Urinary catheters - what to ask your doctor
![Spanish Version Spanish Version](http://ahsdemo.adam.com/clients/1405/117/img/es-version-btn.png)
You have an indwelling catheter (tube) in your bladder. This means the tube is inside your body. This catheter drains urine from your bladder into a bag outside your body.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your catheter.
I Would Like to Learn About:
Questions
How do I take care of the skin around the catheter? How often should I clean the area?
How much water or liquid should I be drinking?
Can I take a shower? How about a bath? Can I swim?
Can I walk around or exercise with the catheter in place?
What supplies do I need to keep in my home to care of my catheter? Where can I get them? How much do they cost?
How often do I need to empty the urine bag? How do I do that? Do I need to wear gloves?
How often do I need to clean the urine bag or catheter? How do I do that?
What do I do if there is blood in my urine? If my urine is cloudy? If my urine has an odor?
If I use a leg bag, how often do I need to change it? How do I empty it when I am in a public bathroom?
Should I switch to a larger bag for nighttime? How do I change this kind of bag?
What do I do if the catheter comes out or off?
What do I do if the catheter stops draining? What if it leaks?
What are the signs that I have an infection?
Related Information
References
Boone TB, Stewart JN, Martinez LM. Additional therapies for storage and emptying failure. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 127.
Vetrosky DT. Urinary bladder catheterization. In: Dehn R, Asprey D, eds. Essential Clinical Procedures. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 30.