Reminders How to CIC = Clean Intermittent (Self) Catheterize

Under the SilGro home page for Alan Silverstein and Cathie Grow
Email me at ajs@frii.com
Last update: December 18, 2022

This webpage shares my personal collection of reminders (for males) of how to self-catheterize (CIC = clean intermittent catheterization) in response to AUR (acute urinary retention).

First here is some background information about this webpage, and some "free advice" on living with BPH.

In particular, based on my own traumatizing experience, I highly recommend getting self-cath training from a medical professional before attempting it for the first time yourself, unless it's a dire emergency and you have no other choice! (Nurses have told me that resistance and/or bleeding is frequent, and they just push past it!)

Standard disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. I offer this just in case it helps you with useful ideas. Personal discretion is advised.

Reminders (specific to the author!) from training:

• exhaust all other tricks first (see other file)

• wash hands thoroughly with soap
• sterilize penis with generic Hibiclens (3 swipes)

• rupture water pouch in (hydrophilic GC Glide 14Fr) catheter package (if some other type, instead use KY or equivalent lube), wait 15 sec, meanwhile:
• peel back, stick package to wall
• remove cath from package, touch only funnel and sliding gripper
• set pee bottle nearby

• stand up near counter for balance
• with gripper near tip, insert cath with penis out and up (fewest bends)
• advance as quickly as comfortable, holding funnel to slide up gripper

• expect "electric shocks" near end; keep going slowly
• expect resistance when gripper about at funnel (for me with GC Glide 14Fr straight); squat, lean forward, deep breath, relax!
• expect pain and a little blood just before urine, with gripper partway over funnel, and bottle ready to catch

• once flowing, insert cath up to 1" more, with funnel into bottle held in free hand
• when flow stops, withdraw a bit looking for more urine
• then extract the cath rather quickly; dump tubing into bottle to clean up later

• expect stinging pain for 1-2 hours afterward due to damage, and some residual pain for hours/days later