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Insert the valve between your catheter and your leg bag. The aim is to get your bladder used to holding a volume again and therefore, improve bladder tone. The majority of our patients, who have catheters now use these. It is now generally felt in the ‘medical world’ that the bladder should not be kept empty at all times, and it has been shown that this reduces bladder capacity and tone.
Due to the risk of urine leakage from your penis and the risk of dysreflexia, I suggest that you follow the regime and that you discuss taking Oxybutynin or Detrusitol tablets with your GP.
- Day 1: Turn the valve off for 30 minutes twice a day, ie. stop the catheter from draining during this time. After 30 minutes open the valve and leave the catheter on free drainage.
- Day 2: Turn the valve off for 1 hour twice a day
- Day 3: Turn the valve off for 1 hour 30 minutes twice a day
- Day 4: Turn the valve off for 2 hours twice a day
- Day 5: Turn the valve off for 2 hours 30 minutes twice a day
- Day 6: Turn the valve off for 3 hours twice a day
- Day 7: Turn the valve off for 3 hours 30 minutes twice a day
- Day 8: Turn the valve off for 4 hours twice a day
- Day 9: Turn the valve off for 4 hours 30 minutes twice a day
- Day 10: Turn the valve off for 5 hours twice a day
The aim is to get your bladder to hold between 300-500 mls. If you are drinking at least 3 litres per day, you should not need to increase the time that the valve is turned off. If, however, you are not drinking enough, it may be necessary to continue to increase the time the valve is turned off.
The aim is to have the catheter valve turned off all day and for you to drain the bladder 4-5 times per day by opening the valve for a couple of minutes (or until drainage stops).
If you get leakage of urine at a particular stage, drop back down a stage, and build time back up again.
Please contact me if you need further clarification or if you encounter problems.
Wendy Slater
01722 429291 or 01722 336262 ask the operator to bleep 1664
