Learning to Use a Foley Catheter
Unpleasant as they may be, a Foley catheter can oftentimes be a life-saving device. The Foley catheter is most commonly used to drain urine from the urinary tract when an individual’s body is no longer able to do it on its own. This may be the result of injury, surgery, a chronic condition or another medical problem. No matter what causes the medical problem, the Foley catheter is a very simple device that has actually saved the lives of many people, extended the lives of countless people and that has ensured that the suffering that many people go through is reduced considerably.
If you have a Foley catheter and you need to learn how to remove and insert new ones on your own, this is something you will need a doctor or nurse to help you learn how to do. This process is extremely uncomfortable at first. Over time, however, most people develop a tolerance to it and, with enough practice, it becomes a routine procedure that people can do on their own. The Foley catheter has the advantage of having a flexible tube and, because of that, it is more comfortable to leave in place for the long-term. (more…)