to go even higher. With my meds and controlling dehydration its not too bad, but I'm still exercise and heat intolerant. I also have issues with low blood pressure, lower limb swelling, chronic fatigue from the dysauto. There's some neuro stuff I have right now that my neurologist thinks COULD be from dysauto, but isn't sure. (he's a lousy neurologist though to be honest.) The dysautonomia has been blamed for my excessive urination and nocturia, though thats been mostly a result of not being able to find another cause. They said I produce more urine when I'm laying down as a result of the vasodilation and more blood flow to the kidneys resulting in more urine production.