it’s fair to say it [urethral catheter] did save my life because I was, I now know that I was going to die if I’d continued in the vein I was in because, one, I was showing signs of anaemia, which is a side effect I think of the back pressure on the kidneys. And I’d taken the odd iron tablet for that.

I’d also, I know from the blood tests that were done then, and then fortunately over the next year the blood went back to normal. But there are chemicals in the blood which are not taken out when the kidneys are under back pressure, and they were building up and building up. And so I did notice I was more lethargic, found it difficult to think before I got the catheter.

And so when the catheter goes in, there’s this enormous pleasure, Well things are back to normal You can actually think straight, and you’ve got energy again.

It takes away the urgent need to get to the toilet in time, because when I got it fitted I had frequent times, maybe wet my pants and that was rather embarrassing. The catheter removed that altogether. That was just taken away, it was no longer an issue. So I would say…

People who might be thinking, Oh God you know, it’s embarrassing that kind of thing, what words of hope would you give to somebody who feels that way?

Oh any medical person, any medical professional you see, they saw it all before so there’s no need to be embarrassed at all by it. it’s their job. it’s what they do, day in, day out. So they’re used to seeing that sort of thing. To you, it’s embarrassing cos you’re going through it the first time. But to that member of staff who deals with it, they’ve dealt with it hundreds of times, if not more. So there’s no need to be embarrassed at all.

Yes. And what would you say would be the main difficulties with it? You know, for somebody thinking about it, they hear all about the positive aspects, what would you say is the main difficulty with it?

it’s hard to actually say. I don’t, from my own situation, I can’t see any difficulty in it. I mean for me there’s no down sides, all I can see is pro’s all the way through it.

Well that’s good to hear too.

Yeah. I can see no downside to it.

Can you talk a little bit about the day to day life?

Yes, normally it shouldn’t really affect it if you look after it and make sure it’s not kinked or anything and its draining properly. You should, it should be okay. it’s just every now and again with infections or sometimes, I don’t know, perhaps it’s positioned a bit oddly in the bladder and slightly blocking the drainage. And you go to bed, lie down and it’s fine, get up after that, yeah. So yes, I think I’ve been quite lucky with it. It doesn’t really affect me that much.

I think yeah, apart from the infections every, as I say, a few times a year, I’ve been quite lucky. It drains well. It doesn’t usually give me that many problems. So it can work. And it doesn’t hinder your life that much, and yeah.

it’s very difficult to separate the problem of the catheters from the problem of MS. A lot of these problems, I mean you can imagine for anybody if they’re no, to have no control over your bladder and bowels is really probably the worst thing that can happen to you. You don’t think that until it happens. But when it does, it is the worst thing.

So I mean you’re like it as a baby and you can be like it when you’re very, very elderly I suppose. You could have problems, but to go through most of your life with it, it is a big problem.

it’s alright if, you know, you’ve got disabled toilets and things like that where you can get to. With a disabled toilet, of course, at least you’ve got a chance to clean yourself up in them. That’s a, but just to part, you know with MS, when you’ve got no control, no warning, it’s too, by the time you need, you think you need the toilet it’s too late. So that’s, I do think it’s the worst part.

And at least with the suprapubic catheter it’s taken away all that, you know. For that side anyway. It has made a big difference. And I can’t say it, well I wished I’d had it done earlier than I did.

I think I’ve perhaps been extra lucky, you know. Haven’t had many nuisances, but I don’t find it too difficult. I can manage on holidays, or staying in a hotel might be, well it will be won’t it. But this is much more of a problem, the colostomy, which leaks or the glue coming out from your tummy. And it’s like, so I find this is just a slight nuisance, nothing I can’t sort of manage.

So tell me about, a bit more detail what it’s like to come home with your catheter.

I have to say over the years it has got easier. In fact when I’ve been very ill it’s just a relief to have the catheter because it means that my bladder can rest, and not have the difficulty of filling with urine and it can heal. So I haven’t found that a worry at all. it’s actually been very straightforward and I’ve felt quite confident about dealing with it.

It [catheter] isn’t as bad as what it appears to be. Because it does appear to be a big intrusion on your life. And really it isn’t. It might be a bit frustrating and you may have to take one or two simple precautions, but you get used to it. You know, there’s no doubt about it, you will get used to it.

And don’t be afraid of asking people. Four or five or six, eight years ago, I would have been almost afraid of talking to anybody about incontinence and catheters, but I wouldn’t now.